Revision Breast Augmentation

Breast implants can be removed and, if desired, replaced during revision breast augmentation surgery. At his Toledo, Ohio, practice, Dr. Craig Colville specializes in revision procedures for women who underwent surgery elsewhere. Cases can range from older implants that need replacing to more complex issues needing correction. The vast majority of women are satisfied after getting breast implants, but complications and other circumstances sometimes require a secondary procedure.

Implant Revision
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Implant Revision
 Before & After Photos

Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

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Before & After

Case: 1 of 12

Implant Revision Case 62

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This patient's original implants were done in the late 80's. After having them for over 20 years, some complications began to occur. She disliked the way they were beginning to look and feel so she visited Dr. colville to have them removed, and new implants were placed in a modern surgical style. She stated, "The feeling... Read More

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Case: 2 of 12

Implant Revision Case 201

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This 37 year old patient had subglandular silicone implants placed by another doctor in 2012. She then experienced capsular contracture in both breasts. After her previous doctor performed a surgery that resulted in no change, she came to Dr. Colville for a second opinion. Dr. Colville performed a capsulectomy and removed her original implants, then... Read More

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Case: 3 of 12

Implant Revision Case 207

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This 38 year old patient experienced capsular contracture in her right breast after having a breast augmentation done elsewhere. With the help of Dr. Colville, she decided to have a capsulectomy and replace the right implant with a new Mentor Saline implant, filled to 450cc. Dr. Colville also used Strattice to help decrease the risk of capsular contracture... Read More

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Case: 4 of 12

Complex Case 404

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This 39 year old patient had a breast augmentation done elsewhere 14 years ago. At the time of her first breast surgery she had a periareolar mastopexy with a breast augmentation. After 2 children she sought help from Dr. Colville. She expressed that she had always felt that her breasts were too big after the initial surgery. She didn't like the... Read More

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Case: 5 of 12

Implant Revision Case 394

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This patient is a 51 year old female with a history of multiple breast surgeries and episodes of capsular contracture from her implants. Her history is even more important that she had small, constricted, narrow breasts that never fully developed.  Dr. Colville reviewed her surgical history and discussed the need to remove her current breast... Read More

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Case: 6 of 12

Breast Implant Revision Case 61

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This patient previously underwent subglandular breast augmentation and presented with implant capsular contracture. Dr. Colville performed a subglandular capsulectomy with a secondary augmentation using size 350 cc implants, as well as a periareolar mastopexy. Read More

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Case: 7 of 12

Breast Implant Revision Case 15

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This patient came to Dr. Colville with contracted breast implants and visible rippling. She had breast augmentation done by another physician when she was 33 years old. The other surgeon placed the implants in the subglandular position, which was common at the time. Dr. Colville removed the implants, and instead placed silicone gel implants in... Read More

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Case: 8 of 12

Implant Revision Case 328

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This 42 year old patient presented with 18 year old saline implants, of which the left implant had failed. Dr. Colville performed a bilateral implant exchange, removing the old saline implants and replacing them with 375 SMR Silicone Gel implants. With the implant exchange he also performed a bilateral crescent mastopexy and a capsulectomy to the... Read More

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Case: 9 of 12

Implant Revision Case 274

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This 61 year old patient had breast implants originally placed in the 80's, replaced in 1994, and then presented to Dr. Colville with capsular contracture in both breasts in 2017. Her goal was to achieve softer, natural looking breasts. Her previous implants were sublandular. Dr. Colville removed her implants, replaced them with Allergan Natrelle... Read More

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Case: 10 of 12

Implant Revision Case 63

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As a result of malpractice, this patient was a victim of what is commonly known as 'plastic surgery gone wrong.' Dr. Colville was able to remove the implants that were incorrectly placed with very minimal damage to the breast tissue. He then performed a breast augmentation to give the patient the results that she had originally... Read More

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Case: 11 of 12

Implant Revision Case 273

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This 47 year old patient had Grade IV Capsular Contracture in her right breast, and Grade III in her left. Her implants that were previously placed by another surgeon were McGhan, textured, style 15, 550cc implants. Dr. Colville removed both implants and replaced them with Allergan, Soft Touch, 605cc implants to reach this patient's desired look.  Read More

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Case: 12 of 12

Implant Revision Case 18

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This patient had saline implants done elsewhere that she was unhappy with. When her right implant failed, she reached out to Dr. Colville to have them replaced. After having her implants replaced, along with a breast lift, she now has 375cc gel implants and is so much happier with her nipple position and the look and feel of her breasts. Read More

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Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

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When Should I Consider Breast Augmentation Revision?

Thorough pre-operative planning, discussion, and execution of breast augmentation surgery will lead to successful results in the vast majority of cases. Changes can occur over time, however, leading to the consideration to undergo revision surgery. Breast implant revision is an option if you have older implants that you wish to have replaced with more modern ones. Implant position or breast fold location may be corrected at this time. Some of the common reasons for revision surgery include:

• Increasing or decreasing the size of the implants
• Changing from saline to silicone implants
• Correcting sagging breasts
• Addressing the malposition of implants

Complications can also occur at any time, requiring correction. Either the breasts are uneven or asymmetrical or the implant isn’t correctly positioned. Other women notice changes in the shape, size, or volume of their breasts. Changes occur because of aging, weight fluctuations, or stretched skin.

General anesthesia is normally used when removing breast implants. Dr. Colville is generally able to use the original incision to insert the new implant, usually removing scar tissue from the original implant at the same time.

Complex Breast Augmentation Revision

Complex breast implant revision surgery includes removing and replacing breast implants from a previous breast augmentation, often for reasons complicated by other factors. This procedure is required for a number of reasons, including:

• Capsular contracture or implant hardening
• Implant leakage
• Implant has changed position
• Implant rippling and noticeable feel
• Asymmetry
• Symmastia
• Aging breasts droop away from the implants

Improved augmentation techniques can now correct issues that were impossible to correct 10 years ago. Most, if not all, breast augmentation procedures performed decades ago inserted implants directly behind the breast glands, which is called a subglandular placement. This placement often caused problems, especially for the saline breast implants used at the time. Common problems included capsular contracture, implant rippling, and shifting implant position.

Today, Dr. Colville often recommends a submuscular placement for the implants. In this procedure, he inserts the implants not only behind the breast gland, but also under the pectoral muscle. This technique relies on the muscle for more natural coverage, and to better hold the implant in place while reducing the chances of capsular contracture, according to some studies. (The exact causes of capsular contracture are unknown at the present time.)

In some cases of capsular contracture, Dr. Colville recommends revision surgery with Strattice® — a natural matrix that helps support or reposition the implant or minimize the chances of recurring capsular contracture or other complications.

Complex Revision With Strattice™ Tissue Matrix

Dr. Craig Colville specializes in complex breast augmentation revision at his Toledo, Ohio, practice. In many cases, he uses Strattice reconstructive tissue matrix to help address specific problems, such as weak or inadequate breast tissue. The Strattice tissue matrix is approved by the FDA and is designed to support tissue regeneration. It is made of the same natural products widely used for years to repair and replace damaged tissues in other surgical procedures.

What is Strattice Tissue Matrix?

The tissue matrix is derived from porcine dermis. It’s a soft, natural product designed to reinforce weak tissue and support the growth of your own tissue. Since 2002, products such as the Strattice tissue matrix have been used in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. They have also been used to treat surgical, trauma, and burn patients for more than 10 years.

Its use in revision procedures can help to:

• Reinforce the breast pocket in the desired location
• Support and position breasts in desired position
• Redefine the breast fold location
• Minimize the need for significant muscle manipulation and spare the use of additional muscles
• Reinforce thin tissue in the presence of ripples and wrinkles

Solution to Complications

Dr. Colville can use Strattice tissue matrix to help women who have undergone surgery elsewhere, and have complex breast issues including:

Bottoming out

Bottoming out is a common complaint from women who have had breast implants for some time. Long after their breast augmentation surgery, some women experience a lengthened nipple-to-inframmamary fold distance — in other words, their nipples seem to have moved up on the breast. In reality, the breast pocket itself has dropped lower than desired, which stretches the skin beneath the breast. Breast skin laxity or the loss of skin elasticity may have also caused the breast to drop.

In the revision surgery, Dr. Colville attaches the tissue matrix internally to the inframammary fold and chest muscle, which can help support and position your breasts in the desired location.

Fold malposition

When the fold below your breast (the inframammary fold) or the fold on the side of your breast (the lateral fold) moves, it’s called “fold malposition.” The form and defining borders of the breasts are affected by natural folds that should provide gentle curvatures under and on both sides of your breasts. These folds give the breasts definition and help maintain their shape and position.

After breast augmentation surgery, one or both breast pockets can be compromised by either the loss of skin elasticity or a breakdown of pocket boundaries, affecting either the inframammary fold, lateral fold, or both. Should this occur, the breast pocket may drift to the outside of your chest or appear to have dropped. They will no longer be in their original, desired position.

In breast implant revision surgery, Dr. Colville readjusts the breast pockets and re-establishes the inframammary and lateral folds. He then uses strips of the tissue matrix to redefine the fold location by supporting the fold repair inferiorly or laterally.

Symmastia

Breast implants can sometimes come too close to the midline of your chest, resulting in a condition called symmastia (sometimes called “bread-loafing” or “uniboob”) The natural space that exists between breasts is gone, leaving a woman without cleavage. Whether the breasts are naturally large or have been enhanced, there should be a degree of separation to give each breast definition.

Symmastia can occur following breast augmentation surgery if:

• The breast pocket created was made too large
• Your breasts have migrated out of their original position
• The fibrous tissue that creates the medial fold becomes weak or stretched

The Strattice tissue matrix can help support the repaired or newly created medial fold. During the breast implant revision, Dr. Colville will use the tissue matrix to reinforce existing weak or inadequate tissue, which may help provide additional support to hold the breast pocket in the desired location.

Wrinkling and rippling

Wrinkling and rippling can occur when the skin is stretched too thin or when the breast pocket exceeds the optimum size needed. Also, if your breast implants migrate out of their original position because the breast pocket is too large, the appearance of rippling may occur. Rippling also commonly results when breast implants are too large and they “bottom out.”

The quality of the skin that envelops the breast tissue significantly influences the shape of your breasts. Even though your breast skin contains special elastic fibers, there is natural and hereditary variation in the amount of elasticity and thickness of each person’s breast skin, and this affects the overall appearance of your breasts.

Dr. Colville places the tissue matrix at the bottom of your breasts to reinforce weak or inadequate tissue. This can help support and position your breasts in the desired location, reducing the presence of wrinkles and ripples on the skin surface.

Capsular contracture

Capsular contracture is an unpredictable condition that may occur when scar tissue that naturally forms around your breast implants continues to increase in thickness. As thickness increases, it squeezes the breast, causing tightness, firmness, and changes in the appearance of your breasts. The condition may occur in one or both breasts and may vary in degree and severity. Discomfort and changes in breast appearance may require additional surgery. There is currently no known cause for this condition. The only known solution is to remove the capsule and replace the implants, sometimes in a newly created pocket.

If you have questions about your implants, or are considering replacing your implants with newer ones, request a consultation online to meet with Dr. Colville or call (419) 534-6551 to schedule an appointment. He serves revision breast augmentation patients from Findlay and Sandusky, OH, as well as Ann Arbor, MI.

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