At some point, every breast augmentation patient will need revision surgery.
Within the first 12 months, up to 10% of patients will need a revision procedure to deal with a complication or to fine-tune a result. Over a lifetime, the typical patient will require a minimum of three revisions, ranging from a change of implants to a breast lift – depending on how the breasts have changed.
Implants do not need to be changed at any set interval.
In the longer term, the two main reasons for revision are: problems with the implant (contracture, mechanical failure, etc.) and changes that your body has undergone (pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight gain, etc.)
Breast implants will not stoop the effects on breast size and shape due to: hormonal changes, tissue changes, aging, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and gravity. In the future, you may find that your appearance goals from your twenties no longer suit you, and you may wish to have your implants removed. There are many reasons to undergo a revision surgery and you must be prepared for this when making the decision to have the initial surgery, as there will be costs and downtime associated with any further procedures.
Your surgeon will work with you to minimize any costs where possible, but ultimately, the responsibility will be yours. You must consider this prior to the initial surgery as it is inevitable that you will need further treatment of some kind in the future.
Revision policy and courtesy discounts may only apply to patients who comply with postoperative orders and visits.
Over time, subsequent revision surgery becomes more complex and therefore potentially more expensive. Whilst the surgeon will do as much as possible to minimize the fees payable, there is no guarantee of any discount, and all costs associated with revision surgery for any reason are ultimately your responsibility.
When considering a revision, it is important to remember that your results will always be a reflection of your original anatomy. And there is no guarantee that revision surgery will be successful.
Perfection is not an option. The surgeon can always adjust your results, but cannot change one thing without adjusting everything else. For example, if you have two different-sized breasts and your nipples line up, increasing the size of the smaller breast will mean that your nipples no longer line up. Essentially you have to choose your imperfection.
The surgeon will only advise a revision if there is a tangible benefit compared to the risk of further surgery.
