WAS YOUR BREAST AUGMENTATION MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO??
Posted on June 5, 2017Breast augmentation is a top procedure performed across the country. Many women had their first breast augmentation over 10 years ago and wonder if it makes sense to consider a reoperation. Dr. Kim consults with patients who are curious as to whether or not a new surgery will be needed. While the decision to have breast augmentation surgery and exchange the original breast implants should not be taken lightly patient should also understand that there are many reasons to consider a breast augmentation reoperation. Many women who had breast augmentation over 10 years ago were not given the choice of silicone breast implants. Many patients were given saline breast implants because the newer cohesive gel silicone breast implants were not FDA approved for implantation in the United States. Saline implants provided a nice result for most patients; however, over time there is a likelihood that due to aging not only has the skin become more loose and lax, but the saline implant may have become compromised and therefore the breast implant result is not as aesthetically pleasing as it may have been originally. Dr. Kim recommends patients consider breast implant exchange if the size or shape of their implants has changed. Also, if the feel of the implant has become firm to the touch or if there are ripples in either the cleavage line or the sides of the implant patients may want to consider exchange in the implants for the new cohesive gel implants. Breast implant exchange surgery is well tolerated by most patients. Because the breast pocket has already been created and most of the stretching has taken place in the first operation, most patients have very little downtime when having breast implant exchange surgery. Dr. Kim recommends that patients contact the office and schedule a breast implant exchange consultation if they have had their implants longer than 10 years.