Are you considering removing your breast implants? If so, you’re not alone. While breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures, more and more women are choosing to remove their implants. Reasons to remove implants are varied, from physical discomfort due to capsular contracture or rupture, to simply desiring an aesthetic change. In any case, breast implant removal is a safe and viable option.
Breast implant removal gives you the chance to “redo” your breasts, for any reason you choose. You can also combine this with another breast enhancement procedure, like a breast lift or fat grafting, to further customize your results and reach your desired aesthetic.
Breast implant removal is just what it sounds like: a plastic surgery procedure that removes silicone or saline breast implants. But it’s a bit more complicated than that. When breast implants are originally placed in the body, the plastic surgeon creates a small pocket in the tissue for the implant to rest. As you heal, your body forms a protective barrier of scar tissue around the implant, known as the breast capsule. During breast implant removal, your surgeon removes both the implant and the capsule around it.
Breast implant removal, sometimes called explantation, is a unique procedure in that it’s usually requested to remedy some sort of issue with the breast implants, be it physical or aesthetic. For example, a patient may have an issue such as capsular contracture, in which the breast capsule constricts the implants tightly, resulting in pain and misshapen, hard breasts.
At Aesthetic Surgery Centre, your breast implant removal procedure will be tailored to your needs, including any physical issues with the implants, as well as your aesthetic goals.
Explantation can enhance your physical comfort, address aesthetic concerns, and restore your confidence. Each patient is different, but we’ll break down some of the most common reasons women choose to remove their breast implants.
Capsular contracture is one of the more common complications of breast augmentation, and can happen as soon as four to six weeks into the recovery period or years later. Scar tissue is a natural response during the healing process, but in cases of capsular contracture, it becomes thick, fibrous, and tight. Severe cases include discomfort and pain.
While the medical community does not formally recognize breast implant illness as an official medical diagnosis, some women experience unexplained symptoms after breast augmentation. Some medical professionals believe these symptoms are caused by an autoimmune response to the implants. BII symptoms can include:
Rupture occurs when a tear forms in the outer shell of a breast implant, which can cause the silicone or saline contents to leak into the breast capsule. This can occur due to trauma or later on as the breast implant shell breaks down. Saline ruptures are easy to detect as the breast often will have a change in shape, while silicone ruptures, called “silent ruptures,” are detected through MRI exams. If you suspect you’ve had a rupture, you should have your breasts examined as soon as possible, especially with silicone implants.
Either when they are placed or during the healing process, implant malposition can cause the breasts to look unnatural or misshapen. Some issues can result in bottoming out, double-bubble deformity, and symmastia, also known as the “uniboob” deformity.
In some cases, the patient is simply unhappy with her breasts. The implants may be too large for her frame, or they may no longer align with her desired aesthetic. If you’re dissatisfied with your breasts for any reason, breast implant removal can help.
The overall goal of explantation is to safely and completely remove the breast implants while preserving the integrity of the breast tissue and skin. The surgical approach will vary depending on your present concerns, as well as your overall goals for the procedure.
For example, if you have an implant rupture, your plastic surgeon may use an MRI to determine the state of the implant and capsule; however, they won’t know for sure until the surgery. This means that if you request an en bloc capsulectomy (removal of the implant and capsule as one piece), it may or may not be possible based on the quality of the implant.
An en bloc capsulectomy, or total capsulectomy, aims to remove the entire implant and the surrounding capsule of scar tissue as one unit. If your breast implants are old, you’ve had a rupture or other trauma to the breasts, or the breast capsule has fused to the ribcage, your capsule may have to be removed in pieces rather than as one unit. In any case, your surgeon performs this step first to ensure that the entire breast implant is removed safely and that your breast pocket is clean of any remaining silicone or scar tissue.
If you don’t wish to remove your breast implants for good, you can opt for breast implant revision or breast implant replacement. During this procedure, your plastic surgeon will perform the usual removal before replacing the implants with newer ones. Many patients use this opportunity to adjust the size or material of their implants to better suit their liking. Those who don’t have any issues with their implants may still need to replace their implants later on, usually around 10–15 years after the first surgery.
An increasingly popular option for explantation patients is to enhance the size and shape of their breasts with a “natural” breast augmentation using fat grafting. After your surgeon removes the silicone or saline implants, they can subtly increase the size of the breasts through careful injection of autologous fat harvested from another area of the body using liposuction. This procedure has many benefits, as it is seen as a safer or more natural alternative to implants because you’re using your own fat, thus eliminating the risk of rejection by the body.
Fat grafting requires you to undergo liposuction first, so your surgeon can harvest enough donor fat to reinject into the breasts. In this way, you’re getting a “two-in-one” procedure, as you’ll be able to slim another area of the body, such as the abdomen or hips, and reallocate the fat into the breasts, resulting in a lovely, feminine contour.
A breast lift or mastopexy is a fantastic companion procedure to explantation, especially for those who have had their implants for many years or who have had larger implants. When the breasts have to accommodate large implants, the skin of the breasts becomes stretched, resulting in a sagging appearance. And sometimes, when the implants are removed, the remaining tissue looks a little lackluster. A breast lift is the perfect remedy, as it lifts and reshapes the breast tissue and skin, restoring a youthful, perky appearance to the breasts.
A breast lift is often combined with an en bloc capsulectomy and can be performed with implant replacement or fat grafting to achieve a lifted, shapely result.
Breast implant removal offers several benefits, unique to the patient’s needs and goals. Some of these benefits include:
Many of the issues women face with their breast implants come with pain and discomfort in one form or another. If your implants are causing discomfort, removing them immediately can alleviate this.
Breast implant removal is one of the most customizable breast procedures, as your current concerns, the state of your implant quality, and your overall aesthetic goals all influence the surgery. You’ll be able to work with your plastic surgeon to design the result you want.
Many patients seek breast implant removal because they no longer like their implants. Be it from a change of aesthetic, or their implants are too large and difficult to live with, or they have unexplained illnesses potentially associated with their implants, they simply want a way out. Regardless of whether the patient chooses to replace her implants with something that suits her better or have them fully removed, so many patients experience relief and cite the emotional benefits of this procedure.
If you are unhappy with your breast implants for any reason or wish to have your breast implants replaced, you may be a candidate for breast implant removal. Ideal candidates for breast implant removal:
The best way to determine if breast implant removal is right for you is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is skilled and experienced in this procedure. Call Aesthetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa at (253) 627-2900 to schedule your consultation today.
The first step to achieving your breast enhancement goals is an in-depth consultation with your plastic surgeon. During your consultation, your surgeon will examine your breasts, including any visible deformities, your skin quality, and listen to your concerns to determine if you are a candidate. They will also review your medical history and provide recommendations for combined procedures such as fat grafting or a breast lift, if you desire.
This is the best time to ask any questions you have, view more before and after photos, and learn more about the procedure, results, and recovery process. The more clearly you can define your goals and expectations, the better your surgeon can advise you on the best course of action to help you achieve your desired results.
Breast implant removal is typically performed using general anesthesia and may involve the following steps:
Incisions are typically placed in the same location as the original procedure to avoid unnecessary scarring. Your surgeon will likely make careful incisions along the inframammary line or the periareolar location.
Your surgeon will begin the process of removing the breast implants and capsule. This process may be more or less complex depending on the quality of the implant and whether or not the capsule has fused to the ribcage. Once your surgeon is satisfied that the implant has been fully removed, the area will be cleaned of any potential contaminants.
Combined procedures will be performed at this time, such as a breast lift or replacement implants.
Once your procedure is complete and your surgeon is satisfied with the results, they will carefully close the incisions with neat sutures to limit the risk of visible scarring. Your breasts will be carefully bandaged with a surgical dressing, and you may be placed in a light surgical bra.
Recovery after breast implant removal varies for each patient, especially when considering the different approaches to the procedure. Patients who undergo combined procedures, such as a breast lift, should consult the recovery instructions of that procedure as well. With that in mind, a general breast implant removal recovery process is as follows:
Expect some bruising and swelling following your explant surgery. You may be given a surgical bra or compression garment to aid in healing and reduce swelling; be sure to follow your surgeon’s instructions for how long to wear it. Some discomfort is normal and can be helped with over-the-counter pain medication.
Most patients feel up to returning to work and regular activities after the first week, sometimes within five days. In the second week of recovery, you can gradually increase your activity, but continue to rest as needed. Bruising and swelling will begin to fade.
After four weeks, you should be feeling much more like yourself. Your energy levels should be back to normal, bruising and swelling should be at a minimum, and you should be able to see your final results. Your surgeon may clear you to wear regular bras without underwire.
You’ll notice an immediate change to your breasts after your breast implant removal. Your breasts may feel much lighter without the implants, and discomfort (save for that related to surgery) should improve.
Final results may take time to appear, as your breasts will be swollen and bruised for a few weeks. Once you heal, your breasts will be back to a more natural shape and size without your implants. Of course, if you have combined procedures, you will have a different result.
The cost of breast implant removal in Tacoma can vary depending on several factors, including the complexity of your procedure and whether you have combined procedures. Your board-certified surgeon can provide you with an accurate cost estimate during your consultation.
In cases of implant rupture, capsular contracture, infection, or interference with a breast cancer diagnosis, insurance may provide coverage with a proper referral. Be sure to ask your surgeon for more information if any of the above apply.
Aesthetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa also offers financing options, making it easier for you to invest in your appearance and achieve your goals.
If you’re ready to remove your breast implants and create the figure you want, breast implant removal is the first step. To learn more about the benefits of breast implant removal and determine if it’s the right procedure to help you achieve your goals, contact Aesthetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa today by calling (253) 627-2900 or completing the contact form.
