Breast
Revision
Not happy with a prior augmentation, or dealing with capsular contracture, malposition, rippling, or an aging implant? Breast revision corrects the problem and refreshes your result — with a plan built around your specific anatomy and goals.
What Is Breast Revision Surgery?
✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Andre Y. Levesque, MD · Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS) · Last reviewed March 19, 2026
Breast revision surgery corrects, updates, or improves the result of a previous breast augmentation. It is one of the more technically demanding breast operations because every revision is different — the right plan depends on what went wrong, how the tissue has changed, and what you want to achieve now.
Dr. Andre Y. Levesque performs breast revision in Austin, TX. Common reasons patients seek revision include capsular contracture (a firm, distorted, or painful implant), implant malposition or bottoming out, visible rippling, an implant that has ruptured or aged out, or simply a desire to change size, shape, or implant type.
The revision may involve exchanging or removing the implants, removing scar-capsule tissue (capsulectomy), tightening or reinforcing the implant pocket, switching planes, adding internal support (such as an acellular dermal matrix or a mesh sling), and — when the skin has stretched — adding a lift so the breast sits where it should over the new implant.
Because revision surgery works against prior scar tissue and altered anatomy, experience and meticulous technique matter. Dr. Levesque builds a specific, staged-if-necessary plan at consultation rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
A Plan Built for Your Specific Problem
There is no single "breast revision" — there are many distinct problems, each with its own solution. Dr. Levesque diagnoses the specific issue (contracture, malposition, rippling, rupture, size) and matches the technique to it, rather than simply swapping implants and hoping for a better result.
For thin tissue and rippling, he favors switching to a subfascial or dual plane and adding soft-tissue support or fat grafting. For capsular contracture, a capsulectomy plus a fresh pocket and implant. For a stretched envelope, a lift combined with the exchange. The goal is a result that both looks natural and lasts.
What to Expect
From your first consultation to your final result, here's how the process works at Levesque Plastic Surgery.
Consultation & Diagnosis
Dr. Levesque examines your breasts, reviews prior operative records and implant cards when available, and identifies exactly what needs correcting. Imaging may be ordered if rupture is suspected.
Surgery Day
Revision takes 1.5–3.5 hours under general anesthesia at an accredited center. The specific steps — capsulectomy, exchange, pocket revision, support, or lift — are tailored to your plan. Most go home the same day.
Recovery & Results
Most patients return to desk work within a week and full activity by 4–6 weeks. Final shape settles over 3–6 months as the pocket heals and swelling resolves.
Breast Revision Before & After
All photos are of Dr. Levesque's own patients, presented with permission. Hover each card to see the after.
Am I a Candidate?
Here's a general guide — Dr. Levesque will assess your candidacy personally at consultation.
Good Candidates Typically Have:
- A firm, distorted, high-riding, or painful implant (capsular contracture)
- An implant that has dropped, shifted, or sits too far to the side (malposition / bottoming out)
- Visible rippling or palpable implant edges, especially with thin tissue
- A known or suspected implant rupture, or implants that are simply old
- A desire to change size, profile, or switch implant type (e.g., saline to silicone)
- Good overall health and realistic, specific goals for the revision
Factors That May Affect Candidacy:
- Active smoking — significantly increases wound-healing and contracture risk
- Very thin soft-tissue coverage — may require added support or fat grafting
- Unrealistic expectation that revision is simpler than the first surgery — it is often more complex
- Active infection or unstable weight — best optimized before surgery
What Does Breast Revision Cost?
Breast revision cost varies more than a first-time augmentation because the work involved differs so much from patient to patient — a simple implant exchange is very different from a capsulectomy with pocket reconstruction, support material, and a lift.
If your original surgery was recent and performed elsewhere, some warranty or manufacturer coverage may apply to the implants themselves; Dr. Levesque's office can help you check.
You will receive a transparent, itemized quote at consultation once the plan is defined. Financing through CareCredit, Alphaeon, Cherry, and PatientFi is available.
Get Your Quote →Financing Partners
What Patients Say
Dr. Andre Y. Levesque, MD
Revision surgery is where experience shows. Working against prior scar tissue, altered blood supply, and a changed skin envelope demands a surgeon who can diagnose the real problem and choose the right technique — not just exchange the implant.
Dr. Levesque's goal for every revision is a breast that looks natural, feels soft, and holds its corrected shape over time. When a durable result requires a lift or a staged plan, he will tell you honestly at consultation.
Schedule with Dr. LevesqueBreast Revision FAQ
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