Breast Implant Removal

Breast implant removal

Taking an implant out is a reconstructive operation, not an errand.

The approach

Why implants come out

Implants are removed for rupture, capsular contracture, infection, a confirmed or suspected BIA-ALCL, symptoms a woman attributes to the implant, a recalled textured device she no longer wants, or because she does not want them anymore. The operation is different in each of those cases.

Removal can mean the implant alone, or the implant plus the capsule (capsulectomy). A complete capsulectomy matters when the question is lymphoma, a calcified shell, or a ruptured silicone gel that has left the shell. It is not automatically the right operation for every request.

After the implant is gone, the breast may look deflated, uneven, or folded, especially if the skin was stretched or if a mastectomy came first. The same consultation covers what can be rebuilt. Dr. Sayah does the removal and the reconstruction. If the original implant was part of cancer care, Dr. Funk is in that plan.

This is general information about how these questions are usually approached. It is not a diagnosis, and it does not replace a visit. Screening and treatment are planned for one person at a time.

Planning the operation

Removal is tailored to the reason. A ruptured silicone implant with gel outside the shell is not the same case as a woman who feels well and wants the devices out, and neither is the same as a calcified capsule or a workup for lymphoma. You should hear, in the consultation, whether the capsule is removed completely, in part, or left, and why.

The chest after removal is part of the consent. Skin that stretched around an implant can look empty or folded. A breast that was reconstructed after mastectomy has no breast tissue underneath, so removal without a plan for reconstruction leaves a flat chest. Some women want that. Many do not. The reconstruction options are discussed in the same visit, even if the rebuilding happens later.

Dr. Sayah does the removal. If the implants were placed as part of cancer care, Dr. Funk is in the timing. Stop medications that affect bleeding only when you are told to. Bring the device card so the record of what came out is exact.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Is removal always done with a capsulectomy?

No. The capsule comes out when there is a reason: rupture with gel outside the shell, contracture, calcification, or concern for BIA-ALCL. An uncomplicated removal may not need a total capsulectomy.

Can I go home the same day?

Many removals are outpatient. Drains, a lift, or a flap change that. You hear the setting before the date is booked.

Get started

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