Breast implant removal is a surgical procedure that removes the breast implant. This procedure generally involves the careful removal of saline or silicone implants under the breast tissue or chest muscles, making the breasts look smaller.

Breast implants are not lifelong devices and may need to be exchanged or removed. Patients may desire to have their implants removed as a result of:

• Changes in breast appearance or size
• Back/shoulder pain
• Breast implant rupture
• Capsular contracture
• Additional symptoms related to breast implants

Perhaps your breasts have changed in appearance or size with time, and you desire smaller breasts for those whose breasts are more prominent than desired and currently have a breast implant in place; a breast implant removal or exchange may be the right option for you.

Good candidates for breast implant removal include those who:

• Want to achieve smaller breasts
• Are bothered by the appearance of implants
• Are experiencing discomfort or pain from breast implants
• Have hardening or rupture of implants
• Have generally good physical and mental health
• Are nonsmokers, or are willing to stop smoking before surgery
• Have realistic expectations from breast surgery

While breast implant removal can address a variety of concerns, it does have limitations. Knowing these limitations and understanding when you may be a candidate for a different type of surgery is essential. Breast implant removal cannot:

• Make breasts larger
• Correct sagging/drooping
• Tighten loose skin
• Completely correct asymmetry

In planning your breast implant removal, several decisions should be made carefully. For example, you may have loose or stretched skin after removing an implant. In some patients, depending on the implant size and the patient’s skin quality, this skin may retract over time and not require any additional treatment. However, many patients will have residual loose skin and need a breast lift (mastopexy). This may be performed simultaneously with implant removal or as a second-stage procedure. Some patients may find that they still want breast volume after implant removal in addition to what their natural breast tissue provides. In these cases, you may opt to have a small implant placed (implant revision) or undergo fat grafting to the breasts.

Every patient’s needs are different. Your surgeon and her team will help guide you through these decisions and ensure that you are educated about your breast implant removal journey.

Breast implant removal is an outpatient procedure performed in an office or with general anesthesia in an operating room. After your breast implant removal procedure, you will be placed in dressings and a bra. If you have your procedure in the operating room, you will spend a short time in the recovery room before a friend or family member takes you home, where you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night. We will advise you on pain medication to ease any discomfort, give you detailed post-operative instructions, and schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.

It is expected to experience some pain and swelling in the first few days after surgery.

Incisions usually heal between 2 and 3 weeks after surgery. Depending on your type of work, you can generally return to work within one week. Initially, you will have some activity restrictions, but most people can return to total activity six weeks after surgery.

Final results are usually seen at six months to a year after surgery.

Every patient’s recovery is different. Your recovery may be quicker or take more time than average.

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