
Breast implants are not lifelong devices and they would need to be exchanged or removed at some point in life. When time comes, some women may wish to completely remove their implants and not re-augment. This is a personal decision and may be due to a number of reasons:
Why women choose to remove implants?
Here rae the most common reasons for Breast Implant Removal:
- Implant related complications
- Medical reasons
- Change in Lifestyle
Whatever your reasons, it is important to consult an experienced plastic surgery who can discuss all your options with you so you can make an informed decision.
Capsulectomy vs. enbloc
Enbloc on the other hand is when the implant and the capsule are removed at the same time with the implant still inside the intact tissue capsule. Some patients have preference for Enbloc, however it can be difficult to guarantee that a total enbloc is possible as in some cases the tissue capsule is very thin or tightly attached to the chest wall, in which case a capsulectomy is performed instead.
It should be noted that an Enbloc may require a longer scar than a Capsulectomy. Mr Rezai will discuss your options with you during consultation.
Breast implant removal – the procedure
- The operation is performed under general anaesthetic
- The operation takes approximately 30 – 90 minutes.
- Patients is normally discharged from the hospital on the same day.
- If your occupation is not physical, you can expect to return to work after 3-4 days.
- The expected recovery is 5-7 days. However, strenuous activity, sports and exercise should not be resumed until 2-3 weeks post-op.
Breast implant removal – the recovery
Recovery varies based on the reasons for your breast implant removal. Following surgery some soreness is expected especially on the incision area. You can resume normal daily activities around day 3 after surgery. Exercise and strenuous activity should be resumed no sooner than 2-3 weeks after your operation.
During the healing process, it is common to have tightness or irregular areas typically during the first 4-8 weeks after surgery. Depending on patient’s age, size of removed implants and skin elasticity, the breast tissue and skin will gradually retract and with time may appear less loose than it did when the implants were first removed. Try to be patient as it may take up to a year for your breasts to fully heal and take on their final shape.
Mr Rezai will see his patients for regular post-op follow ups and will guide and advise them on what to do at each stage for a speedy recovery.
Risks and complications associated with breast implant removal surgery
The results of breast implant removal surgery
Breasts will become smaller and deflated following breast implant removal. Breast sagging (ptosis) may also occur, if the tissues that were stretched by the implants do not retract (tighten up) following removal. If you’re not happy with how your breasts look following the explanation, you have the possibility to improve the shape with other procedures, such as an uplift and/or re-augmentation with implant or fat transfer.