Top Reasons Patients Remove Their Breast Implants

There’s always a lot of talk about getting breast implants in place through an augmentation surgery, but not a lot of discussion about what happens when patients want them removed. There are many different reasons that a woman will decide to remove her implants, any of which can be discussed with your plastic surgeon during a breast implant removal consultation. Learn more about this surgical process and what brings women to consider it for themselves.

What Is Breast Implant Removal?

It may seem simple and straightforward from the title, but breast implant removal is a delicate surgery that must be done carefully to preserve the appearance of a woman’s breasts. The procedure involves the safe extraction of breast implants without puncturing them, pulling at the surrounding tissue, or causing other complications. Once a patient has decided to remove her breast implants, her plastic surgeon will work with her to determine the method that will be safest and most successful for her. The patient’s medical history, surgical history, physical health, and aesthetic goals will be discussed to help in this planning.

On the day of surgery, the plastic surgeon will typically approach the surgery as a reversal of the breast augmentation procedure. It normally takes an hour to two hours and is performed under general anesthesia. The breast implant will be carefully removed, along with any scar tissue present in the area. If the patient has opted for a replacement breast implant, it will be inserted at this time and then the incisions will be closed.

Reasons for Breast Implant Removal

There are many different reasons that a woman might opt to have her breast implants removed, including:

• The desire for a different breast size, using either smaller or larger implants or none at all
• The development of breast asymmetry
• The danger posed by a leaking or ruptured implant
• The displacement of an implant, or “bottoming out”
• The development of scar tissue around the implant, called capsular contracture
• Any break in your skin that has exposed an implant could be cause for replacement
• Changes in your body that have caused your breasts to sag, like pregnancy, weight changes, and aging

While breast implants are desired to last a long time, they are not meant to be life-long. There often comes a time for many breast augmentation patients to consider that their implants need to be replaced because of a defect or damage, as mentioned above. Some of the warning signs you should look for include any visible wrinkling of the implant, any hardening of the implant, any allergic reactions to the implant such as a localized skin rash, any unevenness in the appearance of your breasts, and a persistent pain in the breasts following insertion of your implants. Discuss these symptoms with your plastic surgeon to determine the problem and create a plan of action to remove or replace your breast implants, if needed.

The Best Candidates for Breast Implant Removal

First and foremost, you must be a previous patient of a breast augmentation surgery, which goes without saying. If you have become unhappy with the size, shape, feel, or general appearance of your enhanced breasts, for any reason, you could be a good candidate for breast implant removal. As with breast augmentation, however, you should be in good overall health, be a nonsmoker, and have reasonable expectations about what your results can be after breast implant removal. Be open and honest with your plastic surgeon to discuss your satisfaction with your previous implants, whether you’re looking to change the size and shape of your breasts, or anything else that is relevant to your procedure. Breast implant removal can really give you another chance to have the body and breast contour you want.

Find Out More About Breast Implant Removal

Learn more about replacing or removing your own breast implants by talking with a reputable, credentialed plastic surgeon. Consult with Dr. Ronald Lohner, an experienced and board certified plastic surgeon based in Philadelphia who also offers male breast reductions to his patients as a solution for gynecomastia. He completed his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and medical school at UMDNJ-Rutgers. Currently, Dr. Lohner is Chief of Plastic Surgery at Bryn Mawr Hospital and holds a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine. His peers have selected him as a Philadelphia-area Top Doctor for the last eight years. His office is located at [primary_address] in [primary_city], [primary_statefull], on the Main Line. Please call his office at [primary_phone] to schedule a consultation for your liposuction procedure.