Breast Lift Revision Surgery Information

Although we go into a procedure believing one surgery will result in a stellar outcome, revision plastic surgery may sometimes be needed. Unfortunately, there is the possibility of a failed breast lift, excessive asymmetry, or justifiable dissatisfaction due surgeon error.

Please determine upfront who is financially responsible in the event that a breast lift revision (or revision mastopexy) is needed. I have several friends for whom the breast lift technique chosen by the surgeon did not do the job. Some of them were forced to pay the full amount again, some were only charged for operating room time and surgical supplies, and others underwent a revision procedure at no charge.

We must be responsible and honest with ourselves and with our surgeons. It is neither polite nor realistic to demand a revision plastic surgery for unjustifiable reasons. Right after your surgery, your breasts will not be perfect. You will have scars and you will not have increased fullness without the addition of a breast implant. You will need to wait at least 6 months to heal before an additional surgery for cosmetic reasons should be performed.

Breast lift revisions are usually sought if there is an abnormal amount of asymmetry that is clearly the fault of the surgeon, a failed lift, a complication such as hematoma or seroma appears, an internal suture or suspension breaks or other situations of this nature. When there are scar problems, therapies such as silicone sheeting and steroid injections might help. Improvement is what you are ultimately after with revision plastic surgery, but superior care and respect are your rights as a patient.

Discuss upfront with your cosmetic surgeon the possibility for the need of a revision surgery within a reasonable time frame and establish an agreement regarding this scenario before you pay for your primary surgery. This will cover all bases in the unfortunate event of the need for an additional procedure. Determining this in advance and having documentation to back it up rules out the possibility that he or she will have you cover the costs. Just remember there are guidelines regarding the surgeon's responsibility, and be reasonable. If it is his or her fault, you deserve a revision at no cost to you, usually with the exception of medications or lab work. More than likely there will be no need for a second surgery, but you should always prepare for the worst and hope for the best in any situation.

My Breast Lift Revision Experience

During my initial breast lift procedure, I had a negative reaction to the permanent polypropylene sutures used for the Benelli lift. These sutures are made from a non-reactive, inert material normally used in hernia repair and other procedures, but my body didn't care for them. In fact, I have these sutures in my face and haven't had a reaction, but around my areola I did. I went through a few resuturing sessions but the tissue became more and more irritated and became so weak that it would not held any sutures and opened up. We tried three times to get it to close and finally left it alone to form new skin, toughen up and await a revision at a later date. I even went though five 45-minute hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) sessions and about 2 months of having an open wound. The wound finally closed up and by 4 months post-op the incision line was fading. Even after all that, my surgeon had to go back in 2005 and basically give me a complete new lift using an alternate method and suture type.