When is revision surgery needed after cosmetic surgery?

When correction is needed for asymmetry or dissatisfaction with the shape, and when skin loosens again over time. For implants, the UK NHS advises that further surgery may be needed after about 10 years.

Source — NHS (UK)

How to read the table

The cases in which revision is considered are different in nature. Correction of shape concerns the result of the first operation; recurrent laxity arises over time; and implants are advised from the start not to last a lifetime. The three should not be lumped together.

What these figures do not mean

Recurrence is not failure. Skin loosening again with weight change and ageing is a change that comes with time, not a sign the operation went wrong.

What makes the difference?

• The plan differs from the first operation — What can be addressed depends on what was done before.
• The effect of time — Skin loosening again with weight change and ageing is recurrence, not failure.
• Lifespan of implants — The NHS states that implants do not last a lifetime.

Distinguish three things of different nature

Correction of shape concerns the result of the first operation; recurrent laxity is a change that arises over time; and implants do not last a lifetime in the first place. The UK NHS advises that further surgery may be needed after about 10 years for implants. Lumping the three together blurs what you should be prepared for.

Recurrence is not failure

Skin loosening again with weight change and ageing is a change that comes with time, not a sign the operation went wrong. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons also lists recurrent skin laxity among the risks of surgery. It is better to set expectations about how long results last before the operation.

Revision is planned differently from the first operation

What can be addressed depends on what was done before. So the consultation starts from the records of the previous operation, and bringing them lets you hear a more specific plan. Checking before the first operation how costs are handled if revision becomes necessary also makes later decisions easier.

What to confirm at consultation

• How costs are handled if revision becomes necessary
• Whether records of the previous operation are needed

Asking about your own case

The table above gives general ranges and does not apply to you as it stands. Rephrasing the question like this at consultation gets you an answer for your own case.

If revision becomes necessary, how are the costs handled? Do you need the records of my previous operation?

Common misunderstandings

If revision is needed, did the first operation go wrong?

It depends on the case. Skin loosening again over time is a change that comes with weight change and ageing, and implants do not last a lifetime in the first place — the UK NHS advises that further surgery may be needed after about 10 years.

Is revision done the same way as the first operation?

What can be addressed depends on what was done before. So the consultation starts from the records of the previous operation, and bringing them lets you hear a more specific plan.

Related questions

• When do results show, and how long do swelling and scars last?
• How do I check whether a clinic is safe?
• Can loose skin be treated without an incision?