BREAST IMPLANT REVISION SURGERY

Los Angeles breast augmentation or breast enhancement surgery is one of the most commonly performed operations by Los Angeles Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Hoefflin. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASPS), more than 350,000 breast augmentations are performed annually in the United States. With the FDA’s approval of silicone gel breast implants in November 2006, it is likely that the number of Los Angeles Breast Augmentations will continue to steadily increase. With increases in the number breast enhancement procedures, more women may be faced with complications following their surgery.

Surgeon Dr. Hoefflin specializes in breast revision or corrective breast augmentation procedures to improve the undesirable results of previous plastic surgery. These operations are technically demanding and require a greater level of skill compared to the initial or primary breast augmentation procedure. They can represent some of the most challenging operations, even for highly qualified and skilled plastic surgeons. Dr. Hoefflin corrects problems created from your initial breast augmentation by using a combination of advanced techniques in plastic surgery, and can restore your breast aesthetics to a more youthful, attractive, and beautiful appearance.

POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS AFTER BREAST AUGMENTATION:

Individual patients may have experience a change in their overall breast shape since their last operation because of pregnancy, weight loss, or aging-related factors. Additionally, there are limitations as to the aesthetic improvement one may obtain with saline implants versus silicone implants, which may in turn cause a patient to exchange the implants for silicone or cohesive gel implants.

Following breast augmentation with silicone gel or saline breast implants, patients may experience any number of the following complications: breast asymmetry; malpositioning, bottoming out, high riding implants; implant deflation or rupture; capsular contraction; visible wrinkling or rippling; double bubble deformities; or synmastia.

BREAST ASYMMETRY

Breast asymmetry and other aesthetic complications are common reasons that patients choose Board-Certified Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon Dr. Hoefflin for breast revision surgery. Patients can present immediately or years after their initial breast augmentation procedure, complaining of breast implants that are “high-riding” or “bottoming-out”, or “malpositioned implants.” Dr. Hoefflin’s approach combines both an artistic interpretation of what beautiful breast aesthetics are, in combination with his surgical expertise and sound surgical judgment. In each case, achieving a more youthful, attractive, and improved result is possible.

CAPSULAR CONTRACTION

Capsular contraction is an infrequent but serious complication following breast augmentation surgery. It is the result of excessive scar tissue that develops around and encapsulates the breast implants. It can occur unilaterally or bilaterally. This may result in hardening of the breast(s), a feeling of “tightness” or the potential for pain. The breasts can assume a mild to severe disfiguring appearance.

When capsular contraction is diagnosed early, several treatments consisting of external ultrasound, massage or leukotriene inhibitors (Accolate, Singular) may be beneficial. Surgery (capsulotomy, capsulectomy) is frequently performed in later stages to either removal a portion or the total capsule, with possible replacement of the implants.

IMPLANT DELFATION OR RUPTURE

A deflated or ruptured breast implant can be caused by a variety of factors, including: underfilling or overfilling saline implants at the time of the original procedure, capsular contraction, external trauma or excessive external compression. When saline implants rupture, rapid deflation results. While the saline is harmlessly absorbed by the body, the deflated implant creates an aesthetic issue because of the discrepancy between the two breast sizes. However, rupture of silicone gel implants typically require an MRI or ultrasound exams to confirm the diagnosis.

Los Angeles Plastic Surgery Dr. Hoefflin performs breast revision surgery by removing and replacing existing implants with either similar saline implants or converting to a silicone gel or cohesive breast implants.

IMPLANT DISPLACEMENT/BOTTOMING OUT

Although it is a rare complication, “bottoming out” occurs when breast implants end up sitting too low on the chest wall and the nipples wind up positioned too high on the breast mound. At any time after surgery, a patient’s implants can move upward, downward, left or right; causing the need for a revision to move them back into the correct position. In general, the larger the implant, the greater the chance it will displace downward in time.

SYNMASTIA

Synmastia is the result of excessive or over-dissection in middle portion of the sternum during her initial breast augmentation procedure. This allows the implants to come in close contact with one another, and can create the appearance of a single breast. Dr. Hoefflin performs complex breast revision surgery by performing a combination of capsulotomy and capsulorraphy techniques.

VISIBLE WRINKLING OR RIPPLING

Visible wrinkling or rippling can occur anywhere on the breast after breast augmentation surgery. It can be caused both by the type of breast implant that is used, as well as the choice of where the implant is placed. Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Hoefflin performs breast implant revision surgery by removing and replacing the implants with the newer silicone gel breast implants. In addition, he exchanges the position or plane to a submuscular or “dual-plane” location.

THE CONSULTATION

During your consultation, Dr. Hoefflin will discuss all the potential surgical options and associated benefits and risks associated with each. Using his expertise, he will determine the best advanced surgical technique and type of implant necessary to accomplish your aesthetic goals. You will be provided customized literature that discusses the procedure in detail. Lastly, pre- and post-laser photographs of similar patients will be reviewed with you.

THE PROCEDURE

Los Angeles board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hoefflin performs revision breast implant surgery at his professional offices. During the procedure, you are completely asleep under the care of a board certified anesthesiologist. Dr. Hoefflin performs specialized long-acting nerve blocks that provide his patients with minimal discomfort after their breast implant revision surgery. Following the procedure, a soft bra and supportive taping will be utilized to protect your breasts and provide you addition comfort.

To learn if you are a candidate for revision breast surgery or other cosmetic surgical procedures, please call our office to arrange a consultation with Dr. Hoefflin.