Breast Implant Removal Explant Surgery

As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Tal T. Roudner’s mission is to ensure that each of his patients looks and feels their very best. For some of his patients, health and/or cosmetic issues resulting from breast implants can cause concern, discomfort, and dissatisfaction with their appearance. No matter the reason you seek breast implant removal, Miami-based Dr. Tal Roudner can help you achieve your goals.

• Reasons for Breast Implant Removal
• Breast Implant Removal Options
• Preparing for Breast Implant Removal
• The Breast Implant Removal Procedure
• Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Implant Removal

Reasons for Breast Implant Removal

The decision to undergo breast implant removal is a deeply personal one. Common reasons women seek breast implant removal include:

Changes in Aesthetic Preferences

Aesthetic trends change, as do a woman’s ideal body image. Some women are no longer pleased with the appearance of their breast implants and choose to have them removed.

Changes in Body Type, Body Image, or Lifestyle

Just as trends change, so do women’s bodies. Over time, breast tissue can grow larger, altering the position of breast implants. Similarly, if a woman has undergone significant weight loss, she may feel that a smaller breast size is more appropriate for her current physique. Other women may feel as though they have “aged out of” their breast implants, or may feel that their breast size is no longer compatible with their lifestyle.

Maintenance

Breast implants require replacement or exchange every 10-15 years, but some women prefer to remove their breasts implants rather than seeking breast implant revision or breast implant replacement.¹

Capsular Contracture

Over time, the scar tissue may form around breast implants, creating a hardened capsule. Normally, this capsule is unnoticeable and feels soft, and it helps keep breast implants in an optimal position. However, in some cases, the capsule around a breast implant can become hard and dense, applying pressure to a breast implant. This can cause a distorted breast shape and may also be painful.²

Breast Implant Rupture

Breast implant rupture is a rare complication, especially in light of advances in breast implant materials and technology. Still, rupture may occur, especially in patients whose breast implants are older.

Health Concerns

Breast implants are well-studied through comprehensive medical research and have been approved by the FDA as safe medical devices.³ However, Dr. Tal Roudner realizes that women may have concerns about health problems rarely associated with breast implants, such as:

Breast Implant Illness

Breast implant illness (BII) is a blanket term for symptoms some women believe are associated with breast implants, including fatigue, breathing problems, sleep issues, and other symptoms. The current research is investigating symptoms associated with breast implant illness. D.r Roudner is committed to women’s health and wellbeing, and is able to remove breast implants for women who are concerned about BII.⁴

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)

If you have read recent news coverage of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) and other rare types of Lymphoma, you may have concerns about the risks associated with breast implants. A small percentage of women who have had breast augmentation procedures have been diagnosed with BIA-ALCL. BIA-ALCL is a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, not breast cancer, that most often affects those with textured implants, all of which have been recalled. The FDA continues to investigate the connection between breast implants and BIA-ALCL, however, they do not recommend preventative surgery to remove your implants.⁵

Breast Implant Removal Options

Each woman seeking breast implant removal has specific aesthetic goals. Dr. Tal T. Roudner offers a full range of cosmetic breast surgeries to help them meet these goals. Dr. Roudner strongly recommends that women wait at least six months after their breast implant removal before considering an additional procedure, as breasts tend to settle and blood flow improves with the healing process.

Breast Implant Removal with Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

If a patient is concerned that her breasts may appear saggy or deflated after her breast implant explant procedure, Dr. Roudner may recommend a breast lift (mastopexy.) During this procedure, Dr. Roudner will arrange breast tissue and reposition the nipple and areola to improve both shape and projection, resulting in breasts that appear more youthful and voluminous.

Breast Implant Removal with Fat Transfer

For patients who are concerned with losing breast volume after breast implant explant surgery, fat transfer may be an ideal solution. During this procedure, Dr. Roudner uses liposuction to harvest excess fat from other parts of the body, purifies it, then transfers it to the breasts for fullness that looks and feels natural.

Breast Implant Revision

Some of Dr. Roudner’s patients wish to have their breast implants removed and replaced with breast implant revision surgery. Dr. Roudner can remove a patient’s current implants and replace them with new implants that are larger, smaller, or more aesthetically placed.

Preparing for Breast Implant Removal

An essential step in preparing for breast implant explant surgery is to attend a private consultation with Dr. Roudner. During this meeting, Dr. Roudner will perform a visual and physical examination, and you will have the opportunity to be candid about your breast implant concerns and goals.

If you and Dr. Roudner decide that breast implant removal surgery is right for you, your procedure will be scheduled. You will also have an appointment with us three to four weeks before your surgery so that you can be medically cleared for the procedure. You will be given detailed pre- and post-operative instructions.

Pre-surgical guidelines include but are not limited to:

• Avoid strenuous activity the day before surgery
• Abstain from eating or drinking anything, including water, after midnight before surgery
• Shower the night before and do not wear any lotions, fragrances or deodorant the day of surgery
• You will need to arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from surgery and remain with you for the first 24 hours of recovery

The Breast Implant Removal Procedure

Breast implant removal surgery is performed under general anesthesia and generally takes between two and three hours.

Dr. Roudner primarily performs en bloc capsulectomy, total capsulectomy breast implant removal when needed and when possible, which involves removing the breast implant as well as the entire capsule that surrounds it, when safely possible. He also recommends that patients undergo surgical reattachment of the pectoralis major muscles to the chest wall for patients who have had their breast implants placed under the muscles. This minimizes the risk of deformity where the muscle becomes visible through the skin and improves blood flow and healing.

Contact Dr. Tal T. Roudner

When seeking a surgeon for breast implant removal, it is important to factor in experience and dedication to patient health. Dr. Tal Roudner is committed to providing comprehensive care to optimize the patient experience and outcome. We encourage patients to do their research prior to breast implant explant surgery as it is a demanding surgery that requires great technical skill and meticulous execution. To learn more about breast implant removal at our plastic surgery center in Miami and to schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Roudner, please contact us today.

References

¹ American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Breast Implant Removal Explant Surgery. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-implant-removal. Accessed September 8, 2022.
² Breastcancer.org. Capsular Contracture. Available at: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/corrective/capsular-contracture. Accessed September 8, 2022.
³ U.S. Food and Drug Administration. What to Know About Breast Implants. Available: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-know-about-breast-implants. Accessed September 8, 2022.
⁴ Breastcancer.org. What Is Breast Implant Illness? Available at: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/types/implants/special-report/breast-implant-illness. September 8, 2022.
⁵ FDA. Questions and Answers about Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). Available at: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/questions-and-answers-about-breast-implant-associated-anaplastic-large-cell-lymphoma-bia-alcl. Accessed September 8, 2022.
⁶ American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Who is a good candidate for breast implant removal? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-implant-removal/candidates. Accessed September 8, 2022.