Unhappy With Your Breast Augmentation Results? Here’s What To Do
Most people are happy with their breast augmentation results, but no surgery has a 100 percent satisfaction rate. It’s impossible for your doctor to make a completely accurate prediction about your results before the surgery, so you may not like the size, shape, or placement of the implants. Here are four options if you’re unsatisfied with your breast augmentation:
01. Wait
It will take some time for your breasts to heal and for the final results to be noticeable. Swelling and bruising right after the surgery will have a big impact on how your breasts look, but that’s not the final results. Over time, the swelling will go away, the implants will drop into place, and the scars will fade. Most people don’t see their final results until two or three months have passed. If you’re not happy with your breast augmentation immediately after the surgery, your body may just need some time to heal.
You also will need some time to mentally adjust to the results. A breast augmentation can be a big change, and feelings of regret and anxiety right after a plastic surgery are common. You may feel unsatisfied with the results because you’re uncomfortable with the changes, but you should get used to your new figure over time.
Waiting should be your first course of action if you’re unhappy with your results. Doctors usually recommend waiting for several months after the surgery before making any new decisions. If you still feel unsatisfied after this waiting period, you should start considering some other options.
02. Have a Breast Lift
A breast augmentation will increase the size of your breasts, which may make your breasts droop or sag. You may be unsatisfied with the results of the surgery because your breasts aren’t as perky as you’d like. In this case, a breast lift may be the right solution.
A breast lift tightens and reshapes the skin and tissue of the breast to make it more firm and lifted. It’s often performed at the same time as a breast augmentation, but it can also be done after a breast augmentation.
Recovery from a breast lift is similar to recovery from breast augmentation. Unless you work a physically demanding job, you should be able to return to work after a week. However, you should avoid strenuous activities for several more weeks. Once your breasts heal, you may be much happier with the size and shape of your implants.
03. Remove the Implants
If you want to get rid of your breast implants, you can have them removed with another surgery. Many people undergo breast implant removal because they’re unhappy with the results or because they’ve experienced complications.
The removal surgery usually takes about an hour to perform and is done under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will have to remove the scar tissue that has formed around the implant before taking out the implant itself. If you have a saline implants, your surgeon may have to deflate them before removing them.
In most cases, the implants can be removed through the same incisions that were used to insert them, so you won’t have any new scars. The recovery from the surgery should be similar to your recovery from the original implant procedure. It usually takes one to two weeks, and you’ll need to wear a compression wrap to help the incisions heal. If the skin and tissue of your breasts were stretched from the implant, you may have some breast sagging. This may lessen over time, or you can choose to have a breast lift.
04. Undergo Breast Implant Revision
A breast implant revision surgery can correct a variety of issues. It can fix breasts that look lopsided or that are too far apart or close together. Even if there aren’t noticeable flaws, you can undergo breast implant revision to get results that you’ll be more satisfied with.
One option is to have your implants replaced. During a breast implant exchange, your surgeon will remove your original implants and insert new ones, which may be a different size, shape, or material. If your breasts are lopsided or asymmetrical after the surgery, your doctor can replace one of the implants to better match the other.
You can also have your breast implants repositioned during a revision surgery. Implants that are placed too high or low are a common cause of dissatisfaction. If you have your implants repositioned, your surgeon will have to recreate the implant pocket.
The steps of the procedure vary depending on your goals, but the surgery is usually similar to the original breast augmentation surgery. Your doctor will make an incision to remove or reposition the implant and remove excess scar tissue if necessary. Then, your doctor will close the incision with stitches and place a surgical bra to support your breasts as they heal.
The length of your recovery period depends on what was done during the surgery. You will probably be able to return to work after a week, but you should avoid strenuous activity for several more weeks. Like with your first implant surgery, it may take a few months for all the swelling to go away.
Resource
The experienced doctors at the Plastic Surgery Institute of Miami offer breast lifts, revision surgeries and breast augmentations in Miami, FL. Dr. Jason Altman, one of the practice’s founders, completed the exclusive Jerome P. Webster Fellowship and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. Dr. Marcelo Ghersi, the practice’s other founder, worked at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic and is active as a teacher and an author. Dr. John Oeltjen specializes in breast reconstruction and served as an Associate Professor at the University of Miami.
