Are you unhappy with the look or feel of your breast implants? Have they been causing you pain and discomfort? When you’re no longer happy with your breast implants for whatever reason, implant removal can restore your natural figure and eliminate any implant-related issues.
Dr. Itzhak Nir at Palms Wellington Plastic Surgery provides breast explant surgery to remove implants and help patients regain their natural figure. Read on to learn why breast implant removal is an important cosmetic procedure.
What Is a Breast Explant Procedure?
A breast explant is a plastic surgery procedure that removes previous breast implants. Breast explant is not an incredibly common procedure, as most patients are satisfied with their breast implants. With that being said, there are instances in which a patient no longer wishes to have their implants.
Years after a breast augmentation, a patient may be dissatisfied with the way their implants look or feel and want them removed. There could also be physical issues with the implants, making removal a necessity.
During implant removal surgery, Palms Wellington Plastic Surgery sometimes performs a breast lift simultaneously (per patient requests). This can help to lift the natural breast tissue to a more flattering position once the implants have been removed.
Why Would a Patient Need Breast Implant Removal?
There are a few reasons a patient may seek breast implant removal. Many patients get breast explant surgery for aesthetic reasons. They may be unhappy with the size of their breast implants, finding that they are too large for their body frame. Implants that are too large can also put strain on the back, causing pain and discomfort.
In some cases, patients become dissatisfied with the shape or position of their implants, especially if they’ve gained a significant amount of weight since their original breast augmentation procedure. While the size of your implants cannot change with weight loss, the shape and position can change. After losing a large amount of weight, patients may see their implants drop downwards and appear to sag. This sagging can also occur with the natural aging process.
Other patients seek breast explant procedures because something has gone wrong with the implants themselves. Breast implants can become damaged or ruptured, often due to injury or direct trauma to the breast. Silicone or saline within the implant can leak into surrounding breast tissue in these cases, making implant removal necessary.
Capsular contracture is another reason breast explant may be needed. This rare breast augmentation complication can develop when internal scar tissue forms a tight capsule around the implant.
That tissue and capsule can constrict the breast implant until it becomes stiff and deformed, resulting in pain and stiffness for the patient. The only way to resolve a capsular contracture is by removing the implant.
How Is a Breast Explant Performed?
If you seek breast implant removal, it’s essential to understand what the procedure involves. The process requires just as much research and thoughtfulness as your original implant procedure, and you want to go with specialists like Dr. Itzhak Nir at Palms Wellington Plastic Surgery, who has experience with breast explants.
Preparation
Before having a breast implant removal at Palms Wellington Plastic Surgery, you will need to consult with one of our plastic surgeons. We will assess your implants and discuss your concerns to determine whether a breast explant is the best course of treatment. If not, we will advise you of any alternative options available.
If implant removal is the right treatment for you, we will move forward with scheduling your procedure. Before surgery, you will need complete medical clearance from your regular physician. This step ensures that you are healthy enough to go under anesthesia.
Procedure
Dr. Itzhak Nir at Palms Wellington Plastic Surgery performs breast explants under general anesthesia. An incision will be made in the same path as your original implant procedure during your breast implant removal. The implants are then gently removed from the breast pocket while maintaining the structure and integrity of the surrounding tissue.
If you desire a breast lift, our surgeons can perform that procedure at the same time as your explant procedure. Breast lifts are often necessary in cases where the implants have been in place for a long time.
Having large implants for several years can cause the natural tissue to stretch. Once the implants are removed, the breasts may appear to droop and sag. A breast lift will improve the position of your natural breasts.
Recovery
Recovery from breast implant removal surgery is relatively simple. You may need to wear a bandage around the surgical site for the first week or more. We’ll remove your sutures after the first week of recovery. It can take up to three months to see the final results of your procedure, giving the breast tissue enough time to settle into its new position on the chest.
Who Is a Candidate for Breast Implant Removal?
Breast explant surgery at Palms Wellington Plastic Surgery is for anyone unhappy with their previous breast implants. Patients may no longer be satisfied with the look or feel of their implants. We’ve also come across patients whose implants were causing physical pain or discomfort. Some patients who seek breast implant removal have experienced implant complications like rupture or capsular contracture.
Breast Implant Removal at Palms Wellington Plastic Surgery
If you’re no longer satisfied with your breast implants or find they’re starting to cause physical discomfort, a breast explant may be necessary. Breast implant removal is often the best solution when your previous implants no longer suit you.
At Palms Wellington Plastic Surgery in Palm Beach, Dr. Nir provides breast explant surgery to help patients restore their natural breast size. If you are interested in breast implant removal, call our offices to schedule a consultation.