Revisional Breast Augmentation & Complications After Breast Augmentation

Breast implant surgery can sometimes require revisonal surgery to fix various complications including leaks, capsular contraction, rippling, bleeding, and more. As a breast augmentation specialist, Dr. Usha Rajagopal has helped hundreds of women regain their desired breast shape and size.

Breast Implant Leaks

While breast implants can remain intact for decades in the body, all such devices will fail at some point.  Leaks can be caused by degradation of the implant shell, chest trauma, damage during implantation and in rare cases from the pressure of mammograms. Saline implants have a failure rate of two percent per year while silicone gel implants have a lower failure rate of .5 percent per year. When saline breast implants break, they usually deflate quickly and can be easily removed. When silicone implants break they do not usually deflate, and the silicone can leak and require removal of the implant. Dr. Rajagopal can help determine implant leaks and ruptures and recommend a solution.

Before             After

Case Description:
Left implant silicone leak

Before             After

Case Description:
Right implant deflation

Capsular Contraction

Capsular contraction can occur when capsules of tightly-woven fibroblasts naturally form as the body's response to an implant. They wall the implant off and sometimes begin squeezing the implant. Capsular contraction may be caused by contamination, rupture or leakage, and bleeding, and the complication can be painful and distort the appearance of the breast. It requires removing the implant & scar tissue & re-inserting the implant. There's increased risk of capsular contraction with silicone gel implants as well as implant placement above the muscle (subglandular), or insertion of the implant via the nipple. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rajagopal is experienced at helping patients dealing with capsular contraction.

Double Bubble Deformity

A so-called 'double bubble deformity' can be caused by problems with the pocket where the implant is located in the body. In a double-bubble deformity, the implant can sit at the normal level for the breast, but the natural breast tissue and nipple have sagged downward. It can occur after surgery or over time because of pregnancy, weight loss or gravity. Patients often need more surgery to redo the pocket an dreplace the implant in another pocket. remove extra skin to create a normal-appearing breast, and Dr. Rajagopal can provide a solution.

Before             After

Symmastia

Symmastia, though generally uncommon, is the appearance of one breast (uniboob) in the center of the chest and requires surgical correction. Symmastia tends to be more prevalent among thin women.

Symmastia before & afters:

Before             After

Before             After

Bleeding / Hematoma

Bleeding, and hematoma or bruising is another complication and may require surgical correction to control. Implant surgery can cause infection, which can be treated with antibiotics, though serious infections require not only antibiotics but also removal of the breast implant and about a ninety-day wait before reimplantation. Dr. Rajagapol takes every possible step to ensure a speedy recovery.

Implant Rippling

The normal process of implant settling can also pull on the implant's scar capsule. This pull in turn pulls on skin and can cause rippling, leading to more visibility of the implant. Rippling can be lessened by using an implant with a smooth shell or silicone gel implant and Dr. Rajagapol can recommend the best implant for a patient.

Breast Implant Scarring

Every skin type is different, but breast implant surgery creates a scar that can be treated early on by applying scar cream. Even with the best technique, a patient can get scars, and number of options exist for scarring including Maderma (scar cream), silicone gel sheeting, V beam laser. Patients with serious scars may require reimplantation and Dr. Rajagapol can help.

Dr. Rajagopal discusses commonly asked questions about Breast Augmentation on KRON4's Body Beautiful:

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