When we get breast implants, we long for the physical and psychological changes they promise to help us achieve, from increased sexual confidence to feeling more comfortable in our own skin. Then, we experience and appreciate the improvements that breast implants make in our lives for years or even decades to come. So why are they ever removed? And what does such a procedure entail?

When & Why Are Breast Implants Removed?

The decision to have breast implants removed is an important personal choice that can only be made by the patient herself. A woman may choose to have her implants removed for any number of reasons that are either cosmetic or health related. Some of the more common reasons patients choose to have their breast implants removed are:

Breast implants no longer fit with a patient’s lifestyle of body ideals
A hardening of the scar tissue that surrounds the breast implant, called capsular contracture, can cause the breasts to be hard to the touch and look asymmetrical or unnatural.
A tear or rupture in the implant, or rippling visible on the surface of the breasts.
Indications of systemic illness that a patient has reason to believe are caused by her implants.

The Benefits of Breast Implant Removal

If after careful consideration a woman desires to have her breast implants removed, the benefits she may experience are both physical and psychological, with a regained peace of mind, a restored aesthetic and youthfulness to the breasts, and an end to the complications she was facing. Breast implants can be removed and a breast lift can be done to aesthetically restore the breasts, with or without new implants in place of the old.

What Does Breast Implant Removal Entail?

Breast implant removal is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia. Patients have a choice of three options for removal. Depending on the conditions a patient presents with and the concerns she has, Dr. Heil may recommend that the breast implants are simply removed, with or without the capsule of surrounding skin and scar tissue; that the implants are removed and a breast lift is done as part of the same surgery to remove excess breast skin and tighten and lift the breast tissue; or that the implants, is silicone, are deflated and removed, with a breast lift being optional.

Because the reasons for removal are varied, and because the size of the original implants weigh heavy on a patient’s options, the surgical plan is carefully tailored to each patient with the outcome being as aesthetically pleasing as possible, and a full resolution of the patient’s concerns.

Who Benefits Most from Breast Implant Removal?

Patients with breast implant complications such as implant rupture, folding, or deflation of silicone breasts are well suited for breast implant removal surgery. Other patients elect to have their original implants removed and a new pair of implants put in place that are larger or smaller in alignment with their newfound ideals.

How Do I Prepare for Breast Implant Removal?

Preparing for breast implant removal surgery is relatively simple. Medical tests are required before surgery so the surgeon fully understands what is going on prior to surgery. You may be asked to stop taking certain medications, including blood thinners, aspirin, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients who smoke should cease doing so as far in advance of surgery as possible, with four weeks being ideal.

What Do I Need to Know About Recovery?

Recovery varies from patient to patient and tends to be shorter and smoother than recovery was from the initial breast augmentation surgery. If a breast lift is done as part of the breast implant surgery, the breasts will feel tight and heavy for a few weeks after surgery. Most of our patients are able to return to work within five days of surgery. Their pain and discomfort is easily managed with pain medication. If a capsulectomy is done (removing both the implants and the capsule of scar tissue that has formed around them), recovery will be longer and more uncomfortable. Scars from the procedure tend to be very well hidden and may disappear entirely over time. Exact recovery guidelines will be given before the surgery is done and will include such things as wearing compression garments, taking pain medication, and avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous exercise.

What Can I Expect From my Consultation

Breast implant removal is a considerable decision worthy of careful consideration. Your personal consultation is an excellent time to get the professional opinion of Dr. Heil. It’s helpful to write down in advance any questions and concerns you have, and to bring information on your medical history. Dr. Heil will help you to make sense of what you are experiencing and help you understand what relief might be possible by having your breast implants removed.

What Are My Financing Options?

In an effort to make our services easily accessible to women in Pittsburgh, Premier Plastic Surgery offers CareCredit financing. CareCredit is a leading provider of medical and elective surgery financing and offers multiple zero interest payment plants. It is important to understand that the no interest aspect of the payment plan assumes that the full cost of procedure is re-paid to CareCredit within the promotional period.