It’s not uncommon for breast augmentation patients to seek breast implant removal over time. The reasons for this vary.
Some patients find that, after a while, they no longer want implants at all. In this case, they have their current implants removed permanently. Other patients simply want to exchange their current implants with new ones that are bigger, smaller, or a differently shaped. Still other patients may struggle with a medical issue such as capsular contracture, breast cancer, an implant rupture, or breast implant illness (BII). All of these reasons can constitute a breast implant removal procedure.
No matter the basis of a patient’s desire for breast implant removal, many patients are concerned with scarring post-surgery. Naturally, when you have your implants removed, you want to know where the surgeon will be making incisions and how noticeable the subsequent breast implant removal scars will be.
This is primarily what we’ll be discussing in the article below. But first, let’s go over some of the basics of breast implant removal in Dallas.
What Happens During Breast Implant Removal?
Most of the time, breast implant removal (also known as breast explant surgery) is a fairly straightforward process. As with initial breast augmentation surgery, when you undergo breast implant removal, your surgeon will administer anesthesia, make incisions, and then remove the implants, sometimes at the same time as the scar tissue capsule that has formed around each implant.
Unless other procedures will be taking place during the same surgery (breast lift, breast augmentation fat transfer, etc.), this will finalize the process. The recovery period is typically similar to the recovery period for primary breast augmentation.
Will I Have Scars After Breast Implant Removal?
A common question regarding this procedure is whether or not the surgeon will be able to use the original incisions made during the primary breast augmentation surgery when the implants were first inserted. This question is usually foremost in patients’ minds because they want to know if they’re going to have any new scars from breast implant removal to worry about.
For most breast implant removal patients, your surgeon will be able to use the original incisions from your primary breast augmentation surgery. So (for most patients), this means that your removal incisions will be made either below the breast in the breast crease or around the areola.
In some cases, patients may need to have new incisions made. This may be the case, for example, if your original incisions were made around the areola, but your surgeon wants to remove your breast implants and the surrounding scar tissue capsule “en bloc”.
“En bloc” is a breast explant procedure term that refers to removing the breast implant and the scar tissue capsule all at once. This requires a larger incision, so if your incisions were made around the areola initially, your surgeon will likely make an incision along your breast crease to carry out the removal.
Several other situations may also necessitate a different incision. When you meet with your plastic surgeon for your consultation appointment, he or she will likely be able to tell you whether they can reuse your original incisions.
Breast Implant Removal Scars
In terms of scarring, breast implant removal scars are usually no more noticeable than breast augmentation scars. This is naturally going to be true if your surgeon is able to reuse your original scars.
But even if your surgeon has to make new scars, the good news is that your body is amazing at healing incisions, and the scars that your surgeon makes will not be overly noticeable. They will fade and flatten with time.
To help conceal scars even more, many breast surgery surgeons recommend scar massage and the use of silicone gel scar sheets. Use these techniques only after the initial healing period of your breast implant removal surgery. In the event that you experience delayed wound healing, speak with your surgeon about when you can start using scar reduction techniques.
FAQ: Breast Implant Removal Surgery
What is breast implant removal recovery like?
For most patients, breast implant removal surgery recovery is not any more difficult than breast implant surgery recovery. In fact, some patients say it’s an easier healing process after having breast implants removed.
In most cases, after we remove breast implants, we recommend the patient take it easy for at least one to two weeks. This means time off from work and getting plenty of rest and sleep at home. Go for short walks, eat a healthy diet, and take care of yourself according to your surgeon’s instructions. Don’t do any heavy lifting or vigorous exercise.
Your breast tissue will be swollen and bruised. You may have some slight soreness, which can be handled with pain medication.
Is breast implant removal surgery painful?
No, most patients do not experience more pain after breast implant removal than they did after initial breast augmentation surgery. It’s possible that the former may cause slightly more pain, but even if it does, we can prescribe pain medication to help you.
Book a Consultation with Dr. Mohan
If you’d like to find out if you’re a good candidate for breast implant removal, please contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raja Mohan. Dr. Mohan would be happy to discuss this surgical procedure in more detail with you and let you know if you’re likely to have visible scars.
Contact us today to book your consultation appointment.