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If you have undergone breast surgery and are unhappy with your results, Dr. Heil can expertly perform breast revision surgery to achieve the results you originally desired. With his compassionate, skillful approach, Dr. Heil delivers results that are balanced, youthful, and completely customized to your body and aesthetic goals. With breast revision surgery, Dr. Heil can reverse complications, remove breast implants, increase or decrease implant size, or address asymmetry.


Why Consider A Breast Revision With Dr. Brian Heil?

Breast revision requires a higher level of delicacy and precision than the primary breast procedure, as the surgeon must navigate tissues that have already been manipulated. As a board-certified plastic surgeon who has trained at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, Dr. Heil possesses the technique necessary to provide the desired result. The entire purpose is to correct flaws in the original surgery, restoring your confidence.

Typically, patients pursue breast revision for the following reasons:

  • Implant exchange
  • Increase or decrease in implant size
  • Removal of implant
  • Switch from saline to silicone, or vice versa
  • Capsular contracture
  • Double bubble
  • Malposition
  • Implant rupture or leakage
  • Implant asymmetry
  • Implant deflation
  • Rippling

Who Makes The Best Candidate For Breast Revision?

Ideal candidates for breast revision should be non-smokers, and of sound mind and body with no significant health issues. Patients who can benefit from breast revision include those who are unhappy with the appearance of their breasts following a prior breast surgery. In such cases, patients are typically seeking improvement in implant appearance, removal of implants, or exchange of implants.

During your initial consultation, Dr. Heil will discuss expectations, allowing you to understand what can be accomplished through breast revision surgery. It is important that the two of you are in complete understanding before proceeding with surgery.

Breast Revision Pittsburgh, PA

When & Why to Get an Implant Exchange:

Despite incredible advances in breast implant technology over the years, breast implants are not yet lifetime devices. At the same time, breast implants should typically not be replaced unless they present significant problems. The average saline or silicone breast implant can last up to 20 years, though as many as 20 percent of patients may have them removed or replaced within about 8 to 10 years.

Common Reasons for Implant Exchange

  • Changes in one’s own body or beauty ideals.
  • Changes in one’s physique due to weight gain/loss, aging, or hormones.
  • Switching from saline to silicone implants or vice versa.
  • Evidence of possible problems with the implants themselves.
  • Implant displacement, rippling visible on the surface of the breasts, or ruptures.

Implant Exchange Surgery

The replacement of breast implants occurs in a surgical procedure called an Implant Exchange. In a three-hour surgery that is quite similar to the initial breast augmentation procedure, the old implants are exchanged out with a new set of implants of the same, larger, or smaller size in accordance with a patient’s current ideals. This is also an opportunity to switch from one implant type to another, should the patient want to do so. For optimal appearance and healing, the required incisions are usually made in the same area as the initial incisions. If you are interested in an implant exchange, please contact our office to schedule a personal consultation.

Treating Capsular Contracture

When breast implants are put in place, part of the body’s natural healing process includes creating a “capsule” of protective scar tissue around the implant. This occurs with other types of implants as well, whether done for medical or cosmetic reasons. In rare cases, no matter how expertly the surgery was done, that capsule of scar tissue may, over time, become hard and begin to contract around the implant, thus causing what is called “capsular contracture.”

Grades of Capsular Contracture

Capsular contracture can lead to aesthetic problems in the position and presentation of breast implants, or to pain and discomfort. Capsular contracture is measured on a 1 to 4 scale, with grades 1 and 2 not necessitating treatment, and Grades 3 and 4 causing increasingly obvious cosmetic defects. In these later grades, the breasts will be firm to the touch, may be overly round or misshapen, and are often sore.

  • Grade 1: Produces no symptoms. The breasts are soft and look natural.
  • Grade 2: Minor cosmetic anomalies. The breasts are normal in shape but feel a bit firm.
  • Grade 3: Obvious cosmetic symptoms. The breasts are firm to the touch and look abnormal, but little if any pain occurs.
  • Grade 4: The breasts are hard and poorly shaped and are sore and painful to the touch.

Capsular Contracture Surgery

Your surgeon may want to try a treatment round of a prescription medication that has been shown to reduce capsular contracture. If this isn’t successful, the solution to capsular contracture is a capsulectomy. Capsulectomy is the removal of the implants as well as the scar tissue that now surrounds them. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and usually takes from 2 to 4 hours. Depending on the surgical technique used, an inframammary or periareolar incision is made, the scar tissue is released, and the implant is removed and replaced.

What Should I Expect During My Recovery From Breast Revision?

Following breast revision, the initial recovery period lasts 7-10 days. During this time, you will experience soreness, swelling, bruising, and tenderness. Our office will provide you with proper pain medications as well as a full list of aftercare instructions to help you navigate the recovery process. Most notably, it is paramount to avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for 4-6 weeks following surgery, while also taking care to avoid strain on the chest in any context.

What is the cost for breast revision surgery?

Breast revision is highly customized to each client. For this reason, the cost will vary from patient to patient, based upon your circumstances and goals. During your initial consultation, Dr. Heil will perform a comprehensive exam and listen to your wishes, after which our office will provide a quote for services. At this time, we will be happy to help with financing options to help you get the desired treatment with no delay.

  • Bilateral exchange/replacement submuscular augmentation mammaplasty (Gels) $7300-$9000

What Is The Cost Of Breast Revision?

Breast revision is highly customized to each patient. For this reason, the cost will vary from patient to patient, based upon your circumstances and goals. During your initial consultation, Dr. Heil will perform a comprehensive exam and listen to your wishes, after which our office will provide a quote for services. At this time, we will be happy to help with financing options to help you get the desired treatment with no delay.

Breast Revision Pittsburgh, PA

Why Choose Premier Plastic Surgery For Breast Revision?

For those seeking surgery to repair the unwanted effects of subpar breast surgery, Dr. Heil is among the best options in Pittsburgh. With unparalleled training—consisting of a five-year residency followed by a fellowship in Micro Surgery—Dr. Heil brings an unusual level of skill to the operating table. Since founding Premier Plastic Surgery in 2001, Dr. Heil has consistently delivered successful outcomes for his patients in Pittsburgh, and is eager to help you achieve the outcome you desire.

In addition to Dr. Heil’s surgical expertise, the entire experience at Premier is second to none. Most notably, of course, your surgical care is delivered by a consummate master in breast revision techniques. In addition, your entire journey is overseen by caring staff in an environment dedicated to you. At Premier, we understand your commitment to cosmetic improvement, and we match that commitment to ensure your journey is smooth and comfortable as possible.

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