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4 Beautiful Breast Options after Breast Implant Removal

Year after year, breast augmentation stays at the top of the most popular plastic surgery procedures list. And the results, immediately after surgery and recovery, can feel life-changing. Still, when a patient’s priorities or aesthetic sense changes, breast implant removal becomes a possibility.

Fortunately, there are several surgical options to beautify your breasts after implant removal, and you don’t have to choose one alone. Armed with the latest innovations and surgical techniques, Dr. Sajjadian is here to help. With his unique combination of care and skill, he can make sure your breasts look more beautiful than ever.

Together, in a private consultation, you and Dr. Sajjadian will determine your best path forward after breast implant removal. Here are four of the surgical options he offers:

Breast Implant Revision

Let’s say you’re not happy with your current implants because they make you feel uncomfortable, or you don’t like their appearance. You’re concerned, however, that removing them altogether will take away the size and volume you’re used to having. Just because you’re not satisfied now doesn’t mean you want your breasts to look like they did before your first augmentation. A revision or replacement of your implants may be your best choice.

During your initial consultation, you and Dr. Sajjadian will work together to develop goals for the look of your new breasts. In the past, other physicians used a simple “bigger is better” approach to augmentation. Dr. Sajjadian, instead, believes that your choice should be unique to you, and no patient should have to conform only to what’s popular.

The procedure itself will be similar to your previous augmentation. It starts with general or intravenous anesthesia to provide maximum comfort. To minimize scarring, Dr. Sajjadian will follow your original incision, which is usually one of the following: an inframammary incision done in the breast crease, a breast lift incision typically done vertically, or a peri-areolar incision done partially around the areola.

In some cases, upon implant removal, an infection is found in the surrounding tissue. Dr. Sajjadian’s first priority is your safety and comfort. Therefore, in this instance, he’ll recommend waiting for any infections to heal before proceeding with replacements.

As with the surgery itself, recovery from breast implant revision varies between individuals. Your wait time to return work should only be about a week. It’s advisable to avoid any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for about four to six weeks. Fortunately, because the original incision point is re-used, most patients can expect any additional scarring to be minimal if at all. Post-revision, you’ll meet with Dr. Sajjadian regularly to check your progress.

In some cases, Dr. Sajjadian will install temporary drains (flexible tubing) in the breast area, which he will remove in a few days. And, he may recommend wearing a special supportive undergarment to aid the healing process.

Often, as part of the revision process, Dr. Sajjadian will replace your implants with better-proportioned alternatives. He also may change their placement. In most cases, patients find that, after implant revision, their breasts look more beautiful and natural than ever.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

What if breast size is no longer your first priority? Your perception of your ideal figure may have shifted from shapely to sleek. Still, you want breasts that are firm and round. You can get them with the breast lift.

Removing previous implants can lead to ptosis or breast sagging. Your nipples may sag below your breast crease and point downward, giving your breasts a pendulous shape.

To address these form-related issues, Dr. Sajjadian offers the mastopexy or breast lift procedure. It enables you to have well-shaped, natural-looking breasts typically in a smaller size (although some patients opt to have additional, smaller implants put in).

Depending on your specific needs, Dr. Sajjadian can make one of four incisions. The keyhole incision surrounds the areola and proceeds downward to the breast crease. The anchor-shaped incision is like the keyhole incision with an added horizontal incision at the breast crease. The donut-shaped incision is circular, surrounding the areola. Finally, the crescent-shaped incision is a half-circle around the top of the areola.

Plan to leave the procedure with one or a combination of surgical tape, dissolvable stitches, or non-dissolvable stitches. You may also have a surgical drain installed for each breast. Dr. Sajjadian will typically remove any bandages and drains within the first few days and any non-dissolvable stitches within 7-10 days. Your body will absorb dissolvable stitches in 4 – 8 weeks.

You’ll need to avoid lifting anything substantial for about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Over this period, Dr. Sajjadian will see you multiple times to monitor your progress. During the first week of recovery, patients may experience tenderness, swelling, and bruising. Stay-at-home moms may want to consider finding help with any small children during their recovery.

Any scarring from will fade over time, and, in the end, your reward is smaller breasts that look younger and more natural. Patients often describe their breasts as perkier or better-shaped with better projection. Overall, you’ll regain the freedom to be more active, less self-conscious, and better able to find clothing you love.

Fat Transfer

What if, after implant removal, you’d like to preserve some of your previous breast size without the invasiveness of a breast lift? It’s no secret. As we age, nature tends to give our bodies more fat where we don’t want it and less where we do, like our breasts. Were you aware that the natural tissue inside breasts is mostly fat?

Wouldn’t it be great to simply subtract fat from your trouble areas, like the thighs or the butt, and inject it into your breasts? With a fat transfer breast augmentation, Dr. Sajjadian can help you do just that. Using this more recent surgery option, he can liposuction your unwanted fat and put it to good use.

Before you can qualify for the procedure, Dr. Sajjadian must determine if you have an adequate amount of fat to transfer. Yes, for some of us, this is a genuine concern. Another consideration is that liposuction relies on your skin’s ability to shrink back into place. So, the skin in that specific area needs to have good elasticity.

The fat transfer procedure itself is minimally invasive, and it usually takes place during the same surgery as your implant removal. Any additional incisions are small and will take place in the areas of liposuction and along the incisions of your previous implant. Overall, fat transfer patients can expect less scarring than with breast lift.

Like all procedures, recovery times vary for patient to patient. Most patients can go back to their job within weeks. You’ll need to allow a month to six weeks before you can swim and plan on a month to twelve weeks before you can perform any rigorous workouts. Also, you can expect to have some bruising around the area of your liposuction, which will go away in 10 days or less.

As you can guess, the results are two-fold. You can retain some of the fullness and volume to your breasts thought, after implant removal, you’d never have again. And of course, you also reap the benefit of having less fat where you don’t want it.

Breast Reduction

For some of us, the combination of childbirth and breast augmentation makes our breast size unbearable. Large breasts cause discomfort with daily life activities, limitations on clothing, and even pain in the back and shoulders.

In these cases, a simple removal procedure may not be enough to provide the relief needed, and an additional breast reduction may be ideal. Dr. Sajjadian’s patients repeatedly praise his ability to listen to their concerns. During a private consultation, he will help you determine if reduction after implant removal is right for you.

Under general or intravenous anesthesia, Dr. Sajjadian first creates either a keyhole or anchor-shaped incision (described above) around the areola. Then, through the incision, he removes the unwanted breast tissue underneath and reshapes the breast. During the process, he may also relocate the nipple without damaging it’s attached nerve.

During the first few days after surgery, patients can experience swelling and discomfort. Dr. Sajjadian will provide you with a supporting bra for stabilization. Patients usually can return to work after two weeks and perform strenuous exercise after six weeks.

In the end, you may find the results from breast reduction may be as stunning as your augmentation. After breast reduction, Dr. Sajjadian’s patients have expressed a feeling of renewed confidence in their look and joy at the ability to do activities they’ve missed for years like swimming.

Additional Considerations

No surgery should ever be taken lightly. One key to achieving the best outcome is the skill of your physician. Dr. Sajjadian is a triple board-certified plastic surgeon. That means he’s won the respect of physicians nationwide for his expertise and many forms of plastic surgery.

Due to his extensive knowledge and training, he’s able to offer you a variety of options. Therefore, he feels no need to force a patient into any procedure they don’t think is right.

Another key to surgery success is the care your doctor provides before, during, and after your procedure. Dr. Sajjadian’s focus is not only on your appearance but your wellbeing. He believes no cosmetic improvement should come at the price of your health and comfort.

In preparation for surgery, Dr. Sajjadian will want your body to be as healthy as possible. He’ll meet with you to discuss a detailed preparation plan, which may include things like quitting smoking, eating a well-balanced diet, and avoiding anti-inflammatory medicines.

For many patients, the cost of a procedure is a significant concern. During your consultation, you’ll discuss the unique financing options Dr. Sajjadian offers to his patients. If one or both of your current implants is leaking, you may also be entitled to compensation via the manufacturer’s warranty. Ultimately, you may be surprised how affordable your new look can be!

With the help of Dr. Sajjadian, you needn’t think of implant removal as an ending but a more current update that matches your new attitude and aesthetics. Contact his office today to schedule your consultation.