Getting breast implants is an exciting time, especially when the procedure outcome is beyond expectations giving individuals the curvaceous bosom they’ve always wanted. Over time, however, minds can change, and you no longer feel the same about your breast augmentation and decide to return to your natural profile. What was right for you several years ago no longer serves your intention today. And that’s ok because we have a right to change our minds.
Explantation has become a more popular procedure as body trends change. The good thing it’s an uncomplicated operation that won’t keep you bedridden for awfully long. Are you considering having your breast implants removed? Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Barrett serving Beverly Hills, CA, and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles, has extensive experience and technical know-how in removing breast implants.
The Basic Explanation of Breast Implant Removal Surgery
Breast implant removal, also known as explant surgery, is a surgical procedure extracting the breast pocket’s implants. The surgeon performing the implant removal can use the exact incision locations as the original implant surgery, removing the need for added scarring after the procedure.
Should there be other complications such as capsular contracture or implant ruptures, the process can become overly complex. Depending on the specifications for surgery, there can be multiple outcomes, so it is imperative to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon.
How Do Breasts Look After Explant?
Breast implants stretch the skin, yet the breasts typically return to somewhat of a pre-augmentation status as much as possible, including size and shape after removal. Still, because the implant’s weight stretches the skin, realistically, a revision may be necessary. Recapturing a natural look requires removing scar tissue and reshaping the breasts to resemble full and lifted breasts.
Multiple factors can affect the outcome.
- Expect to have flattened breasts after removal, with the natural volume returning in two to three weeks.
- Because the skin did stretch, a breast lift procedure might be wanted with the breast explant surgery.
- You may decide to have a new implant replacing the old ones. Some patients prefer to leave the breasts as is, with a little or lots of sagging.
Who Should Consider Breast Implant Removal Surgery?
- Original implants are too big for your body due to poor communication or relationship with your doctor, and now you want to downsize because you’ve had them for a long time, and they dropped significantly.
- Implants are old. If your breast implants are more than ten years old, you may want to think about swapping them out, getting them replaced, or removing them altogether.
- You’re old too and want a more natural look for your body.
- Complications have arisen, and you’re experiencing a rupture, capsular contracture (the scar tissue that forms around the breast implant gets hard, firm, and unsightly.)
- One or both sides is higher than the other.
- Breast Implant Illness (BII) is relatively rare, but many women complain of it. BII is an autoimmune reaction to the implant or the scar tissue around the implant. The medical community feels that it might be due to contamination.
Symptoms include:
- Hair loss.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Rashes and skin problems.
- Headaches.
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Other autoimmune types of symptoms.
- You want smaller boobs because of weight gain since having your first surgery, and now your breasts are even bigger.
Let’s Discuss Breast Removal Recovery
How well you improve is up to you, and how much you stick to your customized plan. Having your post-op supplies ready in-home before your procedure will make life much more comfortable for your support team of family, friends, and you. Recovery from breast implant removal is more comfortable than breast implant augmentation, not requiring prolonged rest, yet it differs from patient to patient. If you had another procedure such as a breast lift or fat transfer to the breasts, your healing time and soreness would increase. During the pre-op consultation, you will discuss and receive your specific post-operative instructions to coincide with the general recovery directions.
During the first 24 hours after your removal surgery, you will experience breast soreness easily manageable with over-the-counter pain medication. For a more holistic approach HealFast Post-Op and Injury Recovery and Wild Health CBD, 1500mg can support you to recuperate quicker after more invasive plastic surgery procedures.
During day two, when the pain subsides, you can resume your everyday habits like going back to work if you avoid lifting heavy objects or straining movements for up to two weeks.
Scars will heal quickly, taking up to 4 months, fading over time, never ultimately going away.
Lastly, Give your breasts time to settle before making a final judgment about the outcome.
Explantation Last thoughts
Whether you are over your breast implants or experiencing complications, Explantation can be the right way for you. The perfect way to figure out what is most suitable for you is addressing your wants with Dr. Barrett, a board-certified plastic surgeon servicing Los Angeles, to assure the most reliable achievable results.
Schedule A Consultation at Barrett Plastic Surgery
To discuss your needs before your breast removal procedure and learn more about your customized options, contact our front desk coordinators to schedule an appointment with Rosalyn or Rachel, Dr. Barrett’s patient coordinators by calling (310) 598-2648. If you are more content speaking with our team from the comfort of your home, we provide virtual surgical consultations.
Learn more about Barrett Plastic Surgery by keeping up to date subscribing to our blog and following us on social media at Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Realself, YouTube, Snapchat, Yelp, and Facebook for updates.