Revisionary Breast Surgery

A significant number of patients who have undergone either cosmetic or reconstructive breast surgery require revisions to improve their results. These are often complicated cases because of the number of issues which may be contributing to the less than optimal breast appearance. These can include excess scar tissue around the implant (called a contracture), excess breast skin or poor quality breast skin, and/or an incorrect implant size or position. A careful analysis of all these potential issues is necessary in any revisionary surgery of the breast and begins with a careful physical examination. Patients are also asked to obtain their prior records and photographs when available, as they can be valuable to review. When appropriate, a surgical plan is then developed based on the patient’s goals and on realistic expectations. The procedures are performed under a light general anesthetic called LMA. There are often multiple steps and therefore the procedure can take between two and three hours to complete. In virtually all cases the breast implants must be replaced. Some women request that they not be replaced and this is certainly possible in cosmetic cases when there is a sufficient amount of natural breast tissue present. In these cases a breast lift is often performed. When implants are replaced, it is often necessary to use dermal grafts (sterile sheets of tissue) and/or fat grafts to optimize results. Surgical drains are sometimes needed in these cases.

Drawing upon his vast experience with breast surgery of all types, Dr. Sultan performs a great number of these procedures and is widely considered a leading authority in this arena.