Breast Implant Removal

Breast Implant Removal H/K/B Cosmetic Surgery

EXPERTS IN AESTHETIC BREAST RECONSTRUCTION AFTER BREAST IMPLANT REMOVAL

You loved your breast implants once and probably never thought you would want to have them removed when you decided to have breast augmentation surgery. The truth is that there is an increasing number of women who are seeking treatment for breast implant removal by HKB Cosmetic Surgery. Reasons for wanting breast implant removal and lift include breast implant Illness, recurrent capsular contracture, lifestyle changes, or simply personal preference. 

No matter what your reason for seeking breast implant removal and lift surgery, our surgeons will work with you to determine the best procedure to achieve an aesthetically pleasing outcome for your new breasts. Breast implant removal alone may result in loose, sagging breast tissue and may require additional procedures to achieve your ideal breast shape. To learn more about breast implant removal surgery at H/K/B Cosmetic Surgery, complete our online form today to schedule a visit.

What Is Breast Implant Removal?

Being informed about the implant removal process can help you plan for treatment and ultimately decide if this is an option you’d like to pursue. This procedure is very different than the original procedure you had for the breast augmentation.

Breast Explantation with total en bloc capsulectomies is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes between one to three hours. The timing depends on which procedures are being performed. Patients may simply undergo explant with en bloc capsulectomies, or the patient may decide to have a breast lift (mastopexy) and possible fat grafting as well which would make the procedure take longer. A typical explant with total capsulectomies usually takes 1.5 hours. An explant with total capsulectomies and breast lift usually takes 2-2.5 hrs. An explant with total capulectomies, breast lift, and fat grafting takes 2.5-3hrs.

What Happens During Breast Implant Removal?

The procedure of explant with total capsulectomies involves making an incision through the skin, usually through the existing scar in the inframammary fold (base of the breast). The incision is longer than the original incision to help us perform a safe and effective procedure. We carefully dissect down to he capsule around the implant, and separate the capsule from the surrounding tissue (breast, chest wall, and pectorals muscle) and removed the entire capsule. This is done in every attempt in an en bloc fashion, with the capsule intact and the implant inside, but at times with a total capsulectomy is performed if there is a patch that is too adherent to the chest wall. In these cases everything is removed all together and anything that was still left behind is then removed with aggressive scrapping, electrocautery, and other resection techniques without causing potential harm to our patients. At the end of the procedure both the implant and capsule is removed from your body in one operation.

What Is En Bloc Capsulectomy?

Understanding the total capsulectomy and en bloc procedures requires familiarity with the capsule, which is the scar tissue that forms around an implant. This is a natural reaction of the body and, in most cases, will not change the way your implants look or feel. When removing breast implants, the capsule must always be taken into consideration.

Breast implant removal with total capsulectomy en bloc can facilitate ideal healing and tissue recovery. When capsulectomy is done en bloc, the entire capsule and implant are removed as a single unit. The implant stays within the capsule during the entire procedure. Our breast implant removal surgeons remove the capsule en bloc when it is safe and appropriate for the patient, but it is important to note, it is not possible in all explantation cases.

H/K/B: Health, Knowledge, Beauty

Your Trusted Partner For Transformation

The H/K/B Way is a collaborative effort between all of our physicians and staff. Together, we are committed to providing our patients with state-of-the-art procedures, best-in-class surgical technology, and the most advanced methods for ensuring not just optimal results, but also optimal recovery periods.

The Importance Of Having Breast Reconstruction completed By An Expert

Breast implant removal and lift and reconstruction are a delicate process and should only be performed by board-certified plastic surgeons who are experienced in the operation. At HKB, our surgeons are board-certified and have performed thousands of breast surgeries. No matter which top breast implant removal surgeon performs your procedure, you will receive the highest quality patient care and individualized attention.

If you plan to have your breast implants removed, it’s important to realize that other work may be necessary to ensure your breasts have the right shape and amount of fullness you were hoping for. When you consult with the surgeons at HKB, you will be able to ask questions about the different types of reconstruction as well as learn which options are best for you depending on your desired results. Book your consultation today to learn more!

Reconstruction Options After Breast Implant Removal

Once the implant is removed, the breasts may look deflated. The skin and breast tissues have stretched to accommodate the breast implant, and without it, the breast appearance will be droopy and flattened. The larger the implant, the more extreme its effect will be on the breast tissues.

Once the implant and capsules are removed, the next step in the surgery will depend on what you and your surgeon have decided during your consultation for reconstruction. This is a personal decision. Additional procedures are not necessary but many women not only want their implants out but they also desire to have an aesthetic breast that they are confident with. This discussion may include whether you’d like to increase volume with fat transfer or if a lift to reposition your existing breast tissue to help meet your aesthetic goals. These procedures reshape the breast after breast implant removal. A breast implant removal and lift may be performed separately or combined, depending on your aesthetic goals and your surgeon’s recommendations.

Breast Lift

Once your implants are removed, it’s likely that your natural breast tissue will appear more relaxed than before. This can be caused by the natural aging process as well as prolonged use of large implants. In these cases, it’s often the best choice to have a breast lift after the implants have been removed. With this procedure, our surgeons can remove excess skin and reshape remaining tissue to ensure your natural breasts sit at a more desirable position on the chest wall. The nipple and areola will be moved to a higher position and, if needed, the areola can be reduced in size. Often autologous fat grafting can be performed to help shape the upper pole and provide added volume for perky youthful breasts.


Fat Grafting

If you would like to maintain a larger breast size than your natural tissue provides but don’t want to do so with breast implants, there is another option. Fat grafting involves taking fat from one area of the body where there is an excess—such as the buttocks, thighs, or abdomen—and transplanting it to an area that needs more volume. Transferred fat is commonly used in breast surgeries, both for reconstruction after implant removal and in natural breast augmentation.

Harvesting and grafting fat are completed in the same surgery. Fat transfer breast augmentation is an excellent alternative for patients who no longer want implants but are still looking for a natural-looking improvement in volume. If the breasts still sag or droop after fat grafting, a breast lift may also be recommended.

Breast Implant Removal & Lift Recovery

Your amount of downtime and recovery after breast implant removal and lift will be dependent on what type of reconstruction you choose. The average amount of time a patient takes off work after cosmetic breast surgery is one week. During this time, you’ll experience some swelling, bruising, and discomfort. You will wear a support bra and have drains to aid healing . You should have a friend or family member available to drive you to and from surgery and stay with you for a few days following surgery. Avoiding strenuous exercise or anything that may strain your upper body is recommended for at least a month post-surgery, and women are urged to sleep on their backs until advised otherwise.

Our surgeons have performed many breast implant removals and are available to answer any of your questions about the procedure or recovery process.

Schedule Your Consultation

Ready to learn more about Breast Implant Removal? Complete our form to receive more information and to schedule your consultation with one of our expert surgeons at H/K/B Cosmetic Surgery. Together, you and your surgeon will develop a custom Breast Implant Removal procedure for your unique body type. You will be consulted on your preparation for surgery, what to expect during surgery, and your recovery.

Breast Implant Removal And Reconstruction FAQS

Breast implant removal is a highly personalized decision, one that only the patient can make. Common reasons for explantation include:

  • Appearance: Some patients who were previously happy with their implants decide they want to restore their smaller, natural breasts.
  • Lifestyle Changes: Some women find that after a change in exercise routine or discovery of new hobby, breast implants no longer fit their active lifestyle.
  • Complications: Recurrent capsular contracture, implant rupture or leak, breast pain or malposition may cause women to reevaluate having breast implants.
  • Breast Implant Illness: BII is a condition believed to be a result of an inflammatory reaction triggered by a breast implant. Symptoms vary from patient to patient, and in serious cases, can become debilitating to a woman’s health and quality of life. Some of the symptoms include:
    – Fatigue
    – Chronic pain
    – Rash
    – Depression, anxiety, and brain fog
    – Hair Loss
    – Hormonal Issues

More and more patients are wanting to remove their breast implants for reasons ranging from restoring their natural appearance to restoring their health. As a practice, we are performing many more of this type of surgery with high patient satisfaction rates. We perform hundreds of these surgeries per year. Each patient is unique and requires a high level of customized care.

Some patients report concerns of breast implant illness (BII) and have ruled out other causes for their symptoms and want to undergo explant surgery to see if the their symptoms will improve. Other concerns include pain, deformity, desire to be natural, asymmetry, malposition, and simply not being happy with the way their breasts look or feel. If you’re worried about a problem with your breast implants, give your plastic surgeon a call and head into their office for a visit. Some breast implant complications will require testing or imaging to diagnose. Other issues are easy to spot externally. For example, a leaky saline implant will cause the breast to deflate and capsular contracture will cause breast hardening, and in severe cases, changes to breast shape.

Our office does not contract with any insurance companies. The procedure is a fee for service. You can elect to submit your procedure to the insurance company and be reimbursed by them directly. Most insurance companies do not cover breast implant and capsule removal but many patients have had success. If your implants are still under warranty, you may be eligible for reimbursement of some expenses from the breast implant manufacturer. Payment and financing options are available to help you pay for your procedure.

Breast implants add volume to the breasts. To accommodate this volume, the skin and breast tissues will stretch out. When an implant is removed, the skin and breast tissues are unlikely to contract to their original shape and size. The breasts may appear deflated. Breast lift after implant removal reshapes the breasts. It eliminates the sagging and deflation that is so common after breast implant removal. Generally, the larger the breast implants, the more dramatic the effects on breast shape after removal. At times fat grafting can be used to help add volume and reshape the breast. These secondary procedures such as a breast lift and fat grafting can be done immediately after explant or in a delayed fashion. This is up to the patient. Many patients want to avoid secondary procedures and prefer to have everything done at once to limit a return to the operating room.

If you’re experiencing complications with your breast implants or are no longer happy with your breast appearance, contact your plastic surgeon and ask about your options for implant removal, also called explant surgery. The best candidates for this procedure do not smoke, are in good health, and are dissatisfied with their breast implants. Our plastic surgeons will help you decide if you’re a good candidate at your plastic surgery consultation.

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