Overview
Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures performed in the United States each year. The vast majority of women that undergo breast augmentation surgery are extremely happy with their results. However, even in the best of hands, unsatisfactory results can occur. In addition, breast implants are man made devices and do not last forever; implant deflation (implant rupture) may lead to a need to exchange the implant. Many women feel that once they have gotten implants, that's it, they will never require another operation the rest of their lives; this is often, but not always the case.
Breast implant exchanges for implant deflation are often a much less demanding procedure then the initial operation since the implant pocket has already been developed. A breast implant revision may be carried out for an unequal appearance to the breast, capsular contracture, synmastia (implants joined in the middle of the chest), or implant rippling. Patients have traveled from out of the state and out of the country to undergo breast implant revisions and exchanges by Dr. Shaw

Who is a Candidate for Breast Implant Revision
Examples of types of undesirable breast implant outcomes:

• Implant Deflation: Implants may deflate from simple wear and tear; they are man made objects and have a lifetime. Saline implants (the most common type of implants that are used today) will simply loose volume as the salt water in the implant gets re-absorbed by the body; the breasts then usually appear unequal. The exchange of the implant with a new one is a much less extensive procedure than the initial operation. Silicone gel implant ruptures are less difficult to detect particularly if the ruptured implant is confined to the surrounding capsule. Depending on the age of the implants, the patient may decide to exchange both implants to a smaller or larger size.
• Capsular Contracture: Capsular contracture is the hardening of the natural capsule, which forms around a breast implant. This may result in a hard asymmetric breast. There is often no clear reason why this happens, it may happen with one or both breasts; breasts may be painful.
• Implant Rippling: Breast implant rippling can become visible (especially with saline implants) over time as breast tissue thins out with weight changes, hormonal changes, or pregnancy. Implants placed in front of the muscle, in patients with very little breast tissue, have a slightly higher chance of showing rippling over time, as the breast tissue thins out as there is no muscle to cover the upper portion of the implant.
• Synmastia: This occurs when implants are too close together in the middle of the chest, creating a loss of cleavage and joining of the breast
• Implant Displacement: When the implants sit too lateral on the chest wall under the armpit.

Actual Patient with severe capsular contracture /ruptured implants
Dr. Shaw performed a Bilateral Capsulectomy / Exchange

Treatment Options
Treatment options are many depending on the specific problem, the desired outcome and expectations. Dr. Shaw has been performing revision surgery for over 20 years giving him the ability to correctly diagnose the problem and recommend sound surgical solutions for the best possible result.

Actual Patient with Contracture and Rupture
Dr. Shaw performed a Bilateral Capsulectomy / Exchange







Actual Patient with lateral implant subluxation
Dr. Shaw performed a Bilateral Capsulorrhaphy / Exchange






Actual Patient with capsular contracture
Dr. Shaw performed a Bilateral Capsulotomy / Exchange to silicone

Breast Implant Exchange / Revision