Breast Revision

There are those complications of breast augmentation and breast reconstruction that can be prevented, and those that cannot. Botched surgery is a term that was recently popularized on television, but it encompasses a whole spectrum of outcomes – preventable or not – that warrants additional surgery.

A breast revision procedure can address complications from a primary breast augmentation surgery.

BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS

Before

After

Individual results may vary

WHAT IS A BREAST REVISION?

Meticulous technique and careful planning during your first breast augmentation operation can often prevent asymmetry. However, if results are not optimal or complications exist, a secondary surgery may be necessary. In breast augmentation, complications that are harder to control include capsular contracture (where one implant or both implants form a scar capsule) that can be unsightly, painful, or both. Also, scars may heal abnormally despite your surgeon’s best interest, implants can shift asymmetrically with time, and trauma or normal wear-and-tear can lead to implant rupture.

BREAST REVISION AT THE OUR CLINIC

If you feel you have been botched, or you want to refine your good-but-not-great result, call (949) 432-4730 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Zelken today. At the Our clinic, we have access to a large quiver of tools to facilitate revision surgery. For example, modern techniques like fat grafting, use of biological materials derived from human and animal dermis, and an artistic eye may be all that is needed to take your result to the next level.

THE PROCEDURE

Fat grafting entails sucking fat from one part of the body, processing that fat, and then injecting it to other parts. This is especially useful for visible divots that may occur after breast reconstruction and aging. It can also be used to thicken tissue where implants can be seen or felt, and at the junction of the breast and chest wall in thin women or women who have had breast cancer reconstruction. Although we cannot always predict how much graft will survive, Dr. Zelken estimates that as much as 80% of the fat he transplants survives. He attributes this higher-than-average estimate to meticulous technique, extensive experience with fat grafting, and tools like Lifecell’s Revolve system minimize fat cell trauma during transfer.

Acellular dermal matrices like Novadaq’s DermACELL and Lifecell’s AlloDerm and Strattice are derived from human cadaver skin and animal skin, and processed to eliminate nearly all cells and DNA from the material so your body cannot reject it. These are especially useful for repositioning the breasts in treatment of double bubble deformity, asymmetry, symmastia, and capsular contracture. During your consultation, Dr. Zelken will explain how and why he uses it. These materials can get pricey and may require drainage tubes for two or three weeks, so he will discourage them if they are not absolutely necessary. Dr. Zelken can use these materials to thicken skin to allow for future fat grafting, to create an internal barrier against implant movement, and to create a patent-pending internal bra that optimizes implant positioning without affecting the overall appearance.

I loved Z's work so much I recommend my friends to him and they also had amazing results from him.

Stephanie M.

YOUR BREAST CONSULTATION AT THE OUR CLINIC

At the Our clinic, Dr. Zelken will aim to achieve a result that looks like you were never botched in the first place. In some cases, he will acknowledge that this may be highly unlikely- especially after mastectomy, reconstruction, and radiation, but that will not deter him from aiming for the stars. Dr. Zelken believes that aesthetic and reconstructive surgery is synergistic. In other words, he uses his reconstructive knowledge for aesthetic cases, and vice versa. He will tell you that the best reconstructive surgeons and the best aesthetic surgeons are often the same people. So whether you’ve been botched by a surgeon, or by nature, call (949) 432-4730 to explore your options to gain a new lease on life.

FAQ

ARE THERE SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS THAT ARE MORE PREVENTABLE THAN OTHERS?

Some complications can likely be avoided with proper techniques. Complications that can be controlled include a double-bubble deformity, where the implant partially migrates to below the lower breast fold. Another preventable complication is symmastia, which occurs when the breasts touch over your midline. It is important to remember that every patient is an individual and outcomes will vary.