Should I seek revision? 4 years post-op & had trouble with blood flow & healing (Photos)

Thank you for your inquiry! We would love to meet with you to discuss the concerns you have and also discuss the revision for the retained areola. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic to discuss your goals.

Dear arhea7,

breast revision surgery is the most difficult plastic surgery procedure performed. Botched breast surgery alters normal tissue planes and laxity, the ability of breasts to heal properly, and leaves scar tissue that dramatically affects the level of difficulty of the corrective surgery.
Many patients come in to correct poor outcomes from their initial surgeries. The most common problems are due to implant malposition, bottoming out of the implant, poor scarring, and incorrect implant size.
While the type of revision required will depend on the result of the previous surgery and the desired result of the patient, some revisions involve extensive pocket repair that may or may not need specialized external bras.
If you are considering breast surgery revision, you should speak with a board certified plastic surgeon and have yourself properly assessed. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations. Also, you have to make sure that your surgeon understands your breast augmentation goals.


Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

I would recommend a lift only to further shape the breasts and reduce the excess skin. This would also help get rid of the residual pigment.

Hello and thank you for your question.Based on the photograph provided, I think you would benefit from a breast lift revision in order to remove the retained areolar pigment on the vertical incision. In addition, the breasts appear somewhat "bottomed out", meaning that a large portion of your breast volume is below the nipple areolar complex. I would recommend revision mastopexy/small breast reduction using a superomedial pedicle with inferior pole resection in a Wise pattern (removing skin and breast tissue from the area below the nipple and areola to create an inverted T incision pattern closure). This would maintain the fullness of the upper portions of you breasts while reducing the dependent volume along the lower part of your breasts. The position of the nipple areolar complexes would not need to be significantly altered, and this would minimize the risk of blood flow issues and wound healing problems. I hope this helps. Good luck.

At this time, I recommend a repeat breast lift using The Bellesoma Method. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained if not injured during your previous surgery. This will lift the nipple-areola complex higher and the breasts can be reduced slightly as well. The scars below the areola would be removed.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

I would suggest a full breast lift/reduction. You have a lot of tissue below your fold. Removal of the tissue in the lower aspect of the breast will make for a maximally lifted and tightened breast. The additional areolar tissue can also be removed at the same time. I would not hesitate to proceed. Thank you.

Thank you for posting your question here!My answer will be based on the limited information and pictures provided , for a detailed and personalized plan , please consult with a plastic surgeon in person.
From your picture I would have to agree with the first surgeon , breast lift revision should help improve the shape and get rid of the retained areola. Every time you operate there is a risk of issues with healing and blood supply but again from the pictures you don't seem to need a lot of movement on your nipples , so this is less likely to be a concern and you are four years out from your original surgery so new blood supply has already been established.I hope this helps, best of luck!

Thank you for your question and picture. I would have to agree with the first plastic surgeon and say that this should not be a difficult fix to re-do the lift and possibly reduce the size some to eliminate the retained areolar tissue and to lift the breast more. While there will always likely be some amount of natural "droop" to the breast, I think that a revision would be worth it and very safe. Be sure to see a BoardCertified PS that does revisional breast surgery as most do.

Because your nipple areolar complex is in a pleasing position, it does not need to be moved and therefore compromise its blood supply. The rest of what needs to be done will not affect the blood supply to either the nipple areolar complex or the rest of your breast skin.

A revision mastopexy should be straight-forward and safe to do. It would remove the excess pigmented area and reshape the breast to a more pleasing contour.