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It is relatively rare for patients to request revision cosmetic surgery, although it is sometimes required in certain cases. There are several reasons why revision cosmetic surgery may be needed, although it is important to ask yourself the question if the reason for requesting a revision procedure is enough to justify having a second procedure. When considering revision surgery, both you and your surgeon should ask whether it will achieve what you are hoping for or whether it may be better to leave things as they are.
There are several examples of where revision cosmetic surgery is needed to correct a problem from previous surgery. Many patients who choose to travel abroad for cheap cosmetic surgery often end up paying significantly more in the long run when developing botched results. This is why we always recommend having treatment local to where you live in the UK. Some patients may have developed complications with the healing process as a result of postoperative infection in the recovery period. Less commonly, an unexpected complication may have occurred, which requires urgent surgery. An example would be the evacuation of a haematoma following breast augmentation surgery. All surgical procedures involve a degree of risk, and this includes the possibility of the final outcome not being as you had hoped for. Although this is rare, it is still a recognised risk of any cosmetic surgery.
There is a subset of patients who are simply unhappy with their results for whatever reason. Suppose any of these scenarios apply to you. In that case, revision cosmetic surgery may be appropriate, although you will need to have an in-person consultation with a plastic surgeon first to discuss the options available.
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Consult with your original surgeon for revision plastic surgery
The exception to this recommendation is when you have had surgery abroad in Turkey, for example, and you were unfortunate enough to have chosen a surgeon who lacked the appropriate level of skills and experience, which has left you with botched surgical results. This is why we always advise against travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery. It is of paramount importance that your surgeon closely monitors your medical care throughout your patient journey. This begins from your initial consultation to the day of surgery and to at least 12 months afterwards.
If you have had surgery locally with a UK-trained specialist plastic surgeon who has performed the procedure with the appropriate level of skill and attentiveness, and you are still unhappy with your results, we would advise you to go back and see them before you consider researching other surgeons and clinics. This is because the original surgeon who performed your procedure will have in-depth knowledge of what was carried out during your first procedure. They will be in the best position to know what needs to be done to correct sub-optimal results. As with most things, it can be very challenging to correct or improve upon another surgeon’s work, especially when it comes to procedures performed for the improvement of cosmetic appearance.
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Having your revision plastic surgery procedure with your original surgeon is more likely to help you achieve the results you desire rather than starting from the beginning and seeing an entirely different surgeon.
Wait at least one year before having revision cosmetic surgery
Certain procedures, such as breast augmentation or a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), often prompt patients to return to see their surgeons after only three months because they are unhappy with the results achieved so far and are not in line with their expectations. It is very important to bear in mind that three months is still very early in the healing and recovery process.
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The result visible three months after surgery is highly unlikely to be the result that will be seen 12 months after surgery, and this applies to the vast majority of plastic surgery procedures. This is why it is important to be patient during the recovery period, as certain body changes can take a considerable period of time to change. You should give your body the time it needs to heal properly, and if you are still unhappy with your results 12 months after surgery, tell your surgeon about this at the one-year review appointment.
Surgery is a major undertaking, and the body undergoes a significant transformation during the postoperative period. Giving your body the time it needs to adjust to these changes is essential. Swelling and bruising are inevitable after virtually all types of surgery. Scars initially appear red and obvious and will gradually fade over time. Surgical procedures that involve breast implants or fat transfer require at least six months for the body to get used to newly injected fat or silicone implants.
Waiting until a minimum of 12 months after surgery before considering revision surgery is important as certain changes during the early recovery period may disappear on their own without any active intervention. Fat transfer is a good example of this. Some injected fat can slowly harden to form a localised lump that can be felt beneath the skin, and this is known as fat necrosis. In most cases, these small and sometimes painful lumps will settle down on their own over time.
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Coming back for a different procedure is not the same as revision surgery
Before surgery, it is important to have realistic expectations of the kind of results that can be achieved with cosmetic surgery. Body plastic surgery, including breast augmentation, abdominoplasty or BBL surgery, will produce a significant transformation in your physical appearance. However, they are not designed to address all the other problems in your life. Plastic surgery is designed to improve how you feel about yourself and your body. Successful surgery leads to a significant boost in self-confidence and emotional well-being, but it cannot change your personality, help you to win a job promotion or rekindle past relationships.
Having realistic expectations about the final result achievable is important. Comparing the results of your breast augmentation to your friend’s results or a well-known celebrity may result in unhappiness. Cosmetic surgery is designed to enhance existing features of your body for a boost in self-confidence. Some patients may classify a particular result that does not meet their expectations as botched surgery.
If you have been considering a revision procedure, always remember that you should be prepared for the possibility that you may still be unhappy, even if it is to improve the results of the previous surgery.
You should also bear in mind that revision plastic surgery is not the same as returning to the same surgeon for a different surgical procedure. An example would be when you have had a breast lift, and although you are pleased with the shape of the breasts, you are unhappy with the size of the breasts. If you choose to come back for a breast augmentation with implants, this would not be classed as a revision breast lift as you are coming back for a different surgical procedure in the form of breast implants.
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Revision cosmetic surgery at Centre for Surgery
If you have any questions about revision cosmetic surgery, schedule an in-person consultation by calling us on 020 7993 4849 or completing the contact form below. Our state-of-the-art plastic surgery clinic is located in the heart of Marylebone in central London. We are home to some of the most experienced specialist plastic surgeons in the UK, and we regularly perform revision cosmetic surgery for patients who have had botched surgery carried out abroad, particularly in Turkey.
