The trend of reducing breast size after breast augmentation for a while

Below is a typical case of breast implant removal, cavity adjustment, and new implant placement of a Vietnamese American customer after 2 breast augmentations:

Ms. T. Tam, 37 years old, returned from the US. She is 1m63 tall, weighs 48kg and has had two breast implants. Currently, she wants to remove her breast implants, improve her bust to be softer, and reduce the size of her breast implants.

- She had her first implant placed in 2022: She had her breast implant placed with the hope of improving sagging. But after surgery, the breast implant was mainly located in the upper pole, the breast tissue and glands were located in the lower pole, the bust was still sagging like before the implant, she was not satisfied with the cosmetic results so she decided to have a second breast reconstruction.

- Second breast reconstruction in October 2023: She chose the "lollipop" I-flap reconstruction option to improve sagging and retain the breast implant. Currently, her breasts have stretch scars, hard breasts, and uneven breast bases, so she wants to improve the softness and reduce the size of the breast implant, so that the breast shape has a more natural fall than the current one (looks a bit fake).

Step 1: Dr. Ho Cao Vu consults on breasts before breast implant removal surgery:

- Stretched scar from old I-flap incision cannot be repaired

- On the left, adjust the breast seam and cut the skin to adjust the length from the nipple to the breast seam.

- Based on current bust, reduce size according to customer's wishes

- Clinical examination may show that the breast has a fibrous capsule or pseudofibrous capsule (the customer shared that the breast is harder when lying down than when standing)

- Breast has a phenomenon of cleft

- Uneven chest, left side is lower than right side

Step 2: Breast implant removal surgery using the new generation ultrasonic surgical scalpel

- Right breast: 275cc breast implant is intact, the pocket is narrow, the upper pole is lacking, causing pressure to push the breast implant to the wrong position towards the lower pole and the inner ¼ angle, the outer pole fibrous capsule position. Use an ultrasonic knife to cut the fibrous capsule, expand the chest cavity at the upper pole and outer edge, remove subcutaneous tissue and skin to adjust the breast base.

- Left breast: 275cc breast implant is intact, narrow cavity creates pressure on the breast implant with folds, left breast base is lower than right side, use ultrasonic knife to expand cavity and adjust breast base to fit new implant size.

Step 3: Discharge after 8-10 hours, do not take painkillers or antibiotics after surgery, do cytology of the peeled fibrous tissue.

Many customers have undergone breast augmentation with blind dissection method many years ago, causing a lot of pain after surgery, using painkillers and antibiotics for a long time, creating fear when deciding to remove breast implants.

After consulting about the method of removing breast implants with an Ultrasonic surgical scalpel to reduce post-operative pain, no drainage, no painkillers or antibiotics (for normal implant replacement), many women have chosen to return home to replace their breast implants while also dealing with the problems of their breasts regarding aesthetics, softness, and bad scars...

Below is the sharing of Dr. Ho Cao Vu about the notes before breast implant removal surgery and implant size reduction.

- Textured or smooth breast implants.

For women who have had breast implants for more than 5 years, it is necessary to check information such as: Breast implant warranty card, brand, textured or gel material, implant size (diameter and projection), warranty period, whether the breast implant is on the list of implants to be removed by prestigious scientific and medical organizations in the world, in-depth breast MRI to check for pathological conditions related to the mammary glands and breast implant condition (folded implant, ruptured implant), abnormal thickness or thinness of the implant.

If breast implants are recommended to be removed to avoid health risks, women should remove the breast implants and replace them with certified safe implants.

- Remove breast implants by point dissection method.

With the method of breast augmentation by blind dissection through the armpit and using an electric cautery knife, the lower pole will not be shaped by the dual plane technique and the pocket will not be shaped as accurately as with the point dissection method. Therefore, many cases of implant placement after many years encounter the following conditions: folded pocket, missing pocket, hard breast (pseudocapsule), unbalanced breast shape (upper pole - lower pole, inner pole - outer pole), uneven breast base...

Therefore, when deciding to remove the breast implant and replace it with a new one, you should choose the new generation of ultrasonic knife point dissection methods to help: create precise cavities, reduce post-operative pain (no painkillers or antibiotics after surgery).

- Check the condition and shape the new pocket

In cases where the anatomical structure has changed many years after implant placement, an experienced doctor is required to evaluate factors such as:

- Determine the width and narrowness of the old bag compartment

- Create a new pocket cavity to fit the new pocket size (in case of a large pocket, the pocket needs to be sutured, in case of a missing pocket, the pocket needs to be created).

- Size and protrusion of old breast implants.

- Choose the size and projection of the new breast implant according to the customer's wishes and current anatomical condition.

- Check for any abnormalities in the pocket after removing the breast implant (pocket inflammation, abnormal lumps, thickness - thinness...).

- Thoracic bone structure. In cases where implants have been placed, it is difficult for the doctor to determine the condition of the thoracic bone (convex, concave, abnormal), so after removing the implant, the doctor will check and choose the appropriate implant size.

- Skin elasticity: After placing the bag, the skin elasticity changes, so when reducing the bag size, it is necessary to evaluate the skin elasticity to choose the appropriate breast bag size.

- Perform cytology with abnormal fibrous tissue.

Advantages of new generation ultrasonic knife in breast implant removal surgery

Dr. Ho Cao Vu shared: " The new generation of ultrasonic surgical scalpel operates according to the welding - burning - cutting mechanism, creating a solid stopper to help stop bleeding, prevent secretions well during surgery, create a dry chest cavity, helping the surgeon to easily place the bag, without the need for drainage.

Conventional electric scalpels only have two stages of burning and cutting, and their ability to stop bleeding and prevent secretions is poor, so drainage is often required during and after surgery, and the surgery time is also longer. In addition, thanks to the ability to intelligently control the level of heat release, ultrasonic scalpels do not cause tissue damage or thermal burns. This is also the limitation of conventional electric scalpels .

Therefore, after breast implant removal surgery using Ultrasonic surgical scalpel, the patient is discharged after 8-10 hours, without using additional painkillers or antibiotics after surgery. This method is preferred by many Vietnamese women overseas because it shortens recovery time and reduces pain after surgery.

Doctor Ho Cao Vu said, " With breast implant removal cases using the new generation Ultrasonic surgical scalpel using laryngeal mask anesthesia, customers can be discharged completely healthy after 8-10 hours according to the regulations of the general hospital. In addition, immediately after closing the wound, customers are treated with preventive scar treatment according to the protocol of experts with more than 40 years of experience to ensure that the scar after surgery looks as aesthetically pleasing as possible ."

It is known that more than 10 years of applying ultrasonic knives in breast augmentation surgery, breast implant removal - replacement and abdominal contouring have brought many advantages. In 2021, Dr. Ho Cao Vu submitted an application for exclusive rights to the trademark "Harmo 5K". On January 25, 2024, Dr. Ho Cao Vu was granted a notice of exclusive ownership of this trademark.

Currently, the painless breast augmentation method "Harmo 5k" is highly appreciated because it ensures the following criteria: No pain, no bleeding, no discharge, no medication, no recovery.

Ha An

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/xu-huong-ha-size-tui-nguc-sau-nang-nguc-mot-thoi-gian-ar906229.html