Breast Implant Removal (Breast Explant Surgery) in Los Angeles
What Is Breast Implant Removal?
Even women who have thoroughly enjoyed their breast implants sometimes come to a stage in life when they’re ready for a change. Breast implant removal, also called breast explant surgery, is a type of breast revision surgery designed to remove implants from a previous breast augmentation.
Sometimes, implant removal is necessary due to complications such as capsular contracture, implant rupture, rippling, asymmetry, double bubble, or breast implant illness (BII). However, these are not the only reasons a woman may want to remove her current implants. Personal preferences or lifestyle changes may also play a role.
Dr. Boyd has over 30 years of experience in aesthetic breast surgery. He helps many patients from the South Bay, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles, and out of town achieve their desired results.
What Are the Benefits of Breast Implant Removal?
Improved Breast Shape
If your breast implants did not give you the shape you were hoping for, either because of incorrect size, asymmetry, or malposition, then implant removal can help improve the shape of your breasts by removing the original implant, making the appropriate adjustments, and replacing it with a new one. Additionally, fat grafting can be performed to enhance breast volume slightly, or breast lift surgery can be chosen to correct acquired droopiness.
Change in Breast Size
After having breast implants, some women become unhappy with their breast implants or change their minds about the size of their bust. If you wish to reduce the implant size or are ready to go bigger, then breast revision surgery can help you achieve your goals. If you want to remove your implants without replacements, coupling implant removal with breast lift surgery and/or fat grafting can maintain a youthful shape.
Implant Replacement After Complications
Sometimes rippling or rupture occurs, and the implants can appear uneven and distorted. When the patient wishes to maintain the augmentation, the defective devices can be substituted with newer thicker gel implants, often placed in a different plane. Many different materials, projections, sizes, and textures are available, so you have several options to best meet your individual aesthetic preferences.
Am I a Candidate for Breast Implant Removal?
Candidates for breast implant removal should be nonsmokers who are healthy and have reasonable expectations for their results. Ideal candidates for breast implant removal include those who experience:
- Complications after breast augmentation (capsular contracture, implant movement, double bubble, or malpositioning)
- Implant leaks or ruptures
- Pain or other health issues due to your implants
- Dissatisfaction with their appearance (implants are asymmetrical, too small, or too large)
- Changes to your lifestyle or aesthetic that don’t include breast implants
Any woman dissatisfied with her breast implants and who wants them removed for any reason can be a candidate for breast implant removal surgery. As mentioned, this procedure can either remove the implants without replacement or include new implants in place of the old ones
What Is the Breast Implant Removal Process?
Breast Implant Removal Consultation
During your breast implant removal consultation, you will talk about your reasons for choosing to remove your implants and whether or not you are planning to replace them or go back to your natural breasts. If you are replacing your implants, you will determine what size and type of implant you wish to use. If you want to leave your implants out, Dr. Boyd will evaluate whether you might wish to undergo a breast lift to raise, firm up, and reshape your natural breasts.
Dr. Boyd will also review your health history, including medical conditions and current medications, as well as identify any risk factors, such as smoking. Your consultation is also the time to address any questions or concerns you may have about the procedure and decide if there are other cosmetic procedures you wish to undergo simultaneously.
Breast Implant Removal Techniques
Breast implant removal is mostly performed using general anesthesia to ensure your comfort during the procedure. A five to seven-centimeter incision is made in the fold under each breast (inframammary fold). When possible, this incision will be made in the same location as that of your initial augmentation. This will eliminate any additional scarring.
Your needs and desired results determine the technique used to remove your implants. If you are replacing your implants, the old ones are removed, and new ones may be placed within the same capsule (the scar tissue that formed around the breast implants). If you have a complication like capsular contracture, you might undergo a partial capsulectomy or total capsulectomy. A partial capsulectomy removes the breast implants and parts of the capsule, while a total capsulectomy removes the entire capsule in pieces. A capsulotomy simply releases the capsule by making several incisions around its perimeter. “En bloc” capsulectomy is a technique where the capsule and the contained implant are removed in one intact piece. This is typically used if the implant has ruptured since it keeps the leaked gel contained within the capsule.
Once the implant removal is complete, the incisions are closed using buried, absorbable sutures.
What Can I Expect From My Breast Implant Removal Recovery?
Your recovery from breast implant removal should be similar to that of your initial breast augmentation. Your chest may be swollen, sore, and bruised for the first few days. A compression garment is used to help support your breasts. Most patients can resume light activities within one week.
Minimal pain is experienced during breast implant removal recovery and can be controlled using oral medications.
Can I Combine Other Procedures With My Breast Implant Removal?
Many patients decide to add other cosmetic procedures to their breast implant removal. A breast lift is often combined with explantation surgery, with the incisions used for the lift encircling the nipple-areolar complexes and extending vertically down to the fold in the form of a “lollipop.” The incisions (and their resulting scars) are designed to be unobtrusive, meaning they may be covered by a bra or bikini top and should fade with time.
If you don’t want to replace your implants but still wish to add a small amount of volume to your breasts, you may opt for fat transfer breast augmentation. This procedure, also called fat grafting, uses fat taken from your body via liposuction and strategically injects it into your breasts to give them a natural increase in size.
Body contouring procedures like liposuction or a tummy tuck are also popular options to add to your breast implant removal. Or, add a breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction to make it a Mommy Makeover. Dr. Boyd can recommend the procedures that will offer you the maximum aesthetic benefits for your particular situation.
Breast Implant Removal Before & After Photos
What Are Some Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Implant Removal?
You will be asked to stop smoking and taking any anti-inflammatory medications (including aspirin, NSAIDs, and some herbal supplements). You will also be asked to limit your alcohol consumption.
You should schedule a driver to take you to and from our facility and have someone stay with you for at least the first night while you recuperate. Dr. Boyd will provide preoperative and postoperative care instructions that should be followed closely.
If you develop a condition called capsular contracture, you may require a capsulectomy. Capsular contracture is when the scar tissue around your breast implant hardens around your implant. This can be painful and cause malformation of the breast. However, everyone will form some kind of capsule since it is the body’s normal reaction to wall off foreign material. Most are soft and flimsy and do not require removal unless there has been a spillage of silicone.
A capsulectomy involves removing the hardened scar tissue along with your breast implant. These procedures are performed together.
Some patients may need a breast lift along with their breast implant removal. In general, patients with larger implants that have been in place longer are more likely to need a breast lift. This is because removing the breast implant does not remove the skin and other tissues that have stretched and lost elasticity. A breast lift can correct these issues.
Patients may combine breast explant surgery with a breast lift or choose to undergo a breast lift at a later date. Dr. Boyd usually recommends combining the procedures.
Individual results will differ based on the amount of native breast tissue you possess, the elasticity of your tissues, your personal preference, and whether additional surgeries are performed.
If new implants are inserted, they will provide a long-lasting cleavage enhancement. Many patients choose to forego implant replacement and return to their original breast size, often enhancing their bust with a lift or fat grafting for additional volume and projection.
The cost for breast implant removal will vary depending on whether you plan to replace the implants, have a lift, undergo reduction, or receive fat grafting, and whether you choose to add additional procedures to your surgery. The length of surgery is also a significant factor. These details will be discussed during your initial consultation with Dr. Boyd, and you will receive a cost estimate at that time.