Breast Revision Surgery

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Greater Los Angeles

Revision Breast Surgery

Revision breast surgery is a specialized procedure that addresses various aesthetic concerns and complications associated with previous breast augmentation surgeries. It refers to a wide range of treatments such as breast implant replacement, implant removal, capsular contracture treatment, breast lifts, fat grafting, and more. If you feel unhappy with how your procedure went the first time, you should know there’s a solution that will help restore your body confidence for many years to come. 

At Zarrabi Plastic Surgery, we understand that every patient’s journey is unique, and we are committed to providing personalized care to achieve the desired results. Under the leadership and direction of a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael Zarrabi, you can expect premier quality compassionate care when it comes to your breast revision. 

Please reach out to a staff member to schedule your consultation today; Dr. Zarrabi’s practices are located in both Beverly Hills, CA (310-584-9990) and Santa Monica, CA (310-584-9990). We also have a convenient online form where you can detail your specific cosmetic issues and request an appointment. 

Signs that You May Need a Breast Revision 

Many women looking for a breast revision find that the results they originally had in mind for their breasts did not match what was accomplished during surgery. Other times, a revision may be requested if the breasts have changed over the course of many years post-procedure. There are a few telltale signs that you may need a revision due to cosmetic reasons: 

  • Your nipples point downward instead of outward. 
  • You have noticed rippling on the skin of your breasts. 
  • You have an excessive amount of tissue beneath the nipple- commonly referred to as “bottoming out” and caused by misplacement of breast implants. 
  • You notice that your implants shift with certain movements; this is known as dynamic distortion. 
  • You are dissatisfied with how large or small your breasts are.
  • You are bothered by how round your breasts are with implants. 

On the other hand, revision surgery may be necessary due to medical reasons. Here are some signs that your previous breast augmentation may pose a risk to your health: 

  • Your implants are causing you pain. 
  • Your breasts appear deformed or the tissue feels hard to the touch- a sign of capsular contracture, a relatively harmless condition in which an excessive amount of scar tissue builds up around each implant. If you notice these symptoms, however, it may be caused by implant rupture that requires more immediate attention. Although rare, a silicone implant can rupture, and its contents can spread to the lymph nodes of the immune system. (1)
  • You have noticed that one or both of your breasts look more swollen. 
  • One breast appears deflated- a sign of saline implant rupture. 
  • You have a series of unexplained symptoms ranging from headaches, joint aches, depression, anxiety, digestive issues, and more. These could be related to a condition called breast implant illness (BII). Luckily, about 96% of women with BII find that their symptoms completely resolve after undergoing a breast implant removal procedure. (2) 

Candidates for Revision Breast Surgery

If you are in good health and have no blood-clotting conditions or underlying conditions that can impede the healing process, you may be an ideal candidate for revision breast surgery. Women experiencing any of the symptoms above deserve to feel comfortable and satisfied with their appearance. They may also qualify for a procedure if they have implants that are more than 10 years old; the older the implants, the more likely they are to cause cosmetic and/or medical issues. Finally, candidates should also be non-smokers or willing to completely quit for a few weeks. 

Personal Consultation

As an experienced breast implant specialist and cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Zarrabi has a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in revision breast surgery. During your personal consultation, he will carefully examine the condition of your implants, the surrounding breast tissue, and any specific issues you may be experiencing. He will also explain your procedure options, preparation steps, and aftercare instructions you will have to follow to get the best results possible. To get started today, contact one of his offices in Beverly Hills, CA at (310) 584-9990 or Santa Monica, CA at (310) 584-9990. Alternatively, you can use our contact page and a staff member will find a consultation date that works best for you. 

Preparation

Prior to any invasive surgery, you should refrain from taking blood-thinning and anti-inflammatory supplements and medications. This will help prevent the risk of unwanted bleeding during the procedure. If you consume or smoke tobacco products, you should aim to stop approximately 4 to 6 weeks beforehand to allow for better blood circulation. You should make arrangements with a trusted family member or friend to drive you home after your procedure is finished. 

Treatment Options

Implant Replacement 

If you have been satisfied with the look and feel of breast implants, but it’s time for a revision, Dr. Zarrabi can help you find the right replacement implants that will flatter your body in every way you would like them to. He can also provide guidance on implants that are less likely to cause complications like capsular contracture or dynamic distortion. First, Dr. Zarrabi’s anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia to ensure full comfort. Dr. Zarrabi will then perform a breast implant removal that may involve capsulectomy, a procedure to remove the contracted scar tissue around the implant.  He will only make incisions based on the preexisting scars to minimize the chance of more scarring. However, depending on the size of the implant and your own anatomy, he may choose one of two techniques for insertion:  

  • Periareolar incisions around each areola
  • Inframammary incisions under the crease of each breast

He will then insert Sientra implants that vary in size, shape, profile, texture, and material. At a prior appointment, you will be able to choose between:

  • Saline, silicone, or highly cohesive silicone found in gummy bear implants 
  • Minimal, moderate, enhanced, or maximum fullness 
  • Round or natural “teardrop” shapes 
  • Smooth or textured 

Implant Replacement with Lift 

After removing the old implants and/or performing an en-bloc capsulectomy, Dr. Zarrabi will perform the lift portion of the procedure where indicated. He will utilize one of three incisions to elevate the tissue so that the breasts sit higher on the chest: 

  • Periareolar, or donut incisions, closely follow the outline of each areola 
  • Vertical, or lollipop incisions circle the areolas and involve a vertical incision toward the underside of the breast
  • Anchor incisions are lollipop incisions with an added horizontal incision alongside the underside of each breast 

Through the breast lift incisions, the new implants are placed, and all sutures are closed. 

Breast Lift 

If you would like a simpler procedure that does not require choosing new implants, Dr. Zarrabi can remove your old implants and enhance your appearance with a breast lift, or mastopexy, without the use of implants. You can enjoy more lifted, younger-looking breasts with this all-natural approach. Due to the excision of excess tissue and loose skin, your breasts may reduce in size by one cup. 

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation 

If you are displeased with the asymmetry or lack of volume in your breasts but do not want to go through with adding breast implants, a breast fat transfer may be what you are looking for. With this method, Dr. Zarrabi will inject tumescent fluid into another part of your body that contains more fat tissue; usually, the location of choice is the abdomen, flanks, or thighs. Once the area is properly numbed, he will make an incision of only a fraction of an inch in order to insert a device called a cannula. Then, this device will gently suction out the needed fat that will be injected into the breasts. Typically, 500 to 800 mls will be extracted. (3) After the purification process, the fat is prepared into syringes so that Dr. Zarrabi can strategically inject the breasts. 

Fat transfer can be performed alongside a breast lift or by itself following a breast implant removal procedure. Many women are pleased with the natural-feeling results, but the procedure has its limitations- it only increases the breasts by about one cup size. 

Recovery and Results

Most breast revision surgeries require about 1 week of downtime before patients can return to sedentary work. Soreness and swelling are most prevalent in the first week of recovery, but Dr. Zarrabi will provide you with prescription medications and/or over-the-counter recommendations so that you can heal comfortably. He requires that breast augmentation patients completely avoid strenuous activity for 6 weeks and attend follow-up appointments so that he can closely monitor their healing. Patients concerned about their surgical scarring should consult Dr. Zarrabi on when they can begin applying scar creams or silicone gel to promote healthy skin regeneration. Many patients find that their scars have faded significantly 1 year post-procedure. 

Cost of Revision Breast Surgery in Santa Monica, CA

At Zarrabi Plastic Surgery, we believe in transparency and ensuring that our patients have a clear understanding of the costs involved. Following your consultation, Dr. Zarrabi will provide you with a detailed estimate of the price for your revision breast surgery. This estimate will encompass all aspects of the procedure, including surgical fees, anesthesia fees, facility fees, and any necessary follow-up visits. 

To find out more about what breast implant revision can do for you, call our Beverly Hills office at (310) 584-9990 or our Santa Monica location at (310) 584-9990. You may also use our contact form to schedule an appointment. 

Read more about breast and body procedures on our blog.

References

  1. Swezey E, Shikhman R, Moufarrege R. Breast Implant Rupture. PubMed. Published 2023. Accessed July 20, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459308/#:~:text=A%20ruptured%20silicone%20implant%2C%20whether 
  2. Katsnelson JY, Spaniol JR, Buinewicz JC, Ramsey FV, Buinewicz BR. Outcomes of Implant Removal and Capsulectomy for Breast Implant Illness in 248 Patients. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2021;9(9):e3813. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003813 
  3. Macarena Vizcay, Saha S, Mohammad A, et al. Current Fat Grafting Practices and Preferences: A Survey from Members of ISPRES. Plastic and reconstructive surgery Global open. 2023;11(3):e4849-e4849. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000004849