Breast Revision Surgery: What to Expect and When It’s the Right Time

Breast augmentation is not a one-time, forever static result. Over the years, implants and surrounding tissues can change, and the breast may shift in shape, position, and feel. Patients may notice discomfort, firmness, visible asymmetry, or a result that no longer matches their aesthetic goals.

Breast revision surgery is performed to address implant- or tissue-related changes and to refine breast shape, symmetry, and proportion when goals or anatomy evolve.

Dr. Lisa Cassileth helps patients plan a balanced revision strategy based on implant history, current anatomy, and the tissue changes that develop over time, with a focus on comfort, proportion, and stable support.

Key Takeaways

• Breast revision surgery can correct implant complications, improve shape, restore comfort, or update size and style as your goals change.
• The right time is often 6–12 months after healing settles.
• Plans vary based on scars, implant position, and tissue changes.
• Breast revision surgery in Beverly Hills is often chosen for specialized revision expertise.
• Exams, implant records, and imaging guide safer, clearer decisions.

What Is Breast Revision Surgery?

Breast revision surgery corrects or refines the result of a prior breast procedure.

Revision may require implant exchange or explantation with pocket modification and capsule management, with or without mastopexy and adjunct fat grafting, to address both stability and aesthetics.

Compared with primary surgery, revision often requires managing existing capsular tissue and pocket boundaries to restore stability and achieve the desired aesthetic result.

Scar tissue, healing patterns, stretched pockets, and natural tissue changes can affect comfort, shape, and implant position. Per FDA guidance, breast implants are not lifetime devices so additional surgery may be needed later.

Common reasons patients consider breast revision surgery:

• Suspected rupture or deflation.
• Firmness or distortion linked to scar tissue.
• Implant shifting, bottoming out, or lateral drift.
• Rippling or visible implant edges.
• A change in size, type, or desire for removal.

Breast Revision Surgery in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills draws many revision patients because breast revision surgery is detail-heavy, so expertise is required.

Planning often involves scar tissue, implant pocket mechanics, and soft-tissue support to ensure the shape looks natural and feels stable.

Dr. Lisa Cassileth draws on her direct-to-implant reconstruction experience while building a plan tailored to your anatomy, implant history, and the tissue changes that develop over time. That approach helps clarify what can be improved now, and what may need a staged plan later, especially when pockets have stretched or symmetry has shifted.

Is Breast Revision Surgery Right for You?

Many women hesitate because they feel their concerns are cosmetic or minor. Still, discomfort, visible implant changes, or ongoing dissatisfaction can be meaningful signals.

Revision may be worth discussing if you notice:

• The shape feels unstable in bras or swimwear.
• Rippling, a visible edge, or worsening asymmetry.
• One implant sits higher, lower, wider, or closer.
• Breasts feel tight, firm, or painful.
• You want implant removal or a different size.

Timing also matters; many surgeons wait 6 to 12 months after a prior procedure, unless a medical concern requires faster evaluation. Some patients also weigh removal or replacement based on comfort, lifestyle, and the long-term results they want.

According to published research, reoperation rates can reach about 20% by 6 to 10 years, so needing a change later is not unusual.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

In general, ideal candidates for breast revision surgery share a few features:

• You are in stable health and can safely undergo anesthesia.
• You have realistic expectations about what revision can change.
• You can commit to recovery time and follow-up visits.
• You understand revision can be more complex than a first surgery.

The deciding step is an in-person exam because candidacy depends on anatomy, scar tissue, implant position, and skin quality. Those details can’t be confirmed from photos alone, so a visit with Dr. Lisa Cassileth, guided by her surgical background, helps you understand what’s driving the concern and which revision approach best fits your body.

What to Expect During Your Consultation

A revision visit should feel organized and specific, so you leave with clarity. Start with goals: what feels off, what you want to keep, and what you want to change.

An in-person exam checks implant position, pocket stability, tissue thickness, nipple position, and asymmetry. Records also help, and imaging may be suggested if rupture is suspected or the history is unclear. Then you review the main plan plus options.

Questions to ask:

• What is causing the issue?
• How will the pocket be stabilized?
• Which approach fits best, and why?
• What recovery timeline and tradeoffs matter most?

Dr. Cassileth’s Patient-Centered Approach

Revision patients often arrive frustrated or anxious, and that reaction is understandable after investing time and trust into a prior outcome. Dr. Lisa Cassileth starts by listening, then builds options around your anatomy and priorities, so the plan fits your real goals.

She also explains what is realistic, what carries a higher risk, and what to avoid based on tissue quality. That clarity reduces stress and supports confident decisions.

Common Types of Breast Revision Surgeries

Breast revision surgery can be focused or comprehensive, so the plan targets the specific issue, such as comfort or shape. Common categories include:

• Implant exchange or removal: Change size, profile, or fill type, or remove implants entirely, often paired with a lift or fat grafting when skin support matters.
• Pocket repair for malposition: Reinforce or reshape the implant pocket to correct bottoming out, lateral drift, or implants sitting too high, maintaining symmetry.
• Scar-tissue treatment for firmness: Release or remove a tightened capsule, then rebuild a healthier pocket environment, because PubMed Central reports capsular contracture is the most common complication after implant-based breast surgery.
• Symmetry refinement: Balance both sides with tailored implant choices, selective pocket work, and a lift when nipple position or skin laxity drives unevenness.

Implant Removal With or Without Replacement

Some patients want their implants removed entirely. Others prefer an exchange to an implant that better matches their anatomy and current aesthetic goals for a more natural look.

If you choose removal, a surgeon consultation should cover:

• Your baseline tissue and skin: How much native breast tissue you have, your skin elasticity, and how the breast is likely to redrape once the implant is removed.
• Whether a lift would improve shape: Especially if nipple position, ptosis, or skin laxity suggests you will benefit. This is also where options such as Dr. Lisa Cassileth’s implant-free pocket lift approach may be discussed in select cases.
• What “deflation” may look like for you: A realistic preview based on implant size, placement, and how long you have had implants, so expectations stay grounded.

Fat Grafting After Implant Removal

Fat grafting can add soft, natural-looking volume after implant removal and can also smooth contour changes that become apparent once the implant is gone. It is not a one-to-one replacement for an implant, so it works best as a refinement tool rather than a dramatic size change.

You might benefit if:

• You want modest volume with a natural feel
• You have enough donor fat to harvest safely
• You want better upper pole softness or cleavage contour without a new implant

Fat grafting results vary because retention differs among women and recipient sites. Many patients maintain lasting volume, but a touch-up may be recommended to fine-tune the final result.

How the Procedure Works: Step-by-Step Overview

What Makes Breast Revision More Complex

Breast revision surgery is often more technically complex than primary augmentation because it is performed in previously operated tissue with an existing capsule and altered anatomy.

Scar tissue can be uneven, and the implant pocket may be stretched or shifted, so stability becomes part of the design. Problems like implant malposition often require pocket support and repositioning, not simply a swap.

As reported in PubMed Central, implant position problems occur in about 5% of first-time augmentations and about 10% of secondary cases.

That gap is why revisions often focus on rebuilding pocket support rather than simply swapping implants.

Recovery and Downtime: What You Should Know

Recovery depends on what your revision includes; still, most timelines follow a steady path.

Your timeline may move faster or slower based on capsular work, lift incisions, pocket reconstruction, and your personal healing pace.

Typical recovery timeline (general guidance)

Activity Limitations

Most patients can do light activity fairly soon, but avoid these until you are cleared:

• Heavy lifting.
• Chest workouts.
• High-impact movement.
• Sleeping on your stomach.

Follow-up care matters

Revisions need monitoring. Visits help confirm symmetry, implant position, incision healing, and scar management, so small issues are addressed early rather than compounded.

Tips for a Smooth Recovery

A smoother recovery is built with preparation. A few practical steps can reduce friction and support healing.

Daily consistency helps because swelling and soreness improve in patterns, not all at once. According to CDC guidance, symptoms such as increased redness, pain, fever, or cloudy drainage can signal an infection and warrant prompt medical attention.

Start preparation before surgery by setting yourself up for easy days:

• Prep simple meals, stay hydrated, and fill prescriptions.
• Set up pillows for back-sleeping.
• Arrange help with driving and basic chores.

Then, during recovery, focus on the basics your surgeon recommends:

• Walk daily.
• Keep incisions clean and dry as directed.
• Wear the support garment as instructed.
• Avoid testing strength early.

As healing progresses, typical signs that things are settling include:

• Swelling is easing week by week.
• Incisions are looking calmer.
• Breasts are gradually softening and settling into shape.

Call your surgeon promptly if you notice:

• Sudden swelling, unusual warmth, or new drainage.
• Fever.
• Sharp, new asymmetry.

Results and Long-Term Outcome Expectations

Breast revision surgery often produces an immediate visible change, but the final result evolves as swelling resolves and tissues settle.

Swelling, implant settling, and scar softening take time, so the shape can continue to refine for several months, and scars can continue to improve for up to a year.

Results can last for many years, but longevity varies with implant type, skin and tissue quality, weight stability, and life changes such as pregnancy. Ongoing follow-up matters. The ACR Criteria for asymptomatic silicone implants recommends initial imaging at 5 to 6 years after placement (ultrasound or MRI), with repeat imaging every 2 to 3 years after an initial negative exam.

Why Choose Dr. Cassileth for Breast Revision Surgery in Beverly Hills

If you are considering breast revision surgery in Beverly Hills, revision expertise matters. Previously operated tissue behaves differently, and factors such as capsular scarring, pocket instability, and tissue thinning can influence implant position and breast shape, so the strategy must be tailored and precise.

Patients choose Dr. Lisa Cassileth because they want:

• A revision plan tailored to anatomy, implant history, and current goals
• Natural-looking proportion with stable pocket support, not temporary positioning
• Careful scar planning and structured scar-care guidance during healing
• Clear discussion of tradeoffs, so expectations stay grounded
• Close follow-up, since swelling patterns and settling affect symmetry

Issues like capsular contracture and treatment options also influence technique and timing.

Is a Revision Plan the Missing Piece?

Breast revision surgery is individualized and is often considered when comfort, shape, or implant position no longer aligns with a patient’s current goals. Revision can address implant-related concerns, improve symmetry, and update the aesthetic outcome.

The right approach depends on the reason for revision, because the best solution may include implant exchange or removal, pocket repair, capsule management, a lift, fat grafting, or a staged plan.

Dr. Lisa Cassileth emphasizes natural-looking proportions and clear discussion of tradeoffs.

If you want to discuss options, you can reach the team via our contact page.

FAQs

What is breast revision surgery, and how is it different from my first augmentation?

A breast implant revision corrects or refines results after an earlier breast procedure. It may address implant position, scar tissue, symmetry, or a change in size goals. It differs because tissues have healed, so planning must work with existing pockets and scars.

When should I consider breast revision surgery?

Consider revision if you feel tightness, pain, shifting, rippling, visible asymmetry, or dissatisfaction that persists after healing. It can also help if implants no longer match your lifestyle or you prefer removal, with a lift or fat grafting considered.

How long should I wait after my initial augmentation before a revision?

Most patients wait about 6 to 12 months for swelling to settle and scars to mature, unless a medical concern requires earlier evaluation. Breast revision surgery in Beverly Hills often follows the same timing, adjusted to healing progress and implant findings.

What can I expect during recovery after breast revision surgery?

Recovery depends on complexity. Many return to light routines within 1 to 2 weeks, while exercise waits until clearance. Expect swelling and tightness early, then gradual settling. Follow-up visits check incisions, pocket stability, and symmetry as healing progresses.

Can I change implant size or remove implants altogether during revision?

Yes. Implants can be exchanged for a different size or type, or removed entirely, depending on tissue support and goals. With Breast revision surgery in Beverly Hills, plans may include removal with a lift, pocket repair, or fat grafting to achieve a smoother contour.