To be a candidate for a breast revision, you must have already had one or more cosmetic breast surgeries such as breast augmentation, a breast lift (mastopexy) or a breast reduction. We typically require that patients are at least six months post-op from their first surgery before pursuing a revision, as this gives the breasts time to settle into their new shape so patients can make an informed decision about their final results. There may be an exception if a patient is experiencing complications that require immediate revision.

Patients should be in good general health and should be able to accept the risks and limitations of breast revision surgery. It is especially important for revision patients to have reasonable expectations about what cosmetic breast surgery can accomplish, as breast surgery may be limited by a patient’s overall health or body type. Dr. Hall-Findlay will work personally with you during your consultation to help you understand the breast revision process, to explain why you may or may not be a good candidate for revision and to inform you about your options moving forward.

Breast revision surgery is appropriate to address a broad range of concerns following cosmetic breast surgery. The right reasons for seeking revision will depend on the type of primary breast procedure you had performed as well as your new aesthetic goals.

You may choose to revise your breast surgery between 6 and 12 months after recovery or several years after your initial surgery. It is equally common for women to know right away that their new breasts are not what they wanted, or for women to decide later that their lifestyle or stage of life would better align with a different breast size or shape. Both types of patient should pursue their procedure with a surgeon who specializes in revision for best results.

We typically advise waiting to undergo any breast surgery — whether a primary or revision procedure — until you are finished having children or you are happy with your weight. Pregnancy or weight fluctuations can interfere with your long-term results and could mean that you would need further revisions in the future.

Dr. Hall-Findlay will always be honest and open with patients about whether their concerns will be adequately addressed with a breast revision, and she will never recommend a surgery that will put you at increased risk or might not deliver the results you want. To learn more about breast revision and to find out if you are a candidate, please contact Banff Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation. Our comfortable offices are conveniently located between Banff and Calgary in Three Sisters, Canmore, Alberta. Call us today at 403-762-2055 to get started.

Breast lift revision most often involves correcting asymmetries in breast projection or nipple placement following a breast lift. Women who had a combined lift and augmentation may choose to revise the lift portion of their procedure while leaving their implants in place. A breast lift revision may also be appropriate for women who had their first breast lift several years ago and are experiencing significant breast sagging again. Some common concerns that indicate a breast lift revision surgery may be appropriate include:

• Breasts that sit unevenly on the chest wall
• Visible dark or ropy scarring, particularly around the areola
• Asymmetrical nipple-areola complexes
• A nipple-areola complex that is too large
• Breasts that have since changed shape and/or size after pregnancies

A breast lift revision may not be appropriate if:

• Your concerns are more focused on your breast size
• You are planning to lose weight or have children in the future
• Your scar severity and/or skin type means that you are unlikely to have improvements in visible scarring after revision

Revisions for breast reductions may focus on either changing breast size or correcting breast asymmetry. Some patients find that they did not reduce enough breast tissue to alleviate symptoms of back, shoulder or neck pain and wish to reduce their breast size further. In fact, removing too much breast tissue at one time may be unsafe, so some women need to have more than one reduction surgery before they reach their target size. Other women — particularly younger women who undergo a reduction — find that their breast tissue becomes enlarged again over time, and choose a revision to address this. You may be a good candidate for breast reduction revision if your concerns include:

• Breasts that are still too large
• Breasts that are too small
• Breast projection, breast size or nipple-areola complex asymmetry
• Breasts that have increased in size since the primary reduction surgery
• Breasts that have sagged after pregnancy

Revision breast reduction surgery may not be right for you if:

• You cannot safely remove more breast tissue
• Your asymmetry falls within a normal range
• You are not a good candidate for breast augmentation (if you feel that your breasts are now too small)