Breast Implant Removal (Explant)
Breast implant removal and capsulectomy has become the most common surgical procedure at Desert Plastic Surgery. Many women are concerned that their implants are causing or contributing to health problems (breast implant illness or BII). While this process is not well understood, many women request implant removal (explant) and removal of the scar tissue capsule around their implants (capsulectomy). Unfortunately, there is no specific study to determine if implants are the source of symptoms. Removing the implants may be the only way to rule out your implants as a source of your health issues. While we cannot guarantee that your symptoms will resolve or improve, many of our patients have experienced improvement or resolution of their symptoms.
We believe that the capsule should be removed if possible when implants are removed for BII. We will attempt to remove the implant and capsule together when possible. This is referred to as an en bloc capsulectomy. If the capsule is very thin or stuck to the surrounding structures, it may not be possible to perform an en bloc capsulectomy. In this case, the implant is removed first through a small opening in the capsule and then, the capsule is dissected away from the surrounding structures. This is called a total capsulectomy. It is very rare that we would not be able to remove the entire capsule.
After implant removal and capsulectomy there will be a loss of volume and additional procedures might be required such as a breast lift (mastopexy) or injection of your own fat to help restore the volume loss (autologous fat).
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is the surgical placement of breast implants to increase fullness and improve symmetry of the breasts, or to restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy.
Breast augmentation can:
- Increase fullness and projection of your breasts
- Improve balance of breast and hip contours
- Enhance your self-image and self-confidence
Surgery After Breast Augmentation
- Implant exchange to change size, shape or type of implant.
- Capsulectomy to remove the scar tissue around the implants in patients with capsular contracture. May be done in conjunction with implant exchange, implant removal or breast lift (mastopexy).
Breast Lift
A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, raises the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.
A breast lift can rejuvenate your figure with a breast profile that is more youthful and uplifted. A woman’s breasts often change over time, losing their youthful shape and firmness. These changes and loss of skin elasticity can result from:
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Weight fluctuations
- Aging
- Gravity
- Heredity
Before
After
Breast Reduction
Breast reduction removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with overly large breasts.
The weight of excess breast tissue can impair your ability to lead an active life. The emotional discomfort and self-consciousness often associated with having large pendulous breasts can be as important an issue as the physical discomfort and pain.
Breast reduction is a good option for you if you:
- Are physically healthy
- Have realistic expectations
- Don’t smoke
- Are bothered by feeling that your breasts are too large
- Have breasts that limit your physical activity
- Experience back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by the weight of your breasts
- Have shoulder indentations from bra straps
- Have skin irritation beneath the breast crease
While breast reduction is frequently covered by insurance, we are not contracted with most insurance companies and do not do breast reductions as insurance procedures. If you are interested in having your breast reduction covered by your insurance, we suggest finding a board certified plastic surgeon who accepts insurance. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) website is a good resource for finding a plastic surgeon in your area.
