Can I Fix a Botched Breast Augmentation Surgery?

If you are unhappy with your breasts after breast augmentation, it can be frustrating to feel that your surgery was “botched” and did not deliver the result you expected. You may notice uneven breasts, implants that sit too high or low, changes in breast shape, firmness, discomfort, or another problem that makes you consider corrective surgery.

In many cases, breast revision surgery can correct problems after a breast augmentation. Dr. Robert Spies uses breast revision to address unsatisfactory results and complications from a previous breast augmentation by removing, replacing, or repositioning implants and correcting the surrounding breast tissues when necessary.

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Table of Contents

• Can Breast Revision Fix a Botched Breast Augmentation?
• What Breast Augmentation Problems Can Revision Surgery Correct?
• Can I Replace My Implants During Corrective Breast Surgery?
• Will I Need a Breast Lift to Correct My Results?
• What Happens During Breast Revision Surgery?
• Why Surgeon Experience Matters for Corrective Breast Surgery
• Breast Augmentation Revision FAQs
• Correct Your Breast Augmentation With Dr. Robert Spies in Scottsdale, AZ

Can Breast Revision Fix a Botched Breast Augmentation?

Breast revision surgery is specifically designed to address concerns that develop after a previous breast augmentation. The correction you need will depend on what went wrong and the current condition of your implants, implant pockets, breast tissue, and skin.

Revision surgery may involve removing or replacing your implants, treating scar tissue, tightening the tissues that support the implant pocket, or using additional techniques to improve your breast appearance.

The goal is not simply to repeat your original augmentation. Dr. Spies evaluates why you are dissatisfied and creates a new surgical plan around the specific problem that needs correction.

What Breast Augmentation Problems Can Revision Surgery Correct?

Different breast augmentation concerns require different solutions. Before recommending surgery, Dr. Spies must identify the cause and determine which tissues or implants need correction.

Implant Malposition

Your implants should sit within carefully created breast pockets. If an implant moves outside its intended position, your breasts may appear uneven or distorted.

Implant malposition can involve an implant moving too low, too far to the side, or into another undesirable position. During revision, Dr. Spies may adjust and tighten the implant pocket to provide better support and improve implant positioning.

Bottoming Out

Bottoming out occurs when an implant drops below the natural breast crease. This can occur when an implant stretches the pocket, when breast tissue cannot adequately support a large implant, or because of forces from the chest muscle.

Correcting bottoming out may require repairing or repositioning the breast fold and adjusting the implant pocket. Depending on your goals and anatomy, your surgical plan may also involve changing your implants.

Capsular Contracture

Your body naturally forms a layer of scar tissue around a breast implant. Capsular contracture occurs when that scar tissue thickens and tightens around the implant.

The breast may feel firmer, become painful, or look distorted. Your treatment may potentially involve implant removal, release of the surrounding scar tissue, and placement of a new implant.

The amount of capsule that needs treatment varies from patient to patient. Your revision should address the specific problem rather than relying on the same capsulectomy approach for everyone.

Implant Rupture or Deflation

Breast implants can rupture because of age, wear, trauma, or other factors. A ruptured saline implant usually produces a noticeable change in breast volume as it deflates.

If an implant ruptures or deflates, breast revision surgery can remove the damaged implant and replace it with a new one.

Breast Asymmetry

Some degree of natural breast asymmetry exists before surgery for many patients. However, noticeable differences in implant position, breast shape, or volume after augmentation may lead you to consider correction.

Revision surgery may improve asymmetry by adjusting one or both implant pockets, changing implant size or position, or addressing differences in the surrounding breast tissue. Your treatment depends on the source of the asymmetry.

Changes in Breast Anatomy

Breast implant revision surgery can also address changes in breast shape that may be causing dissatisfaction with your implant size or appearance. Such changes may be caused by pregnancy, weight gain or weight loss, aging, or other factors.

Can I Replace My Implants During Corrective Breast Surgery?

If your current implants contribute to the problem or no longer match your preferences, Dr. Spies can remove them and replace them during breast revision surgery.

You can also use your revision to reconsider your implant choices. Implant revision can allow patients to update the size, profile, and material of their implants.

For example, you may decide that you want:

• Smaller or larger implants
• A different implant profile
• A different implant material
• Improved implant positioning
• A result that better fits your current body and preferences

Your existing breast tissue, skin quality, scar tissue, implant pocket, and overall anatomy can affect which options are appropriate.

Will I Need a Breast Lift to Correct My Results?

Not necessarily. Some breast augmentation problems can be addressed through implant and pocket correction alone.

However, implants cannot substantially correct breast sagging. Patients with significant breast ptosis may require a breast lift, and revision surgery can be combined with breast lift surgery when reshaping and raising the breast tissue is necessary.

This can become particularly relevant if your breast tissue has changed because of pregnancy, weight loss, aging, or the long-term effects of implants.

Dr. Spies can determine whether correcting your implants alone will address your concerns or whether reshaping the breast tissue would help achieve the result you want.

What Happens During Breast Revision Surgery?

Corrective breast surgery requires a personalized approach because the surgical steps depend on your specific problem.

During your consultation, Dr. Spies will evaluate your current breast appearance and discuss what you dislike about your previous results. He will then develop a surgical plan based on the correction needed.

When possible, Dr. Spies attempts to use the same incision location from your previous augmentation. Depending on your needs, breast revision incisions may be placed beneath the breast, around the areola, or in a breast lift pattern.

During surgery, he may:

• Remove your existing implants
• Replace your implants with new ones
• Release or remove problematic scar tissue
• Adjust or tighten the implant pocket
• Correct the breast fold
• Reposition the implant
• Combine revision with a breast lift when appropriate

Your procedure may involve only one of these corrections or several, depending on what needs to be addressed.

Why Surgeon Experience Matters for Corrective Breast Surgery

Revision surgery involves working with tissues that have already undergone an operation. Existing scars, stretched tissue, altered implant pockets, and previous surgical changes can make planning more complex than a first-time breast augmentation. For patients considering breast revision in Scottsdale, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Spies performs detailed breast revision surgery to ensure you’re confident in your new results.

Dr. Robert Spies is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has more than 35 years of plastic surgery experience in the greater Phoenix area. When planning your breast revision, he emphasizes a customized approach to surgical planning rather than one-size-fits-all. Dr. Spies also combines advanced surgical techniques with personal, supportive care from consultation through recovery.

A consultation gives you an opportunity to explain exactly what concerns you about your previous augmentation and understand what correction may realistically accomplish.

Breast Augmentation Revision FAQs

How soon can I fix a breast augmentation I am unhappy with?

Timing depends on the problem. Some concerns may improve as postoperative swelling resolves and implants settle, while complications may require earlier evaluation. Implants can continue settling for months after surgery, so an in-person evaluation is important before deciding whether revision is necessary.

Can uneven breast implants be corrected?

Breast revision may improve asymmetry caused by implant position, pocket problems, implant differences, or changes in the surrounding breast tissue. Dr. Spies will need to identify the cause before determining the appropriate correction.

Do I have to replace my implants during revision surgery?

No. The appropriate plan depends on your concern. Breast revision can involve replacing implants, while some patients choose to remove their implants altogether.

Can capsular contracture be corrected?

Yes. Dr. Spies identifies capsular contracture as one of the breast implant complications that revision surgery can address. Treatment may involve releasing or removing scar tissue and replacing the implant when appropriate.

Will breast revision completely fix my previous surgery?

No surgeon can guarantee a perfect result. What breast revision can realistically improve depends on your anatomy, tissue quality, previous surgery, existing scars, and the specific problem you want corrected. An examination with Dr. Spies allows him to explain what changes may be achievable.

Correct Your Breast Augmentation With Dr. Robert Spies in Scottsdale, AZ

Living with breast augmentation results that make you uncomfortable or self-conscious can be discouraging, but your first surgery does not necessarily have to be your final result.

To discuss your breast revision options in Scottsdale, AZ, call (480) 359-1019 or use the online contact form to schedule your consultation with Dr. Spies.