You may have chosen a breast procedure to add size and fullness to your breasts. Breast implants can add volume to naturally small breasts, create symmetry, or restore fullness that may have been lost after significant weight loss or pregnancy.
Most breast augmentation procedures use implants rather than fat transfer, but while silicone gel and saline implants are long-lasting devices, they cannot last a lifetime. When you think you might need a breast implant exchange in Houston, schedule a consultation with board-certified breast surgeon Dr. Olivier Deigni.
The average implant lasts between 10 to 15 years, after which the risk of a possible rupture increases. We recommend a proactive approach to care for breast implant exchange in Houston, which means addressing the need for the exchange before the implant ruptures and causes complications.
A breast implant exchange is sometimes referred to as a breast implant revision. These surgeries are typically performed when the implants are at the end of the expected lifespan, or when you want to correct a poor breast augmentation procedure, change the type of implant used, or change the size of the implant.
A saline implant rupture is typically easy to detect because a deflation in size is immediately noticeable, but silicone implant leaks are more difficult to diagnose, so regular checkups are essential. When a silicone implant ruptures it can cause scar tissue to form, which can make an implant exchange more difficult.
During a breast implant exchange, Dr. Deigni will replace the old implants with new ones. You will discuss your options before surgery, such as exchanging a saline implant for a silicone implant, or vice versa.
Each type of implant has advantages and disadvantages, which you should discuss with Dr. Deigni. You also have the option of changing the implant size and position.
After the first implants were placed, your body formed a capsule around the device during the healing process, and in some cases, the capsule can harden. This is called a capsular contracture, and it can make it slightly more difficult to remove the implants or adjust their size.
Another factor that influences the surgery is your breast placement. With age, your skin loses elasticity and structure, which also affects your breast tissue. When the implant is no longer sitting in the right position, an implant revision surgery may need to be combined with a breast lift to return the breasts to the proper position.
The breast implant exchange in Houston is generally performed under general anesthesia, during which Dr. Deigni will clean the capsule area, remove it if necessary, and replace the implant. How the procedure is performed and how long it takes will vary depending on your circumstances, but it typically takes about the same time as it did to place the implants the first time.
Your recovery after breast implant exchange in Houston will be similar to your initial breast augmentation. The symptoms you experience may also depend on whether the capsule needed to be removed and whether you had a breast lift. You can expect the area to be bruised, tender, and slightly swollen.
After surgery, Dr. Deigni will give you instructions for post-operative care that you must follow carefully to help reduce the potential risk of complications after surgery, including infection.
You should expect to take time off work and your daily activities, and rest as much as possible for the first one to two weeks. Avoid any direct stimulation to the breast tissue and rigorous activities such as exercising or lifting. Most women can expect to return to driving and working at a computer in two weeks at most, however, it can take up to six months for the swelling to completely disappear and for the implants to settle into the final position.
It is best to be proactive about breast implant exchange in Houston to help prevent complications associated with implant leakage. Dr. Deigni can answer your questions and help you choose the implant exchange that will best meet your aesthetic goals.
Contact us online or by phone at 281-721-4373 today and schedule your consultation with Dr. Deigni to get the information you need to make the best decision about your implant revision.
