What are my options if I am unhappy with my breast implants?

The best way to make sure you are happy with your decision to undergo breast augmentation, and with your final result, is to have a detailed discussion with your surgeon. Patients need to have a good idea of what the outcome of their surgery will most likely be, and to be realistic in these expectations. That said, when patients have a poor result, there are several recourses. You may consult your surgeon to have a breast revision procedure. The implants can be removed, repositioned, or replaced. However, the best-case scenario is to get the result you want initially, and the chances of this are enhanced by detailed discussion of the devices, procedures, and postoperative concerns.

Patient who are unhappy with any surgical procedure should discuss the results with their surgeon.  It is important that a reasonable period of time after surgery has elapsed for swelling and edema to resolve prior to making final determinations as to the results.  There is a difference between poor results and postoperative complication that may occur requiring a revision surgery.  With breast augmentation, board-certified plastic surgeons have the experience and judgment to place implants in the appropriate pocket.  However, patients may have complications immediately out of surgery which could include bleeding and/or infection which could thereby lead to the removal of the implant and/or secondary surgery for scar tissue formation down the road.  A poor result, again, does not in itself mean that there has been negligence by your surgeon.  First, speak to your doctor candidly regarding the results and your concerns.  If he or she will not answer your questions or does not make you comfortable with repair of this breast enhancement procedure, then seek other board-certified plastic surgeons that are specialists in breast revision surgery.  We perform hundreds of breast revision surgeries here in my Beverly Hills practice.  Specialists are those who repair a surgical result week after week after week of the same nature.

It generally takes at least one year before you are able to see the final product of your breast implant surgery. If you have had your implants for longer than one year, and you are still not happy with the way they look, you should talk to your plastic surgeon. There may be something that can easily resolve the issue. Try to be realistic and listen to what your surgeon tells you. If you are still unhappy, you might visit another surgeon for a second opinion.