Choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs revision cases regularly, operates in an accredited surgical facility, examines you in person, and explains honestly what can and cannot be improved. Revision surgery is harder than a first-time procedure – there is scar tissue, altered anatomy, and often a patient who has already been disappointed once.
At Illuum Cosmetic Surgery in Novi, Dr. Lakin and Dr. Ozolins are both board-certified plastic surgeons with more than 20 years of experience each. Revision work – breast, body, and face – is a regular part of our practice.
Revision plastic surgery is a second (or later) operation performed to improve, correct, or update the outcome of an earlier cosmetic procedure. It is not simply “doing the surgery again” – the surgeon must work with tissue that has already been operated on, plan around existing scars, and account for how your body healed the first time.
Illuum Cosmetic Surgery offers corrective options across the body, including:
Breast revision, including implant exchange, implant removal, correcting asymmetry, and addressing capsular contracture after a previous breast augmentation
Revision tummy tuck – refining the scar, correcting abdominal contour, or addressing persistent skin laxity
Revision liposuction – smoothing lumps, bumps, and contour irregularities
Revision arm lift, thigh lift, and body lift for residual loose skin or improved contours and scars
Scar revision
Facial revision procedures
The more information you bring, the more useful your consultation will be. Try to gather:
Your original operative report, if you can get it from the previous practice
Implant information – size, type (saline or silicone), and placement, if you had breast surgery
Dates of your previous procedures
Photos from before your original surgery, plus current photos of the area from multiple angles
A clear description of what bothers you now and what your ideal outcome looks like
At Illuum Cosmetic Surgery, records from previous providers are requested ahead of your appointment so the surgeon can review your history before you meet. New patient forms are sent electronically by text and email and should be completed in full before your visit. Inspiration photos help too – the most useful ones show someone with a similar body type and, for breast cases, similar starting volume and shape.
Not all surgeons are equipped to handle the complexities of revision surgery, and this is not the time to shop for a bargain. Do not choose based on a single ad or a single photo – look at multiple results, read patient reviews, and read the surgeon’s biography carefully.
Pay attention to specific language. “Board-certified plastic surgeon” is a specific credential, not the same as a general cosmetic practitioner – verify it. Also look for fellowship training and specialized techniques: Dr. Ozolins completed fellowship training in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery and is one of the leading authorities on the SPAIR technique used in breast lift and reduction. If your revision involves the breast, that focused expertise is worth seeking out.
Ask directly: how often do you perform revision cases? A surgeon who sees revision patients weekly has developed judgment about scar tissue, blood supply, and what a second operation can realistically achieve.
Dr. Lakin – board-certified plastic surgeon with nearly 20 years of experience and over 20,000 surgical procedures performed. He is bilingual in Spanish after growing up in South Florida and living in Spain, Mexico, Bolivia, and Puerto Rico.
Dr. Ozolins – board-certified plastic surgeon with fellowship training in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, a leading authority on the SPAIR method for breast lifts and reductions, named an Hour Detroit Magazine “Top Doc,” and a member of national and state medical societies.
Experience also shows up in honesty about limits. Dr. Lakin maintains a six-hour maximum operating time, so complex combinations are staged rather than crammed into one operation – a full breast lift and breast fat transfer are not done together; the lift is performed first, with fat transfer as a second stage. Those are safety decisions, not sales decisions.
Look for:
Board certification in plastic surgery – certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is non-negotiable; both our surgeons are board-certified
Fellowship training in a relevant subspecialty
Society memberships at the national and state level, indicating ongoing education and high ethical standards
Peer recognition from credible regional or national sources
Where your surgery happens is as important as who performs it. Illuum Cosmetic Surgery holds Quad-A accreditation and performs all procedures in its own fully equipped, on-site operating room in Novi, MI, meeting independent standards for equipment, operating room safety, staffing, sterilization, staff credentials, and emergency preparedness.
Safety screening is real here, not a formality:
BMI limit of 42 and age limit of 72 for surgery
Patients classified as ASA 3 are not candidates
Medical clearance from a primary care provider required in certain situations
The anesthesia team must clear every patient
A practice that turns patients away when it is not safe is a practice worth trusting.
Your consultation at Illuum Cosmetic Surgery is directly with Dr. Lakin or Dr. Ozolins and runs about 45 minutes, sometimes up to an hour if you have many questions. During the visit, your surgeon will:
Review your medical history and previous operative reports
Perform an in-person physical examination of the area of concern
Listen to your reasons for seeking revision and your aesthetic goals
Develop a customized surgical plan for your specific issues
Explain the procedure, realistic outcomes, and recovery in detail
Our team prefers in-person assessment for revision concerns, because scar tissue and tissue quality are difficult to judge on video. Virtual consultations are available for patients who live far away, and out-of-state patients are welcome. For a virtual visit, you will need a private, quiet space where you can undress so the surgeon can evaluate the area; a link is sent by text and email at your appointment time, with no app or software download needed.
Bring a written list. Good questions include:
Are you board-certified in plastic surgery?
How many revision cases like mine have you performed?
What specifically caused my current result, in your opinion?
Based on my previous surgery, what challenges do you anticipate in my case?
What can realistically be improved – and what cannot?
What surgical technique would you use, and why?
Where will the incisions be, and how will existing scars be handled?
Is this done in one operation or staged?
Is the surgical facility accredited?
What does the recovery timeline look like?
Who will I see at my follow-up appointments?
If a surgeon promises perfection or brushes off your questions, keep looking.
Weigh five things together:
Credentials – board certification, fellowship training, society memberships
Revision-specific experience – not just total years, but relevant cases
Facility safety – accreditation and honest candidacy screening
Communication – did the surgeon listen, examine you, and speak plainly?
Aftercare structure – a real follow-up schedule and accessible support
Then trust your instincts. If you left the consultation feeling heard and clear about the plan, that is meaningful. If you left with vague answers, that is meaningful too. A successful revision surgery is a partnership, and trust is the foundation.
Knowing how to choose the right surgeon for revision plastic surgery comes down to verified board certification, hands-on revision experience, an accredited operating facility, an unhurried in-person evaluation, and a clear follow-up plan. Gather your prior records, ask direct questions, and choose the surgeon who is honest about what is possible.
At Illuum Cosmetic Surgery in Novi, Dr. Lakin and Dr. Ozolins bring more than two decades of experience each to revision breast, body, and facial procedures – with every surgery performed in our own Quad-A accredited operating room.
Or call our Novi office at 248-306-8656
About the Author
Dr. Gregory Lakin
August 13, 2026
Nurse Injector
She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Michigan State University and worked as an operating room nurse at Michigan Medicine for 2 years before transitioning to aesthetics. She
received her certification as a Nurse Injector, and attended further training and certification through Allergan Medical Institute. She absolutely loves being a Nurse Injector and is very passionate about
combining medicine and the creativity and artistry of aesthetics in her practice. It is extremely important to her to remain educated and up to date with the newest and best treatments and injection techniques. Her goal as an Injector is that when you sit in her chair that you feel comfortable, fully educated on your procedure, and confident and happy in your results when we are done. She loves forming connections with her patients and feels truly honored to be a part of your journey to becoming your most confident self, inside and out! She is a great listener and looks forward to creating an individualized plan to meet each of her patient’s unique goals and desires. Some of her favorite treatments include lip filler, Botox, and midface/cheek filler (but there is so much more!). When she is not injecting, you can find her trying new recipes, spending time with family, working out, gardening, or taking a long walk with her dog.
Heidi Winkler BSN, RN
Director of Nursing & Surgical Services Leadership
Heidi’s goal is to ensure every patient has a positive experience and is satisfied with the high quality of service provided by our clinical staff. Her passion as a caregiver is to impact each person’s life in a positive way.
PACU Nurse
Tonya has been a registered nurse for 15 years. She earned her BSN at the University of Michigan. Go Blue!
She started her career as a trauma RN in Detroit. She has been working as a recovery RN for the past 8 years. She loves being part of a team that makes a difference in people’s lives.
Her passions include lounging with her fur babies, family, and friends, traveling, crunching, and recycling.
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