Breast Implant Removal

Breast implant removal, also known as explantation, is a surgical procedure in which previously placed breast implants are taken out. Many individuals may decide to remove their implants due to various reasons such as dissatisfaction with appearance, medical issues including capsular contracture or implant rupture, personal lifestyle changes, or simply wanting to return to their natural breast size.

Implant removal is also a procedure option available for patients experiencing systemic symptoms associated with breast implants (SSBI). Removing breast implants may eliminate symptoms and complications by removing the source entirely. SSBI, or breast implant illness (BII), is not yet an official medical diagnosis, but increasing numbers of women are reporting symptoms around five years after their implant date. ⁽¹⁾

The Everett Clinic, led by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Marc Everett, achieves success in a wide array of plastic surgery procedures, and we have years of experience to rely upon to ensure a healthy, successful outcome for your procedure. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Everett to discuss your condition and plan your implant removal, or call our New York offices in Manhattan or Queens at (212) 774-7715 for more information.

About Implant Removal

Breast implant removal is performed for many reasons, from a desire for a different aesthetic appearance to health-related concerns.

Capsular Contracture or Compromised Implant Integrity

Capsular contraction occurs when the body overproduces collagen to surround the implant and causes swelling, tenderness, pain, and misshaping in the breast as the newly-formed capsule tightens around the implant. This can also lead to fibrosis (thick, scar-like tissue). ⁽²⁾ Leaks and ruptures are risks associated with implants as well. A compromised implant may cause lumps, misaligned breasts, altered shape, pain, numbness, and more. Left untreated, this can lead to more severe complications and more difficult revision surgery, especially if silicone that may escape the implant spreads into the surrounding tissue. ⁽³⁾

Change in Preferences

Your lifestyle and preferences may change years after receiving your implants. Patients who plan to breastfeed may wish to remove their implants. The mammary glands and milk flow may be blocked if implants were placed with obstructive methods. ⁽⁴⁾ You may also find that you simply want to return to your normal, unaltered state as you grow older.

Unsatisfactory Results

It is possible that the appearance of your implants might not meet your expectations. The implants may change shape or position over time, too. Dr. Everett offers revisional procedures that exchange to a different type or size of implants but some patients opt to have their implants removed entirely and replaced with transferred fat.

SSBI

Systemic Symptoms associated with Breast Implants (SSBI) and Breast Implant Illness (BII)

Breast implant illnesses and systemic symptoms associated with breast implants have existed as long as breast implants have been on the market. ⁽¹⁾ Symptoms range from psychological and sensory like depression, anxiety, confusion, tinnitus, sleep complications, headaches, and fatigue to complications in the endocrine, digestive, muscular, and autoimmune systems. Patients normally experience a wide array of symptoms that seemingly appear out of nowhere. If you have breast implants and are experiencing symptoms that emerged without explanation, then it may be time to have a discussion with Dr. Everett about the possibility of removing your implants.

Other Reasons for Implant Removal

Aside from those mentioned above, other common reasons for implant removal are back pain caused by heavy implants, shoulder pain, malpositioning or rippling, and fear of SSBI/ BII; ⁽⁵⁾

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Everett to discuss your removal options.

Benefits of Implant Removal

It will always be your decision to remove your implants or not, but patients often report experiencing:

Candidates and Personal Consultation

At your initial consultation, you will discuss the reasons you want to remove your implants with Dr. Everett. This will include any complications they have caused, your future health goals, and the history of your implants; as well as your medical history and current health status. Schedule your consultation to discuss your procedural options. Dr. Everett’s offices in Manhattan and Queens offer patients a comforting, relaxed environment to focus on their healing, and our talented staff makes patient health and happiness their top priority.

Preparation

Preparing to remove your implants will be similar to how you prepared to receive them. Once your surgery is confirmed, the Everett Clinic will provide preoperative instructions to ensure a smooth procedure. Preparatory steps may include:

Procedure

Breast implant removal is almost the complete inverse of breast augmentation. One key difference is an additional step to remove the “capsule.”⁽³⁾ In many cases, Dr. Everett can use your existing scars. Once the implant and capsule are accessed, he will remove the implant and capsule from the breast using either blunt dissection (sharper surgical instruments are avoided to preserve the integrity of the implant) or electrocautery instruments. ⁽¹⁾ If indicated, Dr. Everett will preserve your implant capsule and send it to a histopathologist to examine the tissue for any anomalies that could indicate diseases or complications in the future.

Recovery

Recovering from your breast implant removal will be similar to recovering from your implant placement. Bruising and soreness are common. Dr. Everett will require you to wear a compression garment to minimize swelling in your breasts. We recommend avoiding work for at least one week. You should not engage in any strenuous activities for the next couple of weeks, at Dr. Everett’s discretion. You will receive prescriptions for pain medications and antibiotics to help you recover, and these should only be taken as instructed. Any supplemental pain reduction can be accomplished with over-the-counter medications. When it is time to resume normal activities, we recommend doing so slowly at first. Dr. Everett will provide more information on when and what you can do as he monitors your healing at your follow-up appointments.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

Dr. Everett can create a unique reconstruction plan if your case requires it. This may incorporate a breast lift and/or a fat transfer. Breast lift procedures make corrections like raising and aligning the nipples and removing the excess sagging skin to create an attractive, youthful look. ⁽⁵⁾ Fat transfers work to refill the space left vacant by the removed implant. This procedure uses a patient’s spare body fat as the filler medium, harvested via liposuction. ⁽⁵⁾ It is biocompatible with the patient and allows them to maintain the breast size achieved with smaller implants. However, this method does require the patient to have enough body fat to spare and may not be as applicable to lean, low-BMI patients.

Cost of Breast Implant Removal in NYC

The cost of your implant removal will depend on your reasons and motivations, your medical history, and the scale of your procedure. Each patient’s situation will be different. The best way to get an accurate estimate of your procedure’s cost is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Everett. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call (212) 774-7715 or reach us online for more information.

FAQ

References

1. Metzinger SE, Homsy C, Chun MJ, Metzinger RC. Breast Implant Illness: Treatment Using Total Capsulectomy and Implant Removal. Eplasty. 2022;22:e5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9097901/
2. Headon H, Kasem A, Mokbel K. Capsular Contracture after Breast Augmentation: An Update for Clinical Practice. Archives of Plastic Surgery. 2015;42(5):532. doi:https://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2015.42.5.532
3. Center. Risks of Breast Implants. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Published 2024. Accessed August 28, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/risks-and-complications-breast-implants#:~:text=Occasionally%20when%20a%20silicone%20gel
4. Kazankaya F, Ahsun Paker S, Demirel Bozkurt Ö. Breastfeeding After Breast Augmentation Surgery: A Scoping Review. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing. 2024;32(1):99-109. doi:https://doi.org/10.5152/FNJN.2024.23231
5. Townsend AN, Shah S, Bouz A, Nichols N, Lampert JA. Safely Shaping the Breast After Implant Removal and Total Intact Capsulectomy Using the Mammary Imbrication Lift and Fixation Technique. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. Published online April 12, 2023. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojad037