Breast augmentation, or the placement of breast implants, is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed each year in the United States. While most women are happy with their new breasts and do not experience any problems, there are women who decide implants are not for them or experience medical conditions that require implant removal.
In 2023, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported over 41,000 breast explant procedures in the United States. But how do you know if implant removal is right for you?
When you make the decision to have breast augmentation, you go into the procedure with specific expectations and desires when it comes to the appearance of your breasts. Whether you simply wanted to better fill out a bikini, balance your curves a bit more or simply wanted a larger bust, breast implants offer the solution.
However, sometimes what you thought you wanted wasn't right for you. Many women opt to remove breast implants for many different cosmetic reasons, including:
Sometimes breast implants are not what a woman was expecting them to be, and they are unhappy with their results from the start. In other cases, breast appearance changes with age or weight changes and maybe the implants just don't look like they used to anymore.
While larger breasts fit your lifestyle before, as you age, maybe they aren't the perfect fit anymore. For example, maybe the extra bust size gets in the way of your new workout routine, or the excess size is contributing to back pain as you age.
While breast implants are designed to last a long time, they are a commitment that requires regular checkups and often replacements. You may find, over time, this commitment is more than you bargained for.
While cosmetic reasons are one factor for breast implant removal, medical conditions and concerns are the other factors. In some cases, the implants may be contributing to a medical complication, while in others they may be interfering in treatments for certain conditions. Some common medical reasons for breast explant surgery include:
When you have implants put in place, the body views them as a foreign object. Fibrous scar tissue forms around the implant, creating a protective capsule that, when things go well, help to keep the implants in place. However, in some women, this capsule becomes hard and dense, tightening around and squeezing the implant. This can result in chronic pain and breast shape distortion.
Whether you have silicone or saline implants, you have a risk of implant rupture. Implants can rupture due to trauma or general aging. Your risk increases every year you have implants. If you have a saline implant rupture, your body will absorb the saline and you will see breast deflation. If you have silicone implants, a rupture is not always noticeable which is why the FDA recommends MRI screenings every three years to check for silent ruptures.
While implants do not worsen breast cancer, they can affect how doctors approach your cancer treatment. The goal of cancer treatment is to remove the cancer and oftentimes, this results in changes to the breast shape and breast symmetry.
In some women, the body produced an immune reaction to the implants, resulting in a variety of symptoms. Breast implant illness, or BII, is a new term that includes a wide range of symptoms, such as joint and muscle pain, chronic fatigue, memory and cognitive issues, headaches, dry eyes and mouth, gastrointestinal problems and more.
When you go in for breast explant surgery, you will be placed under anesthesia. Incisions are often made using the original incision from your augmentation procedure in order to minimize scarring. The surgeon removes the implants and, in some cases, also the fibrous scar tissue capsule that formed around the implants.
Once removed, sutures will close the incisions. You will likely wear a compression garment during recovery. In most cases, you can return to your regular daily activities within a few days, with some restrictions. However, your surgical procedure may be slightly different if you choose complementary procedures after the implants are removed.
Removing your breast implants does not mean you have to live with deflated or misshapen breasts. In many cases, a surgeon can give you well-sculpted breasts by simply removing the implants. However, you do have additional options.
Many women opt for implant replacement but with a smaller, more natural size. Liposuction that removes fat from another area of your body can be transferred into your breasts to increase volume. If you are okay with a smaller size, a breast lift at the same time as your implant removal can help lift the breasts and address any sagging skin that results from implant removal.
Talk with your surgeon about your options and your circumstances and they will work with you to get the look you desire.