Q:
I had a breast augmentation several years ago and I’ve been mostly very happy with the results. However, lately my breasts are not as perky as they used to be and I wish I had more attractive cleavage. Is there anything that can be done, short of having the whole surgery over again?
A:
This is an excellent question that comes up fairly regularly in our practice.
While most patients are still happy with their augmentation results for many years following their procedure, some women may experience dissatisfaction with the appearance of their breasts due to aging and skin laxity. Their breasts may have begun to droop, or their implants may have begun falling more toward their armpits over time. They want to get back to the “perky,” fuller appearance they enjoyed when their surgery was first done, but it’s too soon for them to consider having the full surgery performed again.
Because these patients aren’t yet ready to commit to another full augmentation procedure, we are able to offer them a “refresh” procedure to achieve the results they want with little downtime and minimal discomfort.
Patients can choose to keep the implants they already have, or opt to have new implants placed. In most cases, the procedure only takes 20 minutes. One of the biggest advantages to this approach is that your surgeon can utilize the scars from your previous surgery’s incisions—meaning no new scarring. Recovery is quick—about 2-3 days, so many of our patients plan their surgeries to fall close to the weekend or over a holiday.
We love the “refresh” procedure because it is quick with minimal discomfort and recovery time. And our patients have been thrilled to be able to get “like new” results without having to have their original implants removed and replaced (unless they choose to do so). After the refresh procedure, breasts are firmer, higher and more midline, providing patients with a fuller, perkier bustline and cleavage they can feel confident about in swimsuits and v-necklines.
If you choose to have new implants, a refresh augmentation will cost around $4,999. If you keep your current implants, your cost will be $3,499. To be a candidate for this procedure, you must be in good general health, between 4-8 years out from your augmentation surgery. It is important that you choose a qualified cosmetic surgeon with experience doing many of these procedures to get the most beautiful results.
To learn more about this procedure, or breast augmentations in general, please call our office at 423-266-3331 to schedule a complimentary personal consultation. Dr. Chad Deal, Dr. Carey Nease, and Dr. Vincent Gardener are board-certified, award-winning cosmetic surgeons with experience doing thousands of breast augmentations, and they are happy to answer any questions you may have.