Breast implant removal, also known as explant surgery, is a surgical procedure that extracts the implants from the breast pocket. In some cases, this can be a very straightforward procedure, where the surgeon performing the implant removal can use the same incision locations as the original implant surgery, eliminating the need for additional scarring after your procedure. However, when there are additional complications such as capsular contracture or implant ruptures, it can become extremely complex.

Depending on the specifications of the surgery, there can be multiple outcomes, which is why it is extremely important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with the technical know-how and experience to perform your explantation surgery. When breast implant removal is performed by an experienced breast surgeon like Dr. Barrett, the results are usually highly satisfying. Depending on your goals for the procedure, this surgery can be performed alone or in conjunction with another treatment, such as implant replacement, fat transfer or a breast lift.

Women opt to have their implants removed for a variety of reasons:

OLD IMPLANTS
While implants are considered medical devices that don’t have an expiry date, most implants have a lifespan of about 10 to 20 years inside the body. Even if your implants have never caused any issues for you, it is still important around the 10 year mark to start considering explantation to remove and perhaps replace your old implants, in order to avoid any complications.

APPEARANCE
Some women opt for implant removal for cosmetic reasons. As time goes on, patients may feel that their old implants no longer suit their body. Age, pregnancy and breastfeeding may have taken its toll on the breast tissue surrounding your implants, and you may no longer be satisfied with the size or shape of their breasts and want to make a change. If your implants are making you feel self-conscious about your breasts, it might be time for a change. Dr. Barrett will consider your goals to help you determine whether this would involve the use of brand new implants, a breast lift, breast fat transfer or a combination of these procedures.

PAIN OR DISCOMFORT
If your implants are causing you any pain or discomfort, implant removal can help relieve this. Soreness or even greater pain around the implant site can be due to scar tissue build-up, or even implants that are too large for the body. Others may find the additional weight on the chest leads to neck and shoulder strain. If your implants are making you feel uncomfortable, implant removal may be a way to rectify your issues. Dr. Barrett will assess each patient’s anatomy and overall goals to determine whether or not downsizing might be the best option for you, and whether incorporating fat transfer to the breasts can create a more natural result.

CAPSULAR CONTRACTURE
Capsular contracture, or the formation of scar tissue around any type of implant, is an entirely natural part of post-surgical recovery. The body’s automatic reaction to a foreign body is to isolate it through the generation of a barrier of scar tissue. In most cases, this is a positive thing as it helps to keep breast implants in place, while the breasts still appear entirely natural and remain soft to the touch. However, when the formation of scar tissue around the breasts becomes symptomatic, becoming unusually hard, distorting the look of the breasts, or even contracting around the breasts and causing pain, it becomes important to address it. The only way to ease the symptoms of capsular contracture is to remove the implants and the scar tissue surrounding them.

RUPTURE
Implant ruptures are another reason why women might consider surgery to remove their implants. When a rupture occurs in a saline implant, the effects are noticeable almost immediately as the breasts will take on a ‘deflated’ appearance. Although the rupture of a silicone implant may not be immediately visible, it is imperative that after a ‘silent’ rupture occurs, the implant should be removed relatively quickly to prevent the silicone from spreading to other areas of the body. While most patients who experience a silicone implant rupture do not experience any symptoms, when symptoms are present they may include uncomfortable sensations such as burning, tingling or numbness, the formation of lumps or hard knots, and even changes to the appearance of the breasts. Patients with silicone breast implants should undergo yearly imaging tests like an ultrasound or MRI to ensure they are not experiencing any implant ruptures.

IMPLANT RIPPLING AND PALPABILITY
Patients with insufficient breast tissue, or who have lost significant amounts of weight, may notice wrinkles or ripples from their implant appear on their skin. Palatability occurs when these wrinkles can be felt when you touch your breast. If modest weight gain is not enough to reduce the look and feel of implant rippling, Dr. Barrett can work with patients to reposition an implant, change the type of implant used, or address any loose or stretched out skin.

AUTOIMMUNE SYMPTOMS (BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESS)
Some women may experience negative reactions to the silicone in their implants, causing symptoms like fatigue, hair loss and joint pain. While Breast Implant Illness remains a rare side effect of breast implants, it is more commonly seen in women who already had an autoimmune disease like lupus or scleroderma when they underwent breast implant surgery or have a family history of an autoimmune disorder. Some Breast Implant Illness symptoms include chronic fatigue, chronic pain, endocrine dysfunction, digestive issues and brain fog. If you are experiencing any concerning symptoms, implant removal could be an option for you. Dr. Barrett may also suggest removing the entire breast capsule in one intact piece in an en bloc capsulectomy where possible.

Depending on the specifications of the surgery, there can be multiple outcomes, which is why it is extremely important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with the technical know-how and experience to perform your explantation surgery. When breast implant removal is performed by an experienced breast surgeon like Dr. Barrett, the results are usually highly satisfying. Depending on your goals for the procedure, this surgery can be performed alone or in conjunction with another treatment, such as implant replacement, fat transfer or a breast lift.