Breast Implant Revision in Houston & Webster, TX.
Serving patients in Friendswood, League City, Pearland, and Clear Lake
Serving patients in Friendswood, League City, Pearland, and Clear Lake
Breast implant revision offers a solution for women who want to address concerns with their current implants, whether due to cosmetic preferences, implant-related issues, or changes in their bodies over time. If you’re unhappy with the size, shape, or feel of your implants, or if complications like capsular contracture or implant malposition have occurred, breast revision surgery can restore comfort and confidence.
At Kim Carpin Plastic Surgery in Webster, TX, serving the Houston area, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kim Carpin specializes in tailored breast implant revision procedures. With her skill and experience in challenging cases, she provides personalized care and achieves natural, beautiful results. Schedule a consultation today to explore how breast implant revision surgery can meet your unique goals.
Implant replacement, removal, or adjustment.
Implant malposition, capsular contracture, size changes, or ruptures/deflation.
1–2 weeks for light activities, with full recovery in 6 weeks.
General anesthesia ensures comfort.
Long-lasting, with enhanced shape, size, and symmetry.
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Breast revision is a surgical procedure to correct unsatisfactory or compromised results from a previous augmentation. There are a variety of reasons a woman would choose to have revision surgery, including:
If you have saline implants, a ruptured implant will be immediately noticeable, as the implant will empty, and the body will absorb the sterile saline solution. That breast will flatten and become smaller in appearance. This takes only one to two days to occur.
With silicone implants, a rupture isn’t obvious. This is especially true with today’s more cohesive silicone gels. If a rupture occurs, the gel tends to stay within the silicone outer shell. This is referred to as a “silent rupture.”
You may notice a change in breast size and/or shape. There may be some pain and tenderness, swelling, or changes in sensation. MRIs are used to image the implant and detect rupture.
Beyond an implant rupture, these are the most common reasons for implant revision and how Dr. Carpin handles the surgery for each.
When a woman is unsatisfied with the size of her implants, Dr. Carpin will enter through the original incision. If a larger implant is desired, she will increase the size of the pocket, the space in the breast to hold the implant. If the patient seeks smaller implants, she will reduce the size of the pocket with sutures to fit the smaller implants. In cases of reduction, a breast lift may be performed in conjunction with the implant revision to remove any sagging tissue and possibly relocate the nipples.
The body reacts when an implant is placed. This reaction is called the “capsule,” and it is made up of calcified cells and scar tissue. If this capsule becomes very thick and causes the implant to shift or the breast to feel very firm, or if there is pain from the constricting scar tissue, this is called capsular contracture. If the capsule is very calcified, Dr. Carpin will remove it along with the implant. If it isn’t, she usually will leave it in place. If there is a rupture of a silicone implant, the capsule may contain silicone shell fragments, silicone gel, and inflammatory cells that all need to be removed prior to placing new implants.
Sometimes, particularly with saline implants placed atop the chest muscle, the implants show rippling, and the edges may even be able to be felt. In these cases, Dr. Carpin enters through the original incision and replaces the implants with better muscle coverage. This may involve switching implant types and/or placing them in new breast pockets.
Sometimes the implant pockets were created either too far away or too close together and the patient is not happy with the placement. In these cases, Dr. Carpin will use scar tissue from the capsule and will reconstruct new pockets for the implants.
When a patient decides she no longer wants to have her implants, they are removed through the same incisions. Dr. Carpin will also remove the capsule if it is calcified and thick. It’s likely she will recommend a breast lift at the same time to remove excess sagging skin and breast tissue.
On the day of surgery, Dr. Carpin begins by administering general anesthesia to ensure a comfortable experience. She then carefully makes incisions, often along the same inframammary fold or incision lines from your previous surgery. Depending on your unique needs, she may reposition breast implants, remove scar tissue, or correct implant pockets to address malposition.
If implant replacement is required, Dr. Carpin places the new implants in the desired position, ensuring symmetry and a natural appearance. Afterward, incisions are closed, and a dressing is applied to aid recovery.
Breast implant revision offers both functional and aesthetic improvements, including:
Good candidates for breast implant revision include women who are in good health, have realistic expectations and wish to address issues with their current implants. Ideal candidates may want to correct complications such as capsular contracture, implant rupture, or malposition, or they may desire a change in size or implant type.
This procedure may not be suitable for those with untreated health conditions or unrealistic expectations. During your initial consultation, Dr. Carpin will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the best treatment plan for your needs.
Most patients can return to desk jobs within a few days while sticking to non-strenuous, light activities for 1 to 2 weeks. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Wearing a surgical bra or compression garment helps support the breasts and minimize swelling. Dr. Carpin provides detailed aftercare instructions, including how to manage discomfort and ensure proper healing. She will check your healing at post-operative visits and remain fully available to offer extra guidance and support throughout your recovery.
Breast implant revision delivers beautifully refined results, helping you achieve the size, shape, and symmetry that perfectly align with your vision. Whether you’re correcting an issue or enhancing your current implants, this procedure ensures a more comfortable, natural appearance that boosts confidence. With new implants’ improved safety profiles, you can enjoy your enhanced look for the long term. To maintain optimal results, it’s essential to follow your surgeon’s aftercare guidelines, maintain a stable weight, and schedule regular checkups to monitor your implants. These proactive steps ensure your refreshed appearance stays stunning and your confidence remains high for years to come.
Please schedule a consultation with Dr. Carpin to discuss if you are a breast implant revision candidate and to review the risks, benefits, alternatives, and expected outcomes of the procedure. Dr. Carpin offers breast augmentation revision surgery for patients in Houston, League City, and Clear Lake, TX, and surrounding areas, including Friendswood, Pasadena, Kemah, Seabrook, Galveston, & Pearland.
That is one of the more common reasons, other than necessity, for these procedures. Some patients wish they had opted for larger implants. Others, particularly when getting a little older, seek to downsize a bit.
Also, if a woman has decided she doesn’t want to have silicone implants any longer, she can switch to saline-filled implants.
Dr. Carpin recommends that women wait to have revision surgery for at least three to six months after their initial procedure. This gives the implants time to fully settle into their final position, and it allows any swelling to completely resolve.
Revision surgery can also be removal surgery. When implants are removed, a breast lift is almost always a necessity to remove the excess sagging skin that stretched when the implants had made the breasts larger. In most cases, Dr. Carpin can perform the breast lift at the same time as the implant removal procedure.
In simple revision surgeries, Dr. Carpin can usually enter through the same incisions as used for the original augmentation. In this instance, patients can return to work in just a few days. More complex revisions may take a week to recover before returning to work.
Our practice does not accept health insurances, but some implant companies will reimburse some expenses related to the surgery in cases of rupture or capsular contracture.
These are typically low-risk procedures. But they are still surgical procedures, so they entail the usual risks of reaction to anesthesia, excessive bleeding, poor wound healing, and the like. These are rare.
Whenever possible, Dr. Carpin uses your previous incision sites to minimize additional scarring.
Yes, combining revision surgery with a breast lift enhances overall shape and position for optimal results.
New implants typically last 10–20 years.
