Breast Revision in Scottsdale, AZ

Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jude LaBarbera, performs breast revision surgery to help women in Scottsdale feel more comfortable and attractive. Every year, breast augmentations and lifts help thousands of patients boost their confidence, expand their clothing choices, and accentuate their figures. Unfortunately, not all procedures go well. Women may be dissatisfied with the results or burdened by unsightly or uncomfortable complications. In some instances, patients are not happy with how their implants or scars look, necessitating breast revision surgery. Luckily,  we provide effective solutions. Using the latest techniques, Dr. LaBarbera and his team can solve many complications and problems resulting from prior breast procedures.

Table of Contents

What Is Breast Revision?

Reasons for Breast Revision

Before the Breast Revision

Types of Breast Revision Surgery

Recovery After Breast Revision Surgery

Candidates for Revision Breast Surgery

Benefits of Revision Breast Surgery

Cost of Breast Revision in Scottsdale

How Is Our Breast Revision Surgery Different From Others?

What Is Breast Revision?

Breast revision surgery is a procedure that corrects or improves the results  of an original breast augmentation, lift, or reduction. It is performed when  a patient is dissatisfied with the outcomes of their first operation. The goal  of breast revision is to better align the look and feel of the breasts with the patient’s preferences. On average, this surgery takes 1-2 hours to complete and requires general anesthesia to maximize comfort and prevent pain.  The specifics of the technique depend on the patient’s desired changes  and preferences.

Reasons for Breast Revision

Patients have different motivations to undergo a breast revision. Some do it due to aesthetic concerns, while others want to address some discomfort or functional problems. Most women have a breast revision surgery for the following reasons:

Breast Implant-Related Revision

Ruptured Implant

In general, breast implants tend to be safe and cases of leakages are rare. However, in some situations, the shell breaks down and the solution contained inside (silicone or saline) outflows to the surrounding body tissues, leading to a noticeable deflation of the breasts. Silicone implant ruptures may not be physically noticeable, so an MRI scan is required to detect leakages. In such cases, Dr. LaBarbera will perform revision surgery to replace the damaged implants.

Rippling of the Breast or Implant

Sometimes, a noticeable rippling appears underneath or on the breast’s side. This is more prevalent in patients with saline implants, those with lower tissue volume, and those who are thin. Rippling is not a complication, but it creates unnatural folds that may lead to an unsightly appearance and cause discomfort.

Capsular Contracture

Capsular contracture is a well-known complication of breast augmentation surgery. The body naturally forms scar tissue around the implants as a defense mechanism. Sometimes, this tissue may tighten and harden. This can misshapen the appearance of the breast and implant, leading to discomfort. Dr. Jude LaBarbera will perform a capsulectomy to remove the scar tissue surgically, and often an implant exchange is required.

Double Bubble Deformity

In some cases, an implant may move out of its designated pocket, leading to a double breast appearance. This normally happens when implants are not properly placed. Capsular contracture may also lead to implant displacement in the breast pocket. Plastic surgeons perform a revision operation to correct the deformity and make the breasts look symmetrical.

Aesthetic Reasons

Many women undergo breast augmentation to increase the size of their breasts for aesthetic purposes. After surgery, some of them may feel dissatisfied with the results and want to revert to their natural breast size. In this case, Dr. Jude will perform breast revision surgery to remove the implant and tighten the breast skin to restore its original appearance.

Further Breast Enhancement

After breast augmentation, some women may not be happy with the shape, size, texture, and material of their implants. Revision surgery can help achieve a larger size or switch from round to teardrop-shaped implants. Dr. LaBarbera will consider all options for modifying the breast to ensure that patients receive the intended results.

Breast Implant-Related Revision

Scar Revision Surgery

Some women who have undergone a breast lift may be dissatisfied with the visible scarring that remains. Although surgeons take care to minimize these traces, some patients feel self-conscious about scars along the areola, vertically down the breast, or horizontally across the breast crease. Scar tissue may also be raised, uneven, or a different color than the surrounding skin. Therefore, revision surgery is a viable option for such patients.

Breast Shape & Appearance

In some cases, women are unhappy with the final shape and contour of their breasts after a lift. Skin elasticity, genetics, and normal aging can affect surgical results over time. The breasts may begin to sag or appear uneven again. These changes can be discomforting and make patients self-conscious. Revision surgery may help to elevate, refine, and support the shape of the breasts.

Before the Breast Revision Consultation

The first step is a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Jude LaBarbera. During this meeting, he gets to know the patient and learns about their aesthetic goals. The patient provides as many details as possible about their initial surgery, such as the size and brand of implants, the type of incisions, and the recovery period. We also examine the operative report (if available) from the previous operation. All this information helps  Dr. LaBarbera create a sound strategy for a successful revision. The surgeon may also study the patient’s medical history, conduct a physical examination, and make measurements to lay the groundwork for the new procedure.

Types of Breast Revision Surgery

Breast revision is typically performed under general anesthesia. We always aim to make this procedure as comfortable as possible. The duration of breast revision depends on the type of surgery being carried out. Here are the most popular options:

Breast Implant Revision

Breast Implant Removal
This procedure involves surgically removing implants from the patient's breasts. For saline breast implants, Dr. LaBarbera makes an incision, drains the saltwater solution, takes out the implant shell, and closes the incisions. For silicone implants, the surgeon removes the whole device and seals the incisions. The implants are not replaced in this operation.

Breast Lift Revision

A breast lift revision (also known as secondary mastopexy) adjusts and refines results from a previous lift. The surgery involves making incisions around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease, removing excess skin, reshaping breast tissue, and sealing incisions. Secondary mastopexy is often performed to improve the aesthetic look of breasts or deal with complications from the previous breast lift.

Breast Pocket Revision

This surgery revises the existing implant pocket to change implant positioning or dimensions. Dr. LaBarbera makes appropriate incisions, opens access to the pocket, modifies it as desired, irrigates the space to prevent infection, inserts the implants, and closes the incisions. The goals can include correcting implant displacement, adjusting pocket size for different implants, or managing various postoperative complications.

Recovery After Breast Revision Surgery

Recovery time can vary, depending on the type of procedure performed. Breast implant revision surgery may require a longer healing period than secondary mastopexy. After the operation, patients must follow all instructions from Dr. LaBarbera to ensure proper recovery. This usually involves wearing a special surgical bra to provide support and using cold compresses and medication to alleviate swelling, bruising, and discomfort. Patients need to avoid strenuous activity for 4-6 weeks after surgery. We will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor the healing process and provide clearance for gradually increasing activity levels once the tissues have adequately stabilized.

Recovery is highly patient-dependent, but most women can return to office work after 10-14 days. Individuals with active jobs should take at least 3-4 weeks to heal properly before resuming strenuous tasks. Some residual swelling may persist for up to a year.

Patients should contact our office with any persistent pain, redness, drainage, or other issues. Overall, close adherence to all post-op guidelines can help women recover smoothly after breast revision procedures.

View Our Revision Breast Surgery Results

Candidates for Revision
Breast Surgery

A person is a good candidate for breast revision surgery if they:

Are dissatisfied with the aesthetic results of their previous operation
Are no longer happy with the shape and size of their saline or silicone implants
Have complications from previous breast augmentation or lift
Experience discomfort in daily life due to the changes caused by cosmetic surgery

Depending on the patient’s concerns, Dr. LaBarbera will thoroughly examine the breasts and decide whether a revision surgery is the best course of action.

Benefits of Revision Breast Surgery

While the first breast procedure is usually done to enlarge or lift the breasts, sometimes women may be dissatisfied with the outcomes and seek corrections. Here are the main benefits they can receive from Dr. LaBarbera’s revision surgery:

Improves appearance
and proportion

Breast revision improves asymmetry, fixes implant displacement/rotation, deals with scarring, and adjusts implant size to achieve a more balanced, proportional look.

Corrects
complications

Reoperation may be necessary to address complications, such as capsular contracture (scar tissue squeezing the implant), rippling/wrinkling, and implant rupture/deflation.

Upgrades to newer products

Newer implants may have better shapes, textures, or materials, making them more comfortable and natural-looking. Breast revision allows patients to upgrade to these innovative products.

Treats changing bodies

Weight fluctuations, pregnancies, breastfeeding, and other factors alter breast shape and volume over time, which may affect body image. Breast revision can restore a youthful breast contour and make the body look more attractive.

Supports  confidence

If the breasts have changed in ways that make the patient self-conscious, revision surgery may improve their self-esteem and confidence.

Cost of Breast Revision
in Scottsdale

The cost of breast revision surgery in Scottsdale, AZ, ranges from $5,000 to $20,000. The final price comprises the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, operating room expenses, and compression garments. Implant warranty may cover all or part of the surgical costs if a rupture or rippling was caused by a manufacturer’s defect. Insurance companies typically do not pay for breast revision surgery, unless it is deemed a medical necessity. In any case, we offer flexible financing plans to make the procedure more affordable and convenient.

How Is Our
Breast Revision Surgery Different From Others?

Dr. Jude LaBarbera performs breast revision surgeries in his ultra-modern Scottsdale office, supported by a team of professional and licensed staff.  Our patients receive the best care and personalized treatment. With extensive training and expertise in the latest plastic surgery techniques, Dr. LaBarbera  is devoted to achieving optimal results for each woman. Whether removing/replacing implants or doing a secondary mastopexy, his surgical skill and artistry are always at the highest level. Patients can be confident that their breast revision is in the most capable hands.

Breast Revision in Scottsdale, AZ

What Is Breast Revision?

Reasons for Breast Revision

Breast Implant-Related Revision

Ruptured Implant

Rippling of the Breast or Implant

Capsular Contracture

Double Bubble Deformity

Aesthetic Reasons

Further Breast Enhancement

Breast Implant-Related Revision

Scar Revision Surgery

Breast Shape & Appearance

Before the Breast Revision Consultation

Types of Breast Revision Surgery

Breast Implant Revision

Breast Lift Revision

Breast Pocket Revision

Recovery After Breast Revision Surgery

View Our Revision Breast Surgery Results

Candidates for Revision Breast Surgery

Benefits of Revision Breast Surgery

Cost of Breast Revision in Scottsdale

How Is Our Breast Revision Surgery Different From Others?

Before the Breast Revision Consultation

Candidates for Revision
Breast Surgery

Cost of Breast Revision
in Scottsdale

How Is Our
Breast Revision Surgery Different From Others?