Breast Revision Specialist

What type of implant complication requires breast revision surgery?

After implant surgery, some women develop problems that require surgery to remove their original implant and reconstruct the breast.

After a mastectomy, the skin may be too thin to support the implant, or radiation therapy may cause skin problems that affect the implant. 

Every woman with a breast implant can develop complications such as:

• Ruptured implant
• Implant develops ripples, creases, or folds
• Implant moves under the skin
• Nipples sustain nerve damage
• Capsular contracture

Capsular contracture, which can appear within a few months of your implant surgery or not for many years later, is one of the most common reasons women seek a breast revision.

Why does capsular contracture need breast revision?

After your implant surgery, it’s normal for your body to create scar tissue around the implant. The tissue creates a capsule that helps hold the implant in place.

Normally, these scar tissues are soft to slightly firm and not noticeable. In some women, however, the scar becomes hard and tightens, squeezing the implant.

This condition, called capsular contracture, causes chronic pain and changes the shape of the implant. Breast revision surgery is the only treatment for this problem.

How is a breast revision for implant complications performed?

Dr. Echo may reconstruct your breast by removing the old implant and replacing it with a new one. For many women, however, the best way to reconstruct the breast is by using their tissues, a procedure called autologous breast reconstruction.

During autologous breast reconstruction, Dr. Echo takes skin and fat, plus the associated nerves and blood vessels, from one area of your body and uses that tissue, called a flap, to reconstruct your breast.

The tissues for your breast reconstruction may come from several areas of your body, including:

• DIEP flaps are tissues from your abdomen
• PAP flaps are tissues from your thighs
• SGAP flaps are tissues from your buttocks
• Latissimus dorsi flaps are tissues from your back
• 4-flaps use tissues from your abdomen and thighs

No matter where the tissues come from, you need an experienced microsurgeon to ensure they’re properly transplanted.

Why do I need a microsurgeon to perform my breast revision?

To restore sensation in your new breast, the nerves in the flap must be properly and precisely reconnected to the nerves in your chest. And to ensure the transplanted tissues survive, the blood vessels must also be connected. Both procedures require a skilled microsurgeon.

Dr. Echo is a plastic surgeon who has completed two fellowships, one in advanced microsurgery and the other in peripheral nerve surgery. In addition to his skills and experience, he’s up-to-date with the most advanced techniques, such as breast Resensation® with nerve repair, which supports nerve regeneration.

If you need a breast implant revision, call Anthony Echo, MD, or schedule an appointment online today.