Is breast augmentation surgery the only surgery I will ever need to enhance my breasts?

The need for additional surgery after primary breast augmentation surgery is high, on order of 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 patients. Multiple factors account for this. Weighing down a breast with a silicone or saline breast implant may increase the chance for needing a breast lift down the road. Capsular contracture, or hardening of the breasts after breast enlargement surgery may require a revision depending on the severity of the problem. The rate of leakage and deflation also goes up with time, increasing the chances for implant removal. Patients may wish to address other cosmetic disturbances such as asymmetry, unfavorable scarring, shifting, etc. Allergan’s Core Study showed a reoperation rate of 24% in primary augmentation and 35% in revision-augmentation in the first 4 years after receiving silicone implants. In primary augmentation cases, the three most common reasons for reoperations were capsular contracture, implant malposition, and ptosis (sagging). After revision-augmentation breast enlargement, the three most common reasons for additional surgery were capsular contracture, hematoma/seroma, and ptosis (sagging).