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Generally considered one of the most complex aesthetic body procedures, revision breast augmentation surgery at Scottsdale Center for Plastic Surgery requires the technical expertise of skilled breast surgeons.
A Personalized Plan for Every Case
Some patients will present a single problem, while others may have multiple issues. Our surgeons complete a detailed assessment of your past surgical history and conduct an exam to identify specific issues for each breast. After their analysis, they develop a surgical plan to create the best chance for maximum improvement with minimal risk of complications.
With breast surgery revision, options are frequently left open to allow for adjustment in the operating room. A surgeon performing any revision breast augmentation needs to have extensive experience, a wide range of techniques, and the ability to make decisions on the fly as problems are further defined during surgery. That’s why breast revision patients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and throughout Arizona choose our practice for their procedures.
Why Have Breast Augmentation Revision?
Some examples of problems requiring correction include capsular contracture (scar tissue hardening), implant malposition (implant shifting out of place), visible rippling or wrinkling due to thin tissues, stretch deformities, recurrent drooping, and unnatural-appearing implants due to poor selection by the previous surgeon. This list is not comprehensive, and many of these problems occur in combination.
Solutions to these issues can include options such as:
- Capsulectomies (implant capsule removal)
- Implant exchange
- Implant removal
- Pocket adjustments
- Exchange from over to under the muscles
- Placement of reinforcement materials like Galaform and Strattice
- Breast lift (skin tightening surgery)
- Fat grafting
In some cases, patients choose to combine revision surgery with other procedures, such as liposuction and a tummy tuck, to improve multiple areas with a single surgery and recovery period.
Before & After
Revision Breast Surgery
*Each patient is unique, and individual results may vary.
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Case #733
Provider: Dr. Sigalove
This is a 29 year old patient who presented to my Scottsdale practice for a breast augmentation revision. She had previously undergone submuscular breast augmentation elsewhere and was dissatisfied with both the appearance and the feel of her breasts. She had developed severe hyperanimation on both sides, which caused her discomfort and emotional… Read More
Case #735
Provider: Dr. Sigalove
This is a lovely 32 year old patient who presented to my Scottsdale practice for a possible breast augmentation revision. She had undergone 2 previous surgeries elsewhere, and presented with a recurrent left-sided capsular contracture which caused her pain and discomfort. She also did not like the animation deformity which was associated with her… Read More
Case #138
Provider: Dr. Cohen
This patient is a female in her 50s from Arizona who presented to my Scottsdale, Arizona, area medical practice with complaints of unnatural appearing breasts. The patient had undergone multiple prior breast surgeries by other surgeons. Originally, she had silicone implants under the chest muscles, and she had more recently been… Read More
Case #737
Provider: Dr. Sigalove
This is a 28 year old patient who presented to my Scottsdale practice requesting a breast augmentation revision. She had previously undergone several submuscular breast augmentations elsewhere and complained of severe hyperanimation deformities. She was an avid rock climber and loved to exercise outdoors and her animation deformities interfered… Read More
Case #739
Provider: Dr. Sigalove
This is a pleasant 66 year old female who presented to my Scottsdale practice after having lived the last decade with a severe capsular contracture of both breasts. Her breasts were misshapen and caused her considerable discomfort. A complex revision was recommended, with complete capsulectomies, new pocket creation, placement of Galaform 3D… Read More
Case #42
Provider: Dr. Cohen
This is a 31 year old female from the Gilbert, Arizona area who in 2005 underwent breast augmentation by another surgeon. Due to issues with the left breast, that same surgeon performed a second operation on the patients left breast in 2005 as well. When this patient came to my Scottsdale, Arizona area medical office seeking correction of her… Read More
Case #176
Provider: Dr. Cohen
This patient is a 41 year old female from the Scottsdale, Arizona area who presented to my Paradise Valley, Arizona area medical practice with interest in corrective breast surgery. The patient had undergone breast augmentation with a lollipop scar breast lift by another surgeon approximately a year ago, and she was very unhappy with the… Read More
Case #747
Provider: Dr. Sigalove
This is a 49 year old female who presented to my Scottsdale practice requesting a revision of her previous breast augmentation which was performed elsewhere. She was not pleased with the overall shape and appearance of her breasts, stating that her implants always fell out to the sides when she lied down. She didn’t like the heaviness and… Read More
Case #738
Provider: Dr. Sigalove
This is a 62 year old female who presented to my Scottsdale practice feeling severely depressed about the appearance of her breasts. She had originally breast augmentation many years ago out of state. She developed a severe capsular contracture and her surgeon planned for a 2-stage revision: the first was to have her implants and… Read More
Case #262
Provider: Dr. Cohen
This patient is a 64 year old female from the Phoenix, Arizona area who presented to my Scottsdale, Arizona area medical practice with interest in revision breast surgery. This patient had multiple previous breast augmentation surgery and continued to develop capsular contracture (tightening of the scar tissue) with… Read More
Case #740
Provider: Dr. Sigalove
This is a 24 year old patient who presented to my Scottsdale practice for revisionary surgery of her nipple areola complexes. She had previously undergone augmentation mastopexy with another surgeon but sustained severe spreading of both nipple areola complexes after her surgery. She presented to my office requesting revisionary circumareolar… Read More
Case #114
Provider: Dr. Cohen
This patient is a 40 year old female from Arizona who came to my Scottsdale, Arizona area medical practice with complaints of unnatural appearing breasts after a prior augmentation by another surgeon many years before. This patient was unhappy with the positioning of her implants, particularly the “double bubble” on the left breast… Read More
Case #143
Provider: Dr. Cohen
This is a female in her mid-thirties from the greater Phoenix, Arizona area who presented to my Scottsdale, Arizona area medical practice with interest in corrective breast surgery and repair of her abdominal area after childbirth. With regards to her breasts, this patient had undergone prior breast augmentation by… Read More
Case #283
Provider: Dr. Cohen
This patient is a 40 year old female from the Scottsdale, Arizona area who presented to my plastic surgery practice with interest in revision breast augmentation surgery. The patient was noted to have a severe right breast deformity as well as medial malposition, asymmetry, and drooping of the left breast. This patient had undergone multiple… Read More
Case #160
Provider: Dr. Cohen
This patient is a 29 year old female from the Scottsdale, Arizona area who presented to my Paradise Valley, Arizona area medical practice with complaints of unnatural appearing breasts after prior breast augmentation by another surgeon. Specifically, she was unhappy with the wide spacing, lateral (outer breast) fullness, and rippling of… Read More
See More Before & Afters
Breast Revision vs. Initial Breast Augmentation
While both are cosmetic procedures to improve breast appearance, initial breast augmentation focuses on enhancing the size, shape, or symmetry of the breasts using implants. In contrast, breast revision surgery addresses concerns related to a prior augmentation. These concerns may include replacing implants, correcting complications (such as capsular contracture or implant rupture), or adjusting your initial results to meet updated aesthetic preferences.
Revision procedures are often more complex due to factors such as scar tissue, existing implants, or changes in breast tissue over time, requiring our plastic surgeons’ advanced surgical expertise to achieve the desired outcome.
| Initial Breast Augmentation | Breast Revision | |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Enhance breast size, shape, and appearance | Address concerns from a previous breast surgery |
| Key Reasons | Increase breast size, address deflated breasts and/or improve breast symmetry | Address complications such as implant rupture or capsular contracture, or update implant size, shape, or fill material |
| Surgical Expertise | Board-certified plastic surgeon | Board-certified plastic surgeon with breast revision expertise |
| Cost & Complexity | Typically less complex; costs less | May cost more due to increased complexity |
| Recovery Time | Shorter recovery — most patients take off work for 3 to 5 days | Longer recovery — most patients take off work for 1 to 2 weeks |
Choosing a Surgeon for Revision Breast Surgery
Patients have two excellent options for breast revision in Phoenix & Scottsdale: Dr. Cohen and Dr. Sigalove. With an extraordinary level of experience, both surgeons have written book chapters and journal articles on this topic. As leading breast revision experts, they frequently lecture around the world.
Breast revision surgery represents the pinnacle of challenging breast cases. Our surgeons truly enjoy the satisfaction of taking on and correcting some of the most difficult cases. Each revision surgery becomes progressively more challenging as new scar tissue and other physical changes occur. That is one reason it is so important to visit a true expert in this area if breast implant problems occur. The sooner the problems are properly assessed and corrected, the better the chance for long-lasting success.
Recovery After Breast Augmentation Revision
Recovery after breast revision surgery varies based on the complexity of the procedure and individual factors, but most patients can expect a steady progression through these key milestones:
- Immediately After Surgery
- 1 to 2 Weeks Post-Op
- 3 to 4 Weeks Post-Op
- 4 to 6 Weeks Post-Op
- 3 to 6 Months Post-Op
- 1 Year Post-Op
Immediately After Surgery:
- Rest and limit physical activity
- Expect mild swelling, bruising, and discomfort
- Take prescription or over-the-counter pain medication as directed
- You may have drains in place to prevent fluid buildup
1 to 2 Weeks Post-Op:
- Drains are removed within the first week (for those who have them)
- Wear a support bra to provide support and minimize swelling
- Return to nonstrenuous work and light activities
3 to 4 Weeks Post-Op:
- Swelling and bruising significantly resolve
- You may now raise your arms above your head
- You’re likely feeling “back to yourself”
4 to 6 Weeks Post-Op:
- You can continue to gradually resume more activities and exercise
- Most residual swelling and bruising resolve
3 to 6 Months Post-Op:
- Implants settle into their final position
- Scars begin to fade, and results become more apparent
1 Year Post-Op:
- Healing is complete, and you can confidently show off your full results
- Scars continue to fade until they are barely perceptible
It’s crucial to follow your plastic surgeon’s postoperative instructions carefully to ensure optimal healing and results. We encourage you to read our Post-Op FAQ for general information about recovery.
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FAQs
Is Breast Revision Surgery More Painful Than the Initial Surgery?
Experiences after breast revision surgery depend on the extent of correction involved and individual patient factors. In some cases, it’s more complicated and painful than the primary procedure, and in others (often with elective implant exchange), it is simple with minimal discomfort.
How Long Do I Have to Wait to Have a Revision Done?
In most cases, our surgeons recommend patients are healed and swelling fades before having revision surgery. Sometimes swelling develops more in one breast than the other and eventually balances out over time. If you want to change your implants, you should wait about 6 to 12 months to ensure you don’t change your mind. If you are having a complication, our surgeons may recommend surgery earlier.
How Often Should Breast Implants Be Replaced?
You do not need to replace your breast implants if you are happy with the way your breasts look and feel, and you are not having any related concerns. See our related blog post to learn more about the longevity of breast implants.
How Common Is Breast Augmentation Revision?
Most patients are happy with their breast augmentation results for many years. As specialists in revision surgery, Dr. Cohen and Dr. Sigalove often receive referrals from other surgeons, so they frequently perform these procedures.
How Do I Know if I Need a Revision?
If you are fully healed and unhappy with your breast size, symmetry or shape, you likely need a revision. If you have a complication or are unsure, schedule a consultation as soon as possible.
How Many Times Can I Get Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Minimizing the number of revision procedures you have is important because they become more complex each time due to problems like internal and external scarring and thinning skin.
Take the Next Step
To learn more about breast augmentation revision, request a cosmetic consultation using our online form or call us for an appointment. Our facility is conveniently located for residents of Tempe, Paradise Valley and other areas of Greater Phoenix.
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