While most breast implant surgeries produce beautiful, long-lasting results, problems can occur over time. When surgery doesn’t give you the results you want, or you experience changes to the breasts over time, it can be both disappointing and frustrating. The good news is most issues can be corrected through revision surgery if you find a plastic surgeon who is highly qualified to handle your procedure. Dr. Barrett brings extensive experience and expertise to the operating table, giving patients superior results, whether it is the first or second breast augmentation surgery.
What is Bottoming Out?
When implants are placed into the breasts, the surgeon creates a pocket above or beneath the chest muscle to hold the implant in place. In a minimal number of cases (about one or two percent of women who get breast implants), the implants can migrate down, underneath the inframammary crease. This movement may create an irregular shape, breasts that hang at different positions or breasts that are very low while the nipples remain in their original position. Bottoming out affects how your clothing fits and can make you extremely self-conscious about your appearance.
Implants that are too large for a woman’s body proportions are the most common reason for bottoming out. Large, heavy implants can migrate downward if the breast tissue is not sufficient to support them. Dr. Barrett is careful to advise his patients on the right size implant for their bodies and reminds patients that bigger is not always better. There is a much lower risk for bottoming out when the implants are proportionate to the rest of a woman’s body.
What is Bottoming Out Implants Correction?
Bottoming out implant correction can be performed using different techniques customized to the unique needs of each patient. In some cases, hidden sutures can be placed to restore the implants to their original position. Other patients will need to have their implants removed completely. In this situation, the patient can opt to have smaller implants placed or restore the breast tissue without implants. Dr. Barrett will advise you on the right approach for you based on the level of dropping you have experienced and the results you hope to achieve.
Is Bottoming Out Implant Correction Right for You?
Patients might undergo correction for a bottoming out implant if their appearance has significantly changed since their original augmentation surgery. If you have noticed your breasts have dropped since your augmentation, schedule an appointment with Dr. Barrett for an examination and to find out if bottoming out correction is the right choice for you. Dr. Barrett will take plenty of time to listen to your concerns and goals for your revision so he can meet your expectations while bringing balance and proportion back to your body contour.
Bottoming Out Implants Correction Overview
Dr. Barrett performs most of his breast revision surgeries on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. He will make every effort to use the same incisions as your first surgery to avoid adding more scarring to the area. Through the incisions, Dr. Barrett removes the implants and replaces them with new implants if requested. New implants may be placed underneath the chest muscle to prevent bottoming out in the future.
Once the old implants have been removed, and the new ones are in place, Dr. Barrett closes the incisions. He uses a layered approach in his suturing techniques. This method reduces tension on the incisions to enhance the healing process and minimize visible scarring after surgery.
After Your Bottoming Out Implants Correction
The recovery process for an implant correction is very similar to what you experienced after your initial breast augmentation. Dr. Barrett will provide you with specific instructions on how to care for yourself and your incisions during the healing process. He will also give you a prescription for pain medication to keep you comfortable in the early days of your recovery.
You will likely experience swelling, bruising and some soreness for the first week or two. Dr. Barrett recommends patients take off at least one week after surgery so they can focus on rest and recovery. The more time you have to recover, the more comfortable and complication-free your recovery will be.
One of Dr. Barrett’s main priorities after any surgery is the minimization of postoperative scarring. He will see you in his office weekly for the first six weeks after your surgery. At the first two appointments, he will remove your layers of sutures, replacing them with tape that allows the incisions to continue healing cleanly. After the taping period, he will give you a patented silicone scar gel to apply to the incisions twice a day for three months. By the end of this period, you should see a visible improvement in the appearance of your incision.
Restore Your Breasts, Restore Your Confidence
When breast augmentation doesn’t go as planned, it can leave you feeling even less confident in your appearance. It can also lead to feelings of frustration, sadness and distrust about the process. Dr. Barrett understands the emotions that often accompany a failed breast surgery. He will take the time to listen to your concerns before tailoring a treatment plan that will address your needs and produce a more aesthetically pleasing outcome. To learn more about correction for implants that have bottomed out, contact Barrett Plastic Surgery today at 310-598-2648.
The information about bottoming out implant correction surgery was reviewed by Dr. Daniel Barrett. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.