A breast revision may be performed for medical conditions and cosmetic reasons. Surgical procedures can be used to correct the following breast conditions.

• Breast Shape and Implant Shift– Poor breast shape can happen as a result of surgical complications or from a poor surgical technique used during a previous procedure. Additional changes can occur when implants drop considerably from the initial position. This can cause the implant to appear low on the chest while the nipple looks too high. This condition is sometimes referred to as “bottoming out.” Some women experience a condition in which the breasts move toward the midline of the chest and form a single breast with the appearance of no cleavage. This can occur as a result of a natural deformity of the breast tissue (Symmastia) or as a result of previous breast surgery (Synmastia).

• Breast Shape and Implant Shift– Poor breast shape can happen as a result of surgical complications or from a poor surgical technique used during a previous procedure. Additional changes can occur when implants drop considerably from the initial position. This can cause the implant to appear low on the chest while the nipple looks too high. This condition is sometimes referred to as “bottoming out.” Some women experience a condition in which the breasts move toward the midline of the chest and form a single breast with the appearance of no cleavage. This can occur as a result of a natural deformity of the breast tissue (Symmastia) or as a result of previous breast surgery (Synmastia).

• Implant Rupture or Leakage– Many older breast implants have been found to eventually fail. They may leak contents or even rupture. If this happens with a saline implant, obvious changes occur, and the breast appears to deflate. If a rupture or leakage occurs with a silicone implant, immediate changes are less obvious. This condition must be confirmed by an MRI and may not be apparent until a mammogram is performed or the patient experiences side effects. When a silicone implant leaks or ruptures, the implant will need to be removed and the patient may have a required waiting time before a replacement implant can be inserted.

• Implant Rupture or Leakage– Many older breast implants have been found to eventually fail. They may leak contents or even rupture. If this happens with a saline implant, obvious changes occur, and the breast appears to deflate. If a rupture or leakage occurs with a silicone implant, immediate changes are less obvious. This condition must be confirmed by an MRI and may not be apparent until a mammogram is performed or the patient experiences side effects. When a silicone implant leaks or ruptures, the implant will need to be removed and the patient may have a required waiting time before a replacement implant can be inserted.

• Rippling and Wrinkling– This condition tends to occur more frequently with individuals that have insufficient natural breast tissue at the time of surgery to cover a breast implant or when an implant that is too large for the breast tissue is inserted. With this condition, the edge of the implant can be seen and felt on the surface of the breast, giving it an appearance of rippling or wrinkling.

• Preplanned Revisions– Many individuals that have a breast reduction or mastectomy surgery will be advised that they will (or may) need additional breast revision surgeries to achieve the desired appearance.