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Breast Implant Revision & Complex Breast Surgery in Baltimore, MD

Feeling beautiful and confident is the primary goal for breast enhancement patients, and no woman expects unsatisfactory results. If you are displeased with the results from previous breast surgery or now want a different size than you originally anticipated, we can help by performing a breast implant revision. Our Baltimore breast surgeons have extensive experience and expertise in breast revision surgery and will help you achieve the look you desire.

Why do patients seek breast revision surgery?

The Want a Different Breast Implant Size or Type

Common reasons patients seek breast implant revisions are to change either the size or the style of their breast implants called elective implant exchange. If you wish your breasts were larger or smaller, or want to swap saline for silicone (or silicone to saline) – we can help you find the breast implants that will meet your goals.

Capsular Contracture

As your body heals following breast augmentation, a capsule of scar-like tissue will naturally form around the implants. In most cases, this capsule is thin, soft and harmless. In rare cases, the capsule may become thick, hard or shrink, causing discomfort and a distorted appearance.

This condition can become quite painful and embarrassing for patients who experience it. Unfortunately, the reason it occurs is still unknown. Factors that may increase the chance of capsular contracture are as follows:

• Infections during or after surgery (such as dental work).
• A rupture of a gel or a silicone implant.
• Placement of breast implant above the muscle.
• Radiation treatment or exposure (before or after breast augmentation surgery).
• Bacterial exposure to the breast implant during or after surgery.
• Hematoma or seroma.

At Belcara Health, our breast revision specialists treat capsular contracture by removing the breast implant, surgically removing (excising) the capsule and starting over, using the meticulous preventative techniques they’ve honed over decades of experience.

Rippling

Rippling is when a breast implant develops wrinkles or folds that are visible. This condition happens more with saline implants in women with little tissue to cover the implant. Rippling can be avoided or corrected by choosing an experienced surgeon to recommend the right implant type and placement for your anatomy.

The quality of the skin that surrounds your breast tissue significantly influences the shape of your breasts. Your skin’s natural elasticity and thickness, and your level of body fat will affect the overall appearance of your breasts and must be considered when selecting breast implant type and positioning during surgery.  Rippling may also occur when the original surgeon creates a breast pocket that is too large for the implants, allowing them to shift from their original position.

Symmastia

Normal-looking chests have a natural space between the breasts, called the medial fold. This space plays an important role in the overall appearance of the chest, giving the breasts their shape and the pretty cleavage most women desire.

Symmastia is a condition that occurs following a breast augmentation when the implants fall to the middle of the chest, creating an unnatural, odd-looking, bread loaf-like appearance. This can happen when:

• Breast pockets are made too large or too close to the center of the chest.
• Implants are too wide for the patient’s body frame.
• Implants migrate out of their original position.
• Breast tissue becomes weak or stretched.

Our board-certified plastic surgeons use a variety of techniques to repair symmastia, such as using internal sutures and/or specialized mesh materials to reinforce and secure the cleavage area.

Bottoming Out

Patients with breast implants that have “bottomed out” have nipples that look overly high on the breast or have a breast fold that appears unnaturally low. Bottoming out most often occurs in patients who have very little or naturally thin breast tissue—the implant is able to pull the breast down and cause it to bottom out.

The revision surgery to correct bottoming out of breast implants involves moving the breast fold up higher. This is accomplished by reinforcing the lower portion of the breast pocket with internal sutures and/or specialized mesh materials, lifting the breast implant, reinforcing the proper fold and resulting in a more attractive, natural-looking breast shape.

Ruptured Breast Implants

Ruptured implants can be detected by a decrease in breast volume, asymmetry, discomfort or swelling.  Causes include:

• Under-filling a saline implant can cause it to fold, which may allow the surfaces to rub together over time, creating friction that weakens the integrity of the implant.
• Over-filling the implant may lead to the shell stretching, weakening, and eventually rupturing.
• Trauma, brute force, or injury to the chest can occasionally lead to a rupture or slow leak.

Please note that saline and gel/silicone implant leakage has NOT been shown to cause any harm to patients. Extensive studies have found no long-term health hazards caused by breast implant leaks.

Double Bubble

A double bubble occurs when an implant drops behind the natural fold of the breast and creates an unnatural indentation or line across the bottom of the breast. Fortunately, a double bubble is a relatively rare complication that is easily correctable with a breast revision procedure.

Double bubble deformity may occur when:

• Implants are too heavy for the chest wall
• Implants are poorly positioned
• The mammary crease is constricted
• Scarring is present from previous breast surgeries

The breast surgeons at Belcara Health offer a variety of solutions to correct these conditions and provide the natural-looking, beautiful results patients originally envisioned for themselves.

Where will the breast revision procedure take place?

Most breast revision patients elect to have their procedures performed in our on-site surgery center. Our 5-star facility, the Belcara Health Clarkview Surgical Center in Baltimore, MD, was designed with the safety, comfort, privacy, and convenience of our patients in mind. It features state-of-the-art technology and meets the most rigorous safety standards. We are proud to be one of the few outpatient surgical facilities to earn AAAHC accreditation, as well as certifications from Medicare and the state of Maryland. Because safety is our first concern, all surgical procedures are performed with board-certified anesthesiologists and registered nurses.

What does a breast implant revision procedure cost?

We understand that having a general range of breast revision procedure prices can be helpful so we are happy to provide estimated price ranges for the plastic surgery procedures we perform.  However, it is important to note that these price ranges are general estimates only.

Generally speaking, our price range for breast revision procedures is between $7,000 – $12,000.

The best way to learn about plastic surgery pricing is to consult directly with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.  During your breast revision consultation, your surgeon will listen carefully to your concerns and goals and assess your medical history, lifestyle, and anatomy. Together, you and your surgeon will review all your treatment options and develop a personalized plan that meets all your needs. Only then are we able to provide an accurate price quote, which will include:

• All visits before and after the procedure
• Operating Room time and supplies
• Surgeon’s fee
• Anesthesia fees
• All medical devices, implants, and support materials

Breast Revision Surgical Expertise for Superior Results

If you are ready to improve how you look and feel, the practice and surgeon you select are your most important decisions. To be confident with your results, you must have confidence in your medical team.

Breast correction surgery requires extensive training and experience, an artistic eye, the ability to problem-solve and a dedication to keeping informed about new and innovative techniques and technologies – all key attributes of our Breast Implant Revision Specialist, Dr. Michael Cohen. Dr. Cohen is one of the most acclaimed Breast Revision surgeons in the country, renowned for providing his patients with outstanding results. With over 25 years of experience, a keen eye, and exceptional skill, Dr. Cohen can help you achieve the beautiful breasts you desire. Dr. Cohen will listen carefully to your goals, answer all your questions and help you make informed choices about your procedure.

At Belcara Health, exceptional patient care is the core of our philosophy. Our goal is for you to feel as if you just received the best care possible and absolutely love your results. Located in a welcoming, sophisticated, luxurious facility, our 5-star services, and outstanding staff provide an unparalleled experience. At each stage, we make every effort to surpass all your expectations. We are constantly upgrading our knowledge, technology, and services–and it shows. Our strong reputation and the trust of the community validates this commitment.

Our Practitioners Who Specialize in Breast Revision

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