Breast Implant Removal

Explant Surgery

The goal of breast implant removal surgery is to remove breast implants and any scar tissue that forms around implants.

What Is Breast Implant Removal Surgery?

The goal of breast implant removal surgery is to remove breast implants from breast augmentation or reconstruction patients. During these procedures, the surgeon may also remove silicone material from implant leaks and the breast capsule, which is the scar tissue that forms after a breast implant is placed.

Often, the scar tissue that forms after the placement of an implant is soft and does not need to be removed, but it may harden, causing pain and discomfort. This is often a reason to have the implants and scar tissue removed.

Breast implants are not lifelong devices; it is important to have them exchanged or removed approximately every 10-15 years if you have any concerns. This decision is typically based on the individual and the patient's needs and desires.

In some cases, the outside shell of the implant breaks down causing silicone to leak and the scar tissue around the implant to harden. It is important to understand that your implants should be removed for this reason.

Breast Implant Removal FAQs

Breast implant removal surgery is a highly individualized procedure. It should be performed if you have capsular contracture (hardening of the breast), pain with implants, imaging has shown a leak of the capsule, and/or if you no longer desire implants or wish to exchange them.

In general, you may be a good candidate for breast implant removal if:

You are physically healthy and at a stable weight
You have realistic expectations
You are a nonsmoker
You are bothered by the appearance of your implants
You have experienced discomfort or pain
You feel your breasts are too heavy
You are starting to feel your breast scar tissue is getting harder or tighter
Imaging suggests a leak or rupture of implants
You have experienced a rupture or leak of implants

If you're considering surgery, spend some time reviewing before and after photos and learning about what to expect during recovery. Preparation ahead of time helps patients have reasonable expectations and a smoother recovery.

During your breast implant removal consultation be prepared to discuss:

Your surgical goals
Medical conditions, drug allergies, and medical treatments
Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use
Previous surgeries

Your plastic surgeon will also:

Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
Examine your breasts
Take photographs
Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
Discuss likely outcomes of breast implant removal surgery and any risks or potential complications

The success and safety of your breast implant removal procedure depend very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You'll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon questions. It's very important to understand all aspects of your breast implant removal surgery. To help, we have prepared a checklist of questions to ask your plastic surgeon that you can take with you to your consultation.

It's natural to feel some anxiety. Don't be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor and anesthesiologist will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 – The incision

A breast implant removal requires an incision to be placed along the lower fold of your breast (the inframammary fold) or an incision around or below the areola.

Step 3 – The operation

This will depend on your particular surgery and your surgeon. Often, the breast capsules and implants are removed using a combination of techniques.

Step 4 – Closing the incisions

Sutures, skin adhesives, tapes, or clips close the skin incisions. Your breast implant removal will result in a different shape of the breast profile, which may be flatter or droopier than before surgery and have irregularities and/or indentations. You may also notice that the breast can take on a different shape with indentations depending on how much scar tissue is produced around your implants.

Following your breast implant removal surgery, gauze dressings or bandages and you may have drains. You may be placed in a support bra or surgical garment, and there are times that a compression garment may be used to minimize swelling following surgery.

After your procedure, you may need to have drains, which are small, thin tubes temporarily placed under the skin within the pocket to drain any excess blood or serous fluid that may collect.

You will be given specific instructions that may include:

How to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery
Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection
Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
When to follow up with your plastic surgeon

Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period.

Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
Will there be drains? For how long?
When can I bathe or shower?
When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
When do I return for follow-up care?

Healing will continue for several weeks as swelling decreases. Continue to follow your plastic surgeon's instructions and attend follow-up visits as scheduled.

The final results of breast implant removal surgery will depend largely on the size of the implants being removed and the quantity and quality of your breast tissue that is left. The scar tissue that was surrounding your implants also will play a large role in your overall outcome. Swelling and postoperative changes will also need time prior to the final results. Healing can take up to one year before the final results are visible.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. With this particular surgery, the results are not always cosmetic because the breast tissue is thin as a result of having implants for an extended period of time. The results can also be affected if the implants have been leaking. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary. It may also be necessary to have a mastectomy if silicone has gone throughout the breast and the free-floating silicone is no longer within the scar tissue.

When you go home, if you experience shortness of breath, chest pains or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.

Following your physician's instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.

Breast implant removal can be performed with an en bloc procedure or a capsulectomy. Both procedures have the same goal: to remove your implants and the scar tissue, or capsule, that has formed around them. These procedures can lead to greater physical comfort and wellness if you would like to change the size of your augmented breasts or you have been experiencing difficulties with your current implants.

A capsulectomy is a general term for the removal of a breast implant as well as the capsule. The difference lies in the method of removal, as an en bloc capsulectomy removes the breast implant and the scar tissue without cutting into or opening the capsule. A capsulectomy in general involves creating an incision in the capsule and first removing the implant separately from the scar tissue. Once the implant is removed, the capsule is removed. This is preferred in instances where a portion of the capsule has fused to the rib cage or chest muscle and must be left in place as a safety precaution.