Removing Breast Implants: What Does It Entail?

Posted July 29, 2019 in Breast Implant Removal

Women decide to get breast implants for many reasons: to enhance their confidence, to return volume and youthfulness to their breasts after pregnancy, to feel more comfortable with their body, and many other reasons. And while many women are extremely satisfied with their implants after breast augmentation, others may decide to part ways with their implants at some point.

Although implant removal patients are still in the minority when you consider how many breast augmentations are performed every year, it is important to understand why some women are deciding to ditch their larger breasts, and what their options are when doing so.

Why Do Women Choose to Have Them Removed?

Lifestyle Changes

Implants are the best way to enhance the fullness and cleavage of the breasts. Unfortunately, some women find that choosing larger implants, especially when there is a significant increase in size, gets in the way of their lifestyle. Other women find that their larger implants are not as necessary after they gain weight or experience a change in body shape.

Aesthetic preferences change with time, and sometimes, those opinions do not include implants.

Shifting Beauty Trends

Plastic surgery procedures are just as susceptible to trends as fashion is. During the 90s and early 2000s, the women interested in breast augmentation desired a voluptuous and noticeably augmented look, take Pamela Anderson, for example. While this shape was popular back then, it has proven to be anything but timeless. Nowadays, more women are interested in a natural look. Even women who are getting implants to enlarge their breasts are requesting subtle changes rather than obvious ones. And just as women new to augmentation are asking for smaller implants, those who have overly large implants are looking for a change. Many women who remove their breast implants do not want them permanently gone; they only wish to have smaller and more natural-looking ones.

What Are Your Options?

Simple Removal

Women who choose breast revision have three options. The first is simple removal. With this technique, the breast implant is removed, and the incisions are closed. The breast pocket may need to be tightened; however, there is not much more that needs to be done. This is ideal for women who had smaller implants and have good skin elasticity. Traditionally, implants can be removed through the same incision that was used to place them. If not, an additional incision can be made along the inframammary crease.

Remove and Replace

For women whose implants have reached their end of life, or for those who have experienced complications but still wish to have implants, new ones can be inserted. These new implants can be replicas of the old, or they can be changed out for different sizes, shapes, or filling materials.

Remove and Lift

Your skin and tissues will adjust to the presence and weight of the implant. Often, women who choose simple removal find that they are left with sagging skin and breast tissue. Breast lift surgery is commonly performed with implant removal to ensure that no post-removal sagging occurs. Breast lift surgery tightens the glandular tissue and removes the excess skin that would allow the breasts to sag. This combination procedure is ideal for women who had larger implants or do not have good skin elasticity.

Implant Recalls

Recently, Allergan voluntarily recalled their BIOCELL® textured breast implants and tissue expanders after the FDA discovered a link between textured breast implants and breast implant-related anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a cancer of the immune system. While the FDA is currently only recommending implant removal for patients already displaying symptoms, this is still something to take into consideration. If you are worried about BIA-ALCL or have already been diagnosed, please call us to schedule a consultation.

Contact Us Today!

For more information about removing breast implants with or without a breast lift, contact Careaga Plastic Surgery by calling (305) 960-7511 or by filling out our online contact form.