Breast Revision Surgery in Melbourne, Victoria

Any breast surgery may eventually require revisional surgery for cosmetic or functional reasons – whether the original or primary surgery was a breast augmentation, a breast lift, autologous fat transfer, or a breast reduction

breast lift FAQs

What is Breast Revision Surgery?

Breast Revision surgery is a follow-up Breast Surgery that can improve the aesthetic result of primary breast surgery, replace an implant, or fix a complication

Dr Carmen Munteanu, Melbourne Specialist Plastic Surgeon, performs breast revision surgery to help women achieve their desired breast size and shape.

Sometimes revisional surgery is something that is expected following a breast reduction or reconstructive procedure. In such cases, you would have been advised of this during the planning stages of your surgery.

Unfortunately, sometimes revisional surgery may also be required to correct a previous surgery where something went wrong, leaving the patient with a disappointing result.

Regardless of your reasons behind seeking a revision breast surgery, it is important to discern whether further surgery is necessary to correct the breast placement, or rectify and possibly replace aged or undesired implants.

Revisional breast surgery is a delicate procedure that requires highly detailed knowledge of the procedure that was previously performed. Dr Carmen’s advanced experience in breast surgery of all varieties gives her extensive knowledge to help you achieve the desired results.

Why choose breast revision surgery?

Dr Carmen Munteanu performs revision surgery for concerns such as:

  • Breast Implant removal – removing aged or undesired implants
  • Breast Implant removal and replacement – replace the old implant with a modern one or size change
  • Ruptured Breast implant – remove, rectify, and possibly replace an implant
  • Asymmetry – breasts that appear uneven or lopsided
  • Bottoming out – the nipple is positioned too high on the breast as the implant has dropped
  • Capsular contracture – a complication resulting in hardening of the implant pocket
  • Double bubble – a crease across the lower part of the augmented breast
  • Rippling or wrinkling – creasing skin texture usually on top of the breast
  • Symmastia – implants too close together crossing the midline

Why Visit Dr Carmen for Breast Revision Surgery?

  • She is a highly qualified female surgeon
  • Over 20 years experience
  • Highly knowledgeable in breast procedures

Planning for Breast Revision Surgery

During your pre-operative consultation, Dr Carmen will compassionately address the previous breast surgery and determine which revision technique is necessary to refine the breasts.

It is very important to discern whether further surgery is part of a plan, of a staged approach, or whether it is required to correct something that went wrong.

Any information about your previous surgery is paramount to understanding the intrinsic details. This will help Dr Carmen produce the highest quality breast correction.

Changing Your Implant Type or Brand

Are your breast implants getting old? If your breast implants have been in place for some time – or you have a concern – you may want to replace your breast implants with newer types of implants. Some patients even exchange their implants a few years after surgery, because they want to change size or content type.

What is involved with Breast Revision Surgery?

  • Your primary breast augmentation surgery is when you first get implants inserted.
  • Any future surgery including replacement or exchange is known as revision surgery or a secondary procedure.

Removal Vs Replacement of Breast Implants

When breast implants age, one option is to replace them with new implants

  • You may also be able to increase or decrease the size
  • However, a lift may also be required depending on your skin
  • Another option is to explant your implants without replacing them

Some patients will require breast-and-nipple uplift surgery after explantation or replacement. It just depends on your SKIN and what type of appearance you’re wanting after your procedure.

Reasons Women Exchange Their Implants

  • Wanting to change breast size (larger or smaller)
  • Changing type of implant (fill, brand, projection, round vs teardrop)
  • Ageing implants – read the lifetime warranty information of a breast implant
  • Treating a complication like capsular contracture, rotation or a double-bubble
  • Needing a revision augmentation to correct for pronounced breast asymmetry
  • Wanting to try new, modern options including Motiva implants
  • Needing a breast lift to treat ptosis (drooping breasts) after pregnancy or ageing
  • Concerns related to sensitivities or allergies

How Can You Check On Your Existing Breast Implants?

  • Attend all follow-up visits after surgery including your Annual reviews
  • Be sure to schedule these into your diary and keep your surgeon up to date on changes to your contact information (phone, email address)
  • Also, stay vigilant about any changes to your breast shape or sensitivity – the same recommendations are for all women even those who do NOT have breast implants
  • Alert your surgeon immediately if you have any changes to your breast appearance and/or other concerns

Assessing Your Implant Status:

  • Discuss review time frames with your Plastic Surgeon and be sure you attend your surgery reviews
  • You may be asked to get a scan(s) at certain points in time, such as MRIs or Ultrasounds
  • You can also ask to get your implant surgery details registered on the breast prosthesis database if available in your region

Annual Breast Review By Your Plastic Surgeon

  • We recommend your reviews be done with your original Surgeon in your local area, if available
  • This can be an issue if you have overseas breast surgery with an unknown doctor
  • Avoid having surgery overseas because breast surgery patients tend to lack adequate follow-up care and reviews or revision options of their breast augmentation results when they have surgery in overseas facilities.

When should Implants be Replaced?

The recommended time frame for replacing implants can vary from patient to patient. Typically, you should consider replacing them at the 9-10 year mark; although not every woman does.

Some women have had their implants in place for decades, with no concerns, but there are varying medical opinions about time frames for replacing your implants.  As a general guideline, risks of implant deterioration increase as the implants age, so keep this in mind.

  • Nothing lasts forever – and that includes breast prosthesis
  • Some patients successfully keep their implants in place for decades
  • However, most manufacturers recommend a 10-year life (breast prosthesis).
  • Research suggests older, ageing breast implants have higher risks of a future complication
  • Sometimes new models of implants become available in Australia, this sometimes encourages women to change their older implants for a newer style, model or texture

Breast Reduction Re-do

Some women are unfortunate that their breasts may continue to grow after having a breast reduction. While the instances of this are relatively low compared with the amount of breast reductions performed every year, it can happen.

Revision Breast Reduction Procedure

Dr Carmen will develop a surgical plan for every patient, to suit their particular anatomy, endeavour’s and circumstances. The focus will be on reducing the size of the hypertrophic breast with repositioning of the breast on the chest wall and the nipple areola where would sit better.

In the same time that has to be achieved considering the viability and sensation of nipple-areola complex. For many women, breast reduction offers lasting conical projection, while preserving areola sensation and leaving minimal scarring.

The procedure will be done under general anaesthetic, in an accredited facility, usually as a overnight procedure.

Dr Carmen might also combine a breast reduction procedure with other body contouring techniques, including liposuction, to achieve the optimal shape of the chest or arm pit, or with fat transfer, to improve the quality of the tissues or skin or improve the overall appearance of the final result. In some cases, if the breast size is found to be mostly due to fatty tissues and there is no issue with excess skin, it is possible that liposuction alone could be used to achieve the desired results. The technique chosen for you will be individually designed based on your individual anatomy and unique needs.

Although the anatomy can vary significantly from one person to another, the scars will generally involve a circular scar around the nipple-areola, to reposition and adjust the size, vertical scars down from nipple to below the breast to help adjust with the width of the breast, and the reduction of the excess tissue/skin, and sometimes under the breast scars might be needed to accommodate the extra skin. They can be only lateral or medial as well, in the shape of a J, L T. Dr Carmen will work with you to achieve your desired result with minimum scarring.

Dr Carmen relies very much on a very predictable blood supply and nerve supply to the nipple, such as this vertical technique described by the reputable Dr Elizabeth Hall-Findlay from Canada. She prioritises her patients based on needs but safety is always prevalent in all her choices.

All surgery has risks – for detailed information about the risks and potential complications of breast revision surgery please visit the risks of surgery page.

How much does Breast Revision Surgery cost?

There is not a fixed fee or a ‘one size fits all’ fee structure. All surgery is individually designed to suit the individual and the particular problem. In the fee structure, a number of details will be considered, such as the type of breast revision surgery you are undertaking, the extent of your surgery, the risks associated, the possible complications, the possible necessity for revisional surgery. The fees will also vary from one hospital to another, and although we only work in accredited facilities, the fee structure can be quite different. The length of your stay can add to the expenses, however we would usually consider that one night should be sufficient for this type of operation.

At your initial consultation you will be given a detailed quote which will include, the surgeon’s fee, anaesthetic fee, assistant’s fee and the hospital fees, including theatre and day stay/overnight fee.

The fees are inclusive of all postoperative care for the first 6 weeks or however long it takes for the complete healing to occur, if there is a delayed healing circumstance.

A Medicare rebate may be available depending on your circumstances for undertaking breast revision surgery.

With a doctor’s referral, you can receive a Medicare rebate for your initial and subsequent consultations.

A Medicare rebate may be available for the procedure if you are eligible. If so, it will make a big difference if you are privately insured, as Private Health insurance might pay more of the hospital and theatre expenses. They can sometimes contribute to the expenses for dressings and garments.

If you have the relevant private health insurance you not only receive the Medicare rebate for your procedure, you will receive an extra rebate from your health fund.

Compassionate release of superannuation is sometimes available as a way of helping you to pay for your procedure. We can help you access your superannuation by completing the compassionate release of superannuation forms and explaining the process of application.

Payment plans are available for some patients, either through us or through various dedicated companies, such as TLC – Total Lifestyle Credit.

See Before and After Breast Reduction Surgery photos

Further Reading – Medical References

Further Reading about Body Procedures with Dr Carmen