Breast Implant Removal/Explant

Breast implant removal is performed when a woman decides she no longer wants her implants due to appearance, change of lifestyle, age, or heaviness or when complications such as capsular contracture or rupture may occur.

Ideally the scar tissue around the implant remains soft after breast augmentation surgery but capsular contracture happens when that scar tissue around the implant begins to get hard and can disfigure the shape of the breast. Capsular contracture can happen for varying reasons including the outside shell of the implant breaks down causing silicone leak and leads to hardening. This will more likely happen with older implants. It is then time to have the implants removed. 

Some women have also developed symptoms such as fatigue, hair loss, brain fogginess, unexplained rashes and general malaise with no explanation since having breast implant surgery. The symptoms have been loosely grouped together and called Breast Implant Illness. Although there is no definitive correlation many patients have reported significant improvement after having their implants removed.

There is a proven link between textured implants and ALCL (a rare type of lymphoma) so any patients with textured implants from the past will also want these removed and possibly replaced with smooth implants to avoid any illness.

Some women require a lift along with the breast implant removal as without the implants the skin is sagging and there is a loss of volume. Some women decide they want to just exchange the implants. Dr. Lee can do both and this can be discussed at the consultation appointment. 

En Bloc vs Total Capsulectomy

Enbloc surgery removes both the implant and the scar tissue as one, so that none of the fluid in the capsule or implant material leaves the capsule. Capsulectomy removes the implant and the capsule surrounding the capsule but often separately. Dr. Lee’s goal is to remove both implant and capsule in the most efficient and safe way possible. However it is not until he opens up the patient that he can really determine how this is going to be achieved. There is often some of the capsule that has adhered to the back ribs and it is impossible to remove all the capsule but he always does his best to get a clean removal.