revision questions

[Daisy02DD]

Hi Dr. Mele ~

I am 6 weeks out of my revision june 09. I am not happy & I know I still have time for changes to happen. I had a breast augmentation & lollipop lift in Dec 08. My incision split open & by the time the hole closed I ended up getting a lump. So my ps agreed to have another surgery after 5 months of the lump going nowhere. During the revision he was to remove the lump, put in bigger implants & lift my pockets due to breast hanging too low. Most of the lump was removed. I did get bigger implants but my pockets werent raised because I went back to the same spot. My left is still much higher than my right but for me my right is tooo low. I am waiting for my left to drop. I am wanting another surgery & hopefully my last for many years to come. I want to lift both my breast & I want eveness & put in bigger implants to fit my frame. Currently I have overs & want to switch to unders.

How bad is it to have 3 surgeries within a year?
With having 3 surgeries is there any longtime effects it will have on me?
Since I want to switch to unders & get another lift how long would that surgery take or is it like having all new surgery for the first time since I want to switch implant placement?
If I switch to unders will my overs pocket eventually close?
I also saw that you do surgery while awake. Can my surgery be performed awake or is it too complicated?
Thank you!

[Dr. Mele]

Dear Daisydog:

It is too early to consider doing another surgery. Unless the implants are exposed, there is an infection, or there is some medical emergency, you need to let your breast heal. You need time to let everything settle and get to a stable (even if not a happy) place. This is necessary for two reasons. First, so that you know what the full extent of the problem is before making a plan to fix it. Second, so you will have a much more predictable result.

Moving the implants while doing a lift is a more complicated procedure than what you already had. I can't tell you if it is a good or bad idea without seeing you, but it sounds like you need to get an informed second opinion. This type of procedure is longer and is best under general anesthesia.

Again I haven't seen you, but as a general rule, the bigger the implants the more likely that you will need another lift in the future. This is too complicated a question for a forum. You really need to see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area, who has experience with breast augmentation revisions and augmentation mastopexy.

[Daisy02DD]

Thank you Dr. Mele ~

I know I need to wait till all my healing is done. Sorry I am bad sometimes expressing what I am saying. I am more wanting to know of how bad is it to have 3 surgeries? Will having 3 surgeries now make it harder on me to have a lift in another 5-10yrs? Any long term effects?

Thanks again!

[Dr. Mele]

The concern with multiple surgeries in a year is that your breast have not had time to form a mature "resting" scar. You will make more scar because your body will respond more strongly to the second surgery. You may end up with a thicker scar permanently. This is why plastic surgeons wait a year before doing scar revisions.