Breast augmentation has recently become a common plastic surgical procedure performed in Korea. However, the incidence of re-operation has also increased due to various complications. The purpose of this study is to analyze the complications of primary augmentation mammoplasty and to demonstrate the reasons for re-operations.

Among augmentation mammoplasty cases operated in M.D. Clinic from Jan. 2002 to Jul. 2003, 42 cases of re-operations were reviewed. Age, interim primary operations, used implants, complications and reasons of reoperations and methods of re-operations were retrospectively evaluated.

Patients from half of the cases were in their thirties. Almost halves of the patients were operated again within a year. Common reasons of re-operations were complications in shape and physical texture. For shape problems, they commonly complained of upper fullness or double bubble deformity and asymmetry. The author commonly used a periareolar incision (95.2%) and saline bag implants (81.0%) for re-operations. The usual size of the implant was between 151 and 250 cc. In 7 capsular contracture cases, 3 capsulotomy, 3 capsulectomy and 1 case of subpectoral conversion were performed, of which 1 case in capsulotomy and 1 subpectoral conversion recurred.

Augmentation mammoplasty is not a simple procedure, making many complications in shape, physical texture, breast functions, and others that is related to breast diseases. For better outcomes in re-operation cases, exact understanding and evaluation of primary complications are essential.