How do I find the best revision surgeon? Unhappy with the result of my breast lift/reduction surgery. (Photos)

Question

Dear Doctors. I am unhappy with the result of my breast lift/reduction surgery earlier this year. Now the asymmetry is more severe then a tiny one my Doctor noticed and promised to fix, and shape is pretty poor, especially of the wider breast. We've lost mutual understanding with my Doctor during post-op consultation after I voiced the concern. I felt patronized and unheard. Insurance demands are met, period. What is the best way to find the very best breast lift/reduction revision surgeon?

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.  It is an important one: selection of your plastic surgeon will be the most important decision you make when it comes to achieving an outcome that you will be pleased with.
Generally I suggest that patients start with the American Society of Plastic Surgery and/or the Aesthetic Society of Plastic Surgery to obtain a list of well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons.
Then, I would suggest you visit a few surgeons whose practices concentrate on aesthetic surgery. 
***Ask to see lots of examples of their work and preferably speak/see patients who have had similar procedures done.  Ultimately it will be important that you feel comfortable that your plastic surgeon have a significant/demonstrable experience consistently achieving the types of outcomes you will be pleased with.   
Besides appropriate training and experience (and certification by the American Board of plastic surgery), looking at before/after photographs (and  preferably talking to previous patients) can be very helpful in this selection process.
****Basically, patients should look at the overall "quality" of the outcomes achieved;  in other words, it will be important that patients see lots of examples of outcomes that they would be pleased with.  In doing so patients will be able to get an idea of each  plastic surgeon's "aesthetic sensibilities".
 My best advice: select your plastic surgeon carefully based on priorities of safety record and confidence in his/her ability to deliver an outcome that you will be pleased with.
 I hope this helps. Best wishes.

Orna Fisher, MD · Answer

You did the right thing going back to your original plastic surgeon before seeking other opinions. The biggest issue here is that you had a medical breast reduction through your insurance company. While plastic surgeons always strive to have the best cosmetic outcomes, there are additional goals of a medical breast reduction that are the priority and are dictated by the insurance company, not by you and not by the plastic surgeon. Other than a keloid scar after surgery, an insurance company would have little reason to authorize a revision if their criteria for tissue weight was met in the original surgery. 
Revision surgery focused on a cosmetic outcome is definitely not part of that, and the track for having any insurance surgery is different than that for cosmetic surgery. Surgeons experienced in revision surgery expect that you will go through the cosmetic track. Most of us don't work with insurance companies at all. This means that your revision will be completely out of pocket.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,'The Best' is a platitude that is impossible to quantify. ABPS certified/ASAPS member surgeons who specialize in revision breast surgery would be the neighborhood that you should be looking, though.  The photo of your breasts from below gives insight to one of your problems: one breast is narrower and more projecting, the other is wider and flatter. My first guess is that differences in implant or implant scar capsules may be the cause of this, but it could also be caused or exacerbated by differences in breast tissue distribution. Only an in person exam will differentiate that. Best of luck!

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Cal4nia,Finding the right Dr. is extremely challenging especially with the number of online platforms and resources available. There a lot of great Dr's available. Definitely check to make sure your choice specializes in the procedure you want and spend the time to read through patient testimonials. 
You can always pick up the phone and call around also, find an office you feel comfortable with and set up a few consultations. Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

as you will see but you do have issues that can be improved upon.  I'm sorry your surgeon has taken the attitude of insurance minimums met, goals achieved.  You do need an exam to determine what your issues are and to better appreciate your expectations.  Then and only then can reasonable options be provided to you from which you can choose.  Your procedure would be considered cosmetic so you would be paying out of pocket for this now.  And if a full mastopexy is not being done, no one should be charging your the full mastopexy fee so make sure you compare costs from several surgeons.

How do I find the best revision surgeon? Unhappy with the result of my breast lift/reduction surgery. (Photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Choosing a surgeon

Answer: Choosing a surgeon

Answer: There is no 'best'

Answer: There is no 'best'

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Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

How do I find the best revision surgeon? Unhappy with the result of my breast lift/reduction surgery. (Photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Choosing a surgeon

Answer: Choosing a surgeon

Answer: There is no 'best'

Answer: There is no 'best'

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.