Breast Implant Removal after Breast Augmentation Surgery

Join our mailing list and get informative blog posts and helpful hints delivered to your inbox weekly.

Why do patients remove their breast implants?

Patients initially seek breast augmentation surgery to replace volume lost from weight loss, breast-feeding, or age or to increase the size of the breast for aesthetic reasons. Patients also have breast implant surgery during breast reconstruction surgery for breast cancer.

As patients get older and their preferences change, it is not unusual for patients to consider breast implant revision or removal of their implants. The reasons for removal are varied. Most patients are simply looking for a change and don’t desire to have larger breasts anymore. Others feel the implants are now too big and are experiencing symptoms common with large breasts – heaviness, neck pain, and upper back pain.

Is it difficult to remove my breast implants?

The removal of breast implants after breast augmentation surgery is often a straightforward outpatient procedure. During the procedure, the old incision is re-opened and the breast implant is separated from the surrounding tissue and removed.

This part of the procedure is straight forward and can be done under local anesthesia in the office. Typically, however, the scar capsule surrounding the implant is also removed. Removal of the capsule reduces the occurrence of fluid collations and subsequent infection after implant removal. Unfortunately, this part of the surgery requires general anesthesia. The decision to remove the capsule is patient specific – depending on the type, age, and size of implant. In most cases, however, it is advised to have the capsule removed.

Implant removal is only one part of the puzzle, however. The loss of volume that results from implant removal can leave patients with loose skin and droopy breasts – often more droopy, or ptotic, then before the breast implants were originally placed. This ptotic, loose breast skin can be a challenge to correct.

The options for correcting droopy breasts with loose skin include similar techniques to a breast lift – where the excess skin is removed and the nipple is lifted to produce a more esthetic shape. This is often combined with fat grafting to the breast to add back a modest amount of volume and improve the overall cosmetic result.

What is the recovery like after breast implant removal surgery?

Recovery after removal of breast implant surgery is variable. The variability is mostly due to what, if any, surgery is performed to correct the loose skin. Occasionally, drains are placed to collect any excess fluid and to help collapse the space that is left after removal of the implants. Most patients are able to get back to work within a week and return to exercise in 2 weeks.

What breast implant removal surgery is right for me?

A detailed examination will help delineate the best surgical treatment for your breasts. The size of your breasts, the size of the implants, and the quality of the skin will all influence how much extra skin is left over after surgery to remove breast implants. The decision to correct any skin excess is a personal choice and can be performed either at the time of breast implant removal or delayed.

Why do patients remove their breast implants?

Patients initially seek breast augmentation surgery to replace volume lost from weight loss, breast-feeding, or age or to increase the size of the breast for aesthetic reasons. Patients also have breast implant surgery during breast reconstruction surgery for breast cancer.

As patients get older and their preferences change, it is not unusual for patients to consider breast implant revision or removal of their implants. The reasons for removal are varied. Most patients are simply looking for a change and don’t desire to have larger breasts anymore. Others feel the implants are now too big and are experiencing symptoms common with large breasts – heaviness, neck pain, and upper back pain.

Is it difficult to remove my breast implants?

The removal of breast implants after breast augmentation surgery is often a straightforward outpatient procedure. During the procedure, the old incision is re-opened and the breast implant is separated from the surrounding tissue and removed. The capsule, or surrounding scar tissue, is then taken out.

Unfortunately, however, the loss of volume that results from implant removal can leave patients with loose skin and droopy breasts – often more droopy, or ptotic, then before the breast implants were originally placed. This ptotic, loose breast skin can be a challenge to correct.

The options for correcting droopy breasts with loose skin include similar techniques to a breast lift – where the excess skin is removed and the nipple is lifted to produce a more esthetic shape. This is often combined with fat grafting to the breast to add back a modest amount of volume and improve the overall cosmetic result.

What is the recovery like after breast implant removal surgery?

Recovery after removal of breast implant surgery is variable. The variability is mostly due to what, if any, surgery is performed to correct the loose skin. Occasionally, drains are placed to collect any excess fluid and to help collapse the space that is left after removal of the implants. Most patients are able to get back to work within a week and return to exercise in 2 weeks.

Get more details on the management of swelling and scars in blog post: Post-Operative Care After Plastic Surgery.

What breast implant removal surgery is right for me?

A detailed examination will help delineate the best surgical treatment for your breasts. The size of your breasts, the size of the implants, and the quality of the skin will all influence how much extra skin is left over after surgery to remove breast implants. The decision to correct any skin excess is a personal choice and can be performed either at the time of breast implant removal or delayed.