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Woollahra Sydney . Wollongong NSW
Why Are Breast Implants Removed?
Breast implants are very durable but are not life-long devices. You can have modern implants for around 10 to 20 years without needing them changed.
Eventually, you might want to have your implants removed for one of the following reasons:
- Ageing – aged implants are more likely to require replacement
- After 10 to 15 years, you might want revision surgery after pregnancy or weight fluctuation
- Change of heart – some women decide that they don’t want to live with a foreign prosthesis anymore and choose Explant Surgery
- Implant malrotation – the implants rotate and cause an irregular breast shape and uneven breasts
- Capsular contracture – this can be a complication of breast implants. It’s when a scar tissue capsule forms around the implants, causing the breast to contract and become painful or deformed
- Breast implant rupture – Silicone and saline breast implants can rupture or become deflated causing misshapen breasts and sometimes pain
- Fear of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) – This is an extremely rare cancer of the immune cells that might arise with specific types of breast implants (most are currently out of circulation)
- Symptoms of BII – Breast Implant Illness (BII)
Regardless of why you want to have your breast implants taken out, Dr Hunt will aim to provide support and care throughout the process.
Why Patients Might Consider Implant Removal Surgery
Some patients may choose to have their breast implants removed for a number of different reasons. Some common reasons include:
Improved Breast Shape
The procedure may be beneficial if your breasts have changed shape over time or you have breast implant complications, like capsular contracture or implant rupture.
Easier Mammograms
Not having breast implants helps make screening for breast cancer with mammograms easier.
Reduced Uncomfortable Symptoms
If your breast implants have ruptured or if you have capsular contracture, you might experience breast pain or deformity.
How Is Breast Implant Removal Performed?
Explantation Surgery is usually done under general anaesthesia (you will be put to sleep). Therefore, you won’t feel anything during the procedure. A small incision is made under the breast – in the inframammary fold. Dr Hunt will access the breast and implant compartment through this incision. He will then detach the breast implant from any surrounding soft tissue and scar tissue, and take it out.
Depending on what you have and what you want, Dr Hunt might perform any one or more of the following options:
- Implant Removal with Capsulectomy: This is when Dr Hunt removes the hard fibrous tissue capsule around your implants. The capsule is especially problematic and can cause deformity in cases of capsular contracture and implant rupture. Dr Hunt might perform partial, full, or En-bloc Capsulectomy. En-bloc Capsulectomy is when the capsule and implant are removed in one bloc – usually when suspecting BIA-ALCL or BII
- Breast Implant Removal with a Lift (Mastopexy): Breast Implant Removal is almost always done with breast lifting, also called mastopexy surgery. After 10 to 15 years of having breast implants, your breast skin might stretch due to implant weight and ageing. If you remove the implants, it is common that this breast laxity may remain, even if you get new implants. For this reason, Mastopexy with breast reconstruction techniques can help you attain the desired firmer breast appearance
- Breast Implant Replacement: In many cases, women who want to have their breast implants removed ask for new implants. Some want bigger, smaller or different types of implants. In such cases, a Breast Lift Mastopexy can aid in providing the desired result
Once done, Dr Hunt closes the wound in several layers using a thin suture line. Drains may be used if required.
How Will My Breasts Look After Having Implants Removed?
After your implants are taken out, your breasts will not look like they did originally before you had implants. They won’t look like they did with implants either. Your results depend on whether your procedure involved the insertion of new implants, as well as whether you had Mastopexy (Breast Lift) Surgery. These details will be discussed prior to surgery, in your consultation, so that you have a good understanding of the results you can expect.
Risks and Complications
All surgery has risks and these will be explained to you by Dr Hunt during your consultation. Some post-op complications that might occur include:
- Wound infection
- Seroma formation – fluid collection in the wound, prevented by surgical drains
- Hematoma formation – blood collection in the wound, prevented by surgical drains
- Loss of sensation in the nipples – this might be temporary or rarely permanent
Longer-term complications could include:
- Caved-in or deflated appearance – more likely if you have Breast Implant Removal without new implants. Dr Hunt will try to prevent this by performing Breast Reconstruction and Mastopexy after taking your implants out
- Wound healing abnormalities
- Excessive scarring
It is important to choose a surgeon experienced in Breast Implant Removal, Mastopexy, and Breast Reconstruction.
