Breast Implant Removal
If there’s one guarantee in life, it’s that things are going to change. If one thing that has changed for you is how you feel about your breast implants, you might consider having them removed, or explanted, by an experienced cosmetic surgeon.
Bellevue cosmetic surgeon Dr. Alex Sobel believes that breast implant removal should be approached with the same degree of care and personalization called for with any cosmetic breast procedure. His goal, like yours, is to help you fully address your questions and concerns, accomplish your goals, and achieve the most aesthetically pleasing outcome possible.
- Triple board-certified in general cosmetic surgery, facial cosmetic surgery, and otolaryngology
- 15+ years of experience specializing in cosmetic surgery
- Operates in an on-site accredited surgical suite for patient safety and privacy
- National leader in cosmetic surgery, including as Past President of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and as an expert speaker at medical conferences
- Former Seattle Met Top Doctor with hundreds of 5-star patient reviews
What is Breast Implant Removal?
Breast implant removal, also known as explant surgery, is a procedure to remove silicone or saline implants from the breast and is performed for a number of reasons. Dr. Sobel believes providing this surgery underlines the importance of bodily autonomy in cosmetic surgery and would be happy to answer any questions you have if you are considering removal.
Common Reasons for Breast Implant Removal
Patients may choose breast implant removal for several reasons. Some common motivations include:
- Health concerns: Dr. Sobel can address complications such as implant rupture, capsular contracture (scar tissue that forms around the implant), malpositioned implants, a ruptured implant, and textured implants.
- Aesthetic change: It’s normal to experience a change in personal aesthetics or lifestyle preferences, including the desire for a different breast size or to return to a natural look. Dr. Sobel tailors your breast implant removal procedure to align with your present aesthetic goals.
- Physical discomfort: Over time, weight gain or changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding, can add additional heaviness to the breasts. Dr. Sobel uses breast implant removal to help reduce pain, discomfort, or physical limitations due to the size or weight of the implants and increased natural breast tissue.
Dr. Alexander Sobel uses refined techniques and tailors every aspect of your procedure for natural, personalized results.
Your Consultation and Explantation Options
There are many safe, effective procedure options for removing breast implants. Dr. Sobel will work closely with you to determine the most appropriate procedures for your case. Explantation options may include:
En bloc capsulectomy
With the en bloc capsulectomy technique, Dr. Sobel will remove the breast implant and surrounding capsule of scar tissue as one piece, keeping the capsule intact and the implant sealed inside. While en bloc capsulectomy results in a longer scar along the bottom of the breast fold, it is usually the best procedure option for patients who have suspected or diagnosed cancer (such as BIA-ALCL) or a ruptured silicone implant.
Complete or total capsulectomy
Like the en bloc capsulectomy, the total capsulectomy removes the entirety of the breast implant and capsule. However, the breast implant is removed from the capsule first, followed by the capsulectomy. This results in a shorter scar, and a total capsulectomy is appropriate in the majority of breast implant removal cases.
Partial capsulectomy
In some cases, it may be the most appropriate option to leave a portion of the capsule in the breast, in what is called a partial capsulectomy. For instance, if the capsule is adhered very closely to the ribs, and there is no known or suspected cancer, it often is safer for the patient to leave that portion of the capsule to avoid harming the surrounding tissues.
Breast lift with explantation
In certain cases, a breast lift may be necessary to address sagging skin after explantation and ensure the nipple/areola is restored to the most naturally, aesthetically pleasing size and position. Patients who are having very large implants removed, or who have considerable amounts of stretched, excess skin may be candidates for a breast lift with explantation procedure and will likely be happier with their final results.
Explantation with fat grafting
If you would like your implants removed, but you also would like to retain some additional fullness in your breasts, you might consider explantation with fat grafting. Dr. Sobel may recommend this procedure to restore some volume and shape by relocating fat from another area to your breasts for natural-looking results. Good candidates for this procedure must have enough fat to safely remove with liposuction from an area such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, or lower back to modestly increase the breast size.
Breast lift removal and replacement (Breast Implant Revision)
If you would like smaller or larger implants than you currently have, or you would like to improve the shape or symmetry of your previous breast augmentation, Dr. Sobel can help you choose implants that better suit your needs now, as well as make improvements to breast symmetry, shape, and position during the removal and replacement procedure. Swapping out old breast implants for different ones is also known as breast implant revision.
How Does Dr. Sobel Perform Breast Implant Removal?
In general, breast implant removal surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia or possibly under local anesthesia with IV sedation if Dr. Sobel feels you are a good candidate for this method. The procedure involves making an incision—Dr. Sobel often uses the same site as the original breast augmentation surgery to minimize additional scarring. The implant, along with any scar tissue is carefully removed if needed.
Depending on which explantation option you and Dr. Sobel decide on to achieve your desired results, the rest of the surgery will be tailored to your unique anatomy and goals to ensure a natural and aesthetically pleasing result.
Video transcript
There are several motivations for patients to seek revision surgery. First and foremost in my practice are patients who are dissatisfied with a procedure done at another center. This dissatisfaction isn’t necessarily because the procedure was done incorrectly—this is actually what I see the least. What I see more often is a mismatch between the procedure selected and the patient’s desired outcome. This mismatch invariably leads to patient dissatisfaction but is also one of the easiest situations to fix because, if the surgical result was professionally done, it can be relatively easily revised to align with the patient’s expectations.
A very important topic in revision surgery is patients who are experiencing breast implant illness and what their experience will be in the year following surgery. It would be wonderful and elegant to remove implants for these patients in a single-stage procedure and have them achieve their final desired results immediately. However, the truth is that many of these women have had implants for a long time, and a period of adjustment is only natural. They have experienced projection, volume, and the affirmation that came with their implants, and over a year-long recovery period, they will be experiencing their body in a way they’ve never experienced before.
There are reconstruction options that can be addressed early on, including a breast lift to reposition the breasts at the same time as the implant removal. Many patients also ask about other volume-enhancing procedures, particularly fat grafting, which should be considered after the woman has had a chance to get to know her body again, feel safe and healthy in her body, and allow time for the tissue to heal. This will lead to an optimal outcome.
Recovery After Implant Removal
Recovery from breast implant removal varies based on the extent of the surgery. If you are simply removing your implants, you may find recovery is easier than the original breast augmentation. If your surgery plan includes other procedures, such as a breast lift, breast reduction, or new implants, your recovery will be comparable to breast augmentation recovery.
Generally, patients can expect some swelling, bruising, and discomfort initially, easily manageable with pain medications Dr. Sobel will prescribe. Simple cases of breast implant removal may require only 2-3 days of downtime while more complex breast implant removal procedures may require 5-7 days or more. We will provide specific recovery guidelines and activity restrictions during your consultation.
“I am very happy with my cosmetic surgery. It has given me a new beginning in my life. It has increased my confidence. Dr. Sobel and his team are amazing. Thank you so much for your skill & talent, Dr. Sobel!”
Implant Removal Results
Like other breast procedures, it can take up to a year to see the final results after your surgery. Depending on your procedure plan, you’ll see an immediate change in the size and shape of your breasts, and these changes will settle into your final results.
- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Supports changes in personal preferences: Breast implant removal allows patients to revert to their natural breast size or shape, which may better align with their current aesthetic preferences or lifestyle.
- Relieves physical discomfort: Removing breast implants can relieve physical discomfort and pain that some patients experience, such as back, neck, and shoulder pain due to the weight of the implants or discomfort from associated complications.
- Allows the exchange of textured or aged implants: Removing textured or older implants can provide peace of mind for your breast health and for the long-term enjoyment of your breast augmentation.
Breast implant removal: A surgical procedure to remove breast implants from the body.
Capsulectomy: The surgical removal of the capsule of scar tissue that can form around a breast implant.
Complications: Unintended problems or adverse effects that can occur during or after a medical procedure. One example in plastic surgery would be a ruptured implant.
Capsule: A layer of fibrous scar tissue that forms around a breast implant, which is a natural response by the body to a foreign object.
Radiation: The emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization, used in medical treatments like cancer therapy.
Lymph nodes: Small, bean-shaped structures that are part of the body’s lymphatic system, which helps fight infection and disease by filtering and trapping viruses, bacteria, and other harmful substances.
Mammoplasty: A general term for any surgical procedure to alter the size, shape, or contour of one or both breasts.
Fat grafting: A cosmetic procedure where fat is harvested from one part of the body via liposuction, and then injected into another area, such as the breasts or face, for augmentation or reconstruction.
Mastectomy: A surgical operation to remove one or both breasts, partially or completely, typically to treat or prevent breast cancer.
Cosmetic surgery: Surgical procedures designed to improve the appearance of a person’s body, often focusing on enhancing aesthetic appeal, symmetry, and proportion. Similar to plastic surgery.
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma: A rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the T-cells and can be associated with breast implants, known specifically as Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
Risks: The potential for experiencing harm, loss, or adverse effects after a surgery.
Mastopexy: Surgical methods to lift and reshape sagging breasts, which may involve repositioning the nipple and areola. Changes the breast size.
Medicare: A federal health insurance program in the United States for people who qualify. May cover some plastic surgery procedures.
Medicaid: A type of joint federal and state program in the United States that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources, offering benefits on procedures not typically covered by Medicare.
Plastic Surgery: Plastic surgery is a specialized branch of procedures focused on repairing, reconstructing, or altering the human body for functional or aesthetic purposes. Plastic surgery procedures encompass both reconstructive procedures and cosmetic or aesthetic procedures, aimed at improving appearance.
Breast Implant Removal Frequently Asked Questions
If you are in the Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, or Redmond areas and considering breast implant removal, we invite you to contact us to schedule your free personal consultation with Dr. Alex Sobel. A consultation is the ideal time to discuss your concerns and goals, ask any questions, and learn about your options for explantation, including the surgery and recovery process.
Dr. Sobel is triple board-certified in cosmetic facial surgery with vast experience performing nose reshaping surgery. If you have been considering breast implant removal surgery, call us at 425-453-9060 or fill out our online form below to set up a consultation with Dr. Sobel.
References »
Swanson E. Evaluating the Necessity of Capsulectomy in Cases of Textured Breast Implant Replacement. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2020 Dec;85(6):691-698. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000002301.
Anastasio Collins R, Lima HK. Surgical Performance of En Bloc Total Capsulectomy Breast Implant Removal With Uninterrupted Breastfeeding. Journal of Human Lactation. 2023 Feb;39(1):76-81. doi: 10.1177/08903344221127195.
Ismail KT, Ismail MT, Ismail TA, Ismail AT, Toth BA. Triple-Plane Augmentation Mastopexy. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2019 Aug 12;7(8):e2344. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002344.
Qureshi AA, Myckatyn TM, Tenenbaum MM. Mastopexy and Mastopexy-Augmentation. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2018 Mar 14;38(4):374-384. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjx181.
Layt CWL. Augmentation Mastopexy:: Planning and Performance for Predictability: Management of Complications. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2021 Jan;48(1):45-57. doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2020.09.002.
Austin RE, Saheb-Al-Zamani M, Lista F, Ahmad J. Periareolar Augmentation-Mastopexy. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2019 Aug 22;39(9):953-965. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjz128.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Alexander Sobel — Updated on Oct 23, 2024