After breast augmentation surgery, many patients experience a self-confidence boost and go on to tell all their friends how satisfied they are with the results. But what happens 10 years down the road? Whether you have concerns about the safety of silicone implants or just want to upgrade to a newer device, changing the size, shape, or type of your implant after a certain length of time is called a breast implant revision. There are many different reasons why women choose to have a breast implant revision, so let’s look at a few.
Concerns About Breast Implant Safety and BIA-ALCL
If you have textured breast implants, you may be worried about breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or BIA-ALCL. From plasticsurgery.org, “BIA-ALCL is a rare and highly treatable type of lymphoma that can develop around breast implants. BIA-ALCL occurs most frequently in patients who have breast implants with textured surfaces. This is a cancer of the immune system, not a type of breast cancer.”
Common symptoms of BIA-ALCL include: breast enlargement, pain, asymmetry, a lump in the breast or armpit, overlying skin rash, hardening of the breast, or a large fluid collection in the breast. So far, patients with both silicone gel and saline implants are at risk of BIA-ALCL if they have a textured surface, but no smooth-surfaced breast implants have had any confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL. Because of these statistics, some women desire a breast revision to replace their textured implants with smooth-surfaced implants, such as the smooth-surfaced IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Saline Breast Implants.
Worries about Silent Rupture and the Overall Safety of Silicone Implants
Many women like the look and feel of silicone gel breast implants, but they’re worried about monitoring their implants for silent rupture. A silent rupture occurs when sticky silicone gel oozes out of your implants but you don’t know that it’s happened. This gel can come in contact with your body tissue and cause further breast implant complications. The only way to detect a silent rupture is with MRIs or special mammograms that have to be paid for out-of-pocket. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Naveen Setty says, “I've had a couple patients where we went in to replace the silicone gel implants with the IDEAL IMPLANT, and we found a silent rupture in the silicone gel implant while doing that. The patients were very happy afterwards that they had switched to the IDEAL IMPLANT, because they didn't have to worry about that silent rupture occurring again.”
Breast implant safety statistics show that the IDEAL IMPLANT outperforms silicone gel-filled implants when it comes to both implant rupture and capsular contracture. Capsular contracture occurs when the capsule of scar tissue around the implant becomes unusually hard and starts to contract around it. With the IDEAL IMPLANT, you have a 2.1% chance of an implant rupture occurring, compared to a 7-13% chance with silicone gel implants. A lot of women like that they also don’t have to pay for expensive routine imaging with the IDEAL IMPLANT, because a quick glance in the mirror will tell them whether or not their implants are intact.
Feeling That They Should Have Gone Bigger or Smaller
Before a breast augmentation, it’s important to not only consider the long-term safety of silicone implants, but also your long-term personal goals. After an augmentation, when the swelling and bruising has gone down, some women express the wish that they should have asked for bigger breast implants, while others wish they would have gone smaller. After several years, some patients even want them removed altogether. Discussing realistic expectations with your surgeon beforehand can help you pinpoint where you want to be, but if you’re still unsatisfied after surgery, a breast revision can adjust your breasts to the size you want to be.
Patients Trust the Experience of Dr. Setty
How you feel about your personal breast implant safety should matter. If you still don’t know if a breast implant revision is right for you, Dr. Setty is happy to listen to your concerns and educate you on the benefits and compromises of you personal decision.
“I needed to have my implants replaced. . . . Dr. Setty is an excellent surgeon who listened very carefully to my wants, needs, and concerns. He gave me extra time in terms of phone calls and appointments to address my specific issues. The surgery went very well and I am very happy with the results. Dr. Setty is talented, respectful, a good listener and . . . Everyone at Dr. Setty’s office is great. They answered all my questions, did what they said they would do and were very supportive. I highly recommend Dr. Setty and his staff.”- Realself.com review from Karen E
Dr. Setty was recently recognized as an IDEAL IMPLANT® Premier Network Surgeon for his extensive experience working with the IDEAL IMPLANT. His combined education, training, and years of experience in the plastic surgery industry set him apart from other plastic surgeons in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Call 972-842-0900 to book your no-obligation consultation today!