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Saline, silicone and gummy bear breast implants approved by the FDA are safe, durable and long-lasting, but breast implants are not intended to last forever and sometimes need to be removed or replaced. About Breast Implant Removal
Why Is Breast Implant Removal Necessary?After making the decision to undergo breast augmentation, women occasionally need to have their breast implants removed. The most common reasons for breast implant removal or explantation are the following:
Breast Implant Removal With ReplacementMost patients who seek breast explant surgery or implant removal choose to have their implants replaced. Sometimes patients get their implants replaced because they want to further alter their breast size, shape or implant characteristics after having a breast augmentation. For instance, a patient who had saline implants placed over the muscle (subglandular) may decide instead that she would prefer new gummy bear implants placed under the muscle (submuscular) to achieve a more natural look and feel. Another may decide that after having breast implants for several years, a breast lift and smaller implant size would be ideal for her. In short, breast augmentation results can be further customized after your initial surgery to ensure your breast look and feel the way you want them to. When breast implants rupture, leak or deflate due to implant malfunction or breast trauma, or when breast augmentation complications like scarring problems (capsular contracture), infection or other healing issues occur, patients often need breast revision surgery that may involve breast implant replacement as well. Breast Implant Removal Without ReplacementFor the rare subset of patients with breast implants who experience persistent breast augmentation complications, are diagnosed with breast cancer or simply wish to return to their natural breast size after breast augmentation, breast implant removal without replacement may be the best choice. Breast implants are not for everyone, and it may be in your best interest from a physical and mental health standpoint to forego implants should illness, discomfort or dissatisfaction with your aesthetic outcome persist. Oftentimes if new breast implants are not placed after your original implants are explanted or removed, skin may be permanently stretched such that a breast lift is needed to remove excess, sagging skin and situate your breasts in a natural, aesthetically pleasing position on the chest wall. Recovery After Breast Implant RemovalLike any breast revision surgery, recovery after breast implant removal with or without replacement is typically very much like recovering from your initial breast augmentation procedure. Most patients can return to work within a week and resume normal activity within a few weeks of implant replacement or explant surgery. Complete recovery from breast implant removal or replacement may take a few months. Patients whose breast implant removal surgery involves implants placed under the pectoral muscle will generally have slightly longer recovery times than patients whose surgery involves implants placed over the pectoral muscle. Since implants are typically removed and reinserted through the same incisions used for your initial breast augmentation surgery, no new scarring should result from breast implant removal, however reopening the incisions means that they will need to heal again. During your follow-up appointments, Dr. Motlagh will monitor your healing progress and ensure the results of your breast revision surgery are satisfactory, regardless of whether you decide to have your breast implants removed or replaced, with or without a breast lift. Tyler Plastic Surgery is conveniently located in Eastern Texas and serves not only Tyler breast implant removal patients but also explant surgery patients from Dallas-Fort Worth to Shreveport, Louisiana and all the cities in between. |