It’s no secret that breast cancer treatment can take a toll on a woman’s body. Whether it’s a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or radiation therapy, the road to recovery can be overwhelming.
But there is hope.
Plastic surgery can help breast cancer survivors reclaim their bodies and their lives. One of the most popular procedures is breast reconstruction. This can involve using implants or transplanted fat tissue to rebuild the breasts.
But what happens if a woman’s body changes over time or she is unhappy with her results? Can breast reconstruction be redone? The answer is yes. In fact, many women choose to have their breast reconstruction redone at some point.
Why would a breast reconstruction need to be revised?
There are a number of reasons why this might be the needed. For example, some women may not be happy with the way their breast reconstruction looks. They may feel that their breasts are too small or too large, or that they don’t match each other. Others may have problems with their implants, such as infection, leakiness, or hardening of the breast tissue.
Some women may also have a change in their bodies over time that affects their breast reconstruction. Weight loss or gain, pregnancy, and aging can all cause changes in the breasts. This can mean that the breasts no longer look the way they did after reconstruction.
In some cases, redoing breast reconstruction is simply a matter of making a few small tweaks. In other cases, it may be a more involved procedure. But no matter what, it’s important to know that breast reconstruction can be redone if you’re not happy with your results.
Reconstruction Revision Techniques
There is no “one size fits all” approach to revision surgery, and it requires careful discussion and planning with an experienced plastic surgeon.
Revision is typically undertaken for 3 basic reasons- asymmetry, implant problems, or problems with size and shape.
Breast Asymmetry-Solutions
- Breast reduction on the opposite side
- Breast lift (mastopexy)
- Implant placement or exchange
- Fat grafting for volume enhancement
Implant Problems- Solutions
- Implant removal and replacement
- Capsulectomy to remove scar tissue (capsular contracture)
- Capsulorrhaphy (correction of the implant pocket) to reposition implants
Size/Shape Problems- Solutions
- Implant exchange
- Scar revision
- Fat grafting
How Long Does the Revision Procedure Take?
A single procedure or several may be performed at a given surgical session. These are typically outpatient procedures with recovery times that range from a few days to 1-2 weeks.
How Long Does it Take to Recover from a Revision Procedure?
Revision varies by procedure but may range from a few days to 1-2 weeks. At Lawrence Plastic Surgery, we typically see patients in the office the day following surgery and then 1, 3, and 6 weeks after surgery.
Breast Reconstruction Revision at Lawrence Plastic Surgery
With our long experience in breast reconstruction (we introduced this procedure to Lawrence in 1994) we have the extensive knowledge needed to revise and correct the breasts of those who have already undergone breast reconstruction. While we urge patients to first seek correction with the plastic surgeon who performed the original reconstruction, this is not always possible.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Dr. Thellman and his team can help you with your breast reconstruction journey, get in touch today.
