Implant removal alone may be suitable when the patient has enough natural breast tissue, reasonable skin elasticity, or is comfortable accepting the remaining breast shape.
This approach avoids the additional scars created by a breast lift.
The breasts may initially appear flat, creased or uneven after the implants are removed. Their appearance generally changes as swelling reduces and the tissues soften and retract.
Some patients choose to remove their implants first and consider further reshaping only after the breasts have settled.
A breast lift may be considered when implant removal is expected to leave substantially loose skin or a lower breast and nipple position.
The lift removes selected excess skin and reshapes and raises the remaining breast tissue.
A breast lift creates additional permanent scars and has a different recovery from implant removal alone. The scar pattern depends on how much lifting and reshaping is needed.
The lift may be performed during the same operation as implant removal or considered later after the breasts have settled.
Fat transfer may be used to add a modest amount of the patient’s own fat to selected areas of the breast.
The fat is collected using liposuction, processed and injected into the planned areas. It may help soften contour differences or restore some volume after implant removal.
Fat transfer cannot always recreate the size or projection previously provided by an implant. Some transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed, and more than one procedure may be required.
Patients must also have enough suitable donor fat available.
Not every patient considering explant surgery wants to remain without implants.
Some patients choose to replace their current implants with smaller implants or a different implant model.
Downsizing may require changes to the implant pocket or surrounding capsule. A breast lift may also be considered when the skin has stretched, or the breast position has changed.
Dr Barker will discuss whether implant exchange, removal alone or removal with reshaping may be more suitable for the patient’s anatomy and preferences.
The body naturally forms a layer of scar tissue around every breast implant. This is called the capsule.
The capsule does not automatically need to be removed when an implant is removed.
Depending on the reason for surgery and the findings, the capsule may be:
- Left in place
- Partly removed
- Completely removed
Capsule removal may be considered when the capsule is firm, painful, thickened, distorted, affected by implant rupture or otherwise abnormal.
Removing the entire capsule can make surgery more complex, particularly when it is firmly attached to the chest wall. Dr Barker will explain whether capsule removal is likely to be useful and what the additional surgery would involve.
