Implant Replacement - 3 Weeks Post Op and Unhappy

I had surgery to replace saline implants overs with smooth gel implants over. Surgeon recommended sub musc placement of implants with lift. I'm averse to scars because of keloids in past so really wanted to avoid a lift. Surgeon agreed to gel implants in same pocket without lift advising this was not optimal and I would likely need a lift in time. I was mostly concerned with rippling but still have significant rippling :( Now I'm ready for a lift :\ How should I proceed?

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13 Doctor Answers | Asked by jf6466 in CA

Doctor Answers (13)
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Unhappy Early

It is way to early to make any decision regarding further surgery. I feel your surgeon advised you correctly. I am sorry you are unhappy. Are you implants on top of the muscle or subpectoral. My preference would to place your implants under the muscle but I would wait a minimum of three months. A lift could be done at the same time. This operation does have higher risks and your surgeons can certainly help you to make an informed incision.

Keloids and Breast Augmentation

I would wait about 2-3 months and let the swelling to completely resolve and the breast to settle. Before you proceed you and your surgeon should talk about how to manage the potential for keloid formation including not performing the lift and removal of the implants if the risk of the keloid formation is great. Dr. ES

Re-operating too soon is not advisable.

Three weeks after any operation is too soon for any patient to be making a final assessment. Your breasts will continue to change shape over the next few months, so be patient. Further, the amount of and degree of scar tissue that you likely have at three weeks precludes an optimal operation. Unless there is a real emergency, it is better to wait at least 3-6 months for any other procedure on your breasts.

Removal and Replacement of Implants

I agree that the best treatment for your recurrent rippling is a new submuscular pocket with lift. Rippling is a function of thin overlying coverage, and to provide adequate coverage, a submuscular pocket is indicated. Skin tightening is typically required so that it isn't loose and saggy overlying this much higher pocket. Yes, scars are the trade-off, but they fade with time and hide well in bras and swimsuits. If there were a better way to do this without the scars, believe me, we... more

Need a lift after implants

Discuss your issues with your surgeon. If you need a lift and he recommended it in the first place, you will more than likely have to pay for the surgery. You will probably have to wait a few months to insure proper healing from your initial surgery.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Listen to your doctor

Sometimes we have our own ideas of how things should be done and need a doctor who is willing to say no to you. It sounds like the submuscular placement would be better as there is more tissue between the implant and the skin thereby diminishing the wrinkling. The lift will help to tighten the skin and raise the nipple to a better height. Go back and discuss this problem with your doctor. Thjere may be ways to minimize the scars by doing a periareolar or a... more

You need a breast lift

Sounds as though your two biggest issues are rippling of your implants and droopiness of the breasts. This can be corrected with a mastopexy (breast lift) and conversion to a submuscular pocket. Visit with your plastic surgeon to determine the optimal timing for this. Best of luck.

Breast lift staged after augmentation is ideal sequence

Your situation is ideal from the perspective of predictable results with a breast lift- the procedures are best 'staged' with augmentation preceding a lift. In most cases, patients don't want to deal with two separate operations, and they lift and augment are combined. That's okay, but I think results are most predictable when a lift is done after an augmentation as a separate procedure. This is my opinion- this is a hotly debated subject amongst plastic surgeons. If... more

Breast lift following implant remove and replacement

IT sounds as if you are particularly thin and I am not sure that putting the implants under the muscle will significantly alleviate the rippling. The use of ADM may be an option to mask rippling over the inferolateral aspects of the implant. If you have rippling in the upper portions of the breast, you will have no choice but to try under the muscle placement. Your choice of lift depends on the extent of ptosis.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Please go back to your surgeon.

There is nothing wrong with your decision regarding the not having the lift at same time as the implant exchange. You need to go back to your surgeon for the lift.