Breast implant removal, or explantation, offers women the opportunity to return to their natural breast appearance or address concerns related to their current implants. At Silk Plastic Surgery, our board-certified surgeons provide expert explantation services with comprehensive options to help you achieve your desired outcome, whether that’s a natural look or preparation for new implants.
Every woman’s journey with breast implants is unique, and the decision to remove them deserves the same careful consideration and expert care as the original augmentation.
Dr. Page is an excellent surgeon who showed me so much patience and personal care throughout multiple reconstruction and revision surgeries. She and Dr. McKay collaborated on one surgery, both are amazing. My results are great so I would choose this practice again. Her staff are top notch and always answered any questions promptly. I’m convinced that I got the very best care from Dr. Page.
Your Breast Implant Removal Options
Understanding Breast Implant Explantation
Breast implant removal involves carefully extracting existing implants and addressing the surrounding capsule tissue that naturally forms around any implant. The procedure can be straightforward implant removal or may include additional steps like capsule removal and breast reshaping based on your specific needs and goals.
Modern explantation techniques focus on achieving the best possible aesthetic outcome while addressing any medical concerns. Our surgeons’ extensive experience with both implant placement and removal provides comprehensive expertise in achieving optimal results.
“Every explantation is unique because every woman’s journey with implants is different,” explains Dr. Page. “Our goal is to help patients achieve their desired outcome, whether that’s returning to their natural breast appearance or preparing for a different enhancement approach.”
Why Patients Choose Breast Implant Removal
The decision to remove breast implants stems from various personal, medical, and lifestyle factors. Understanding these motivations helps validate the individual journey each patient experiences with their implants.
Lifestyle Evolution: Many women find that their aesthetic preferences change over time, leading them to prefer a more natural breast appearance. Career changes, fitness goals, or simply evolving personal style can influence the desire to remove implants and embrace natural breast contours.
Medical Considerations:
- Implant Complications: Addressing issues like capsular contracture, rupture, or malposition
- Health Concerns: Resolving symptoms some patients attribute to their implants
- Aging Factors: Changes in breast tissue and skin elasticity over time
- Diagnostic Clarity: Improving mammography and breast health monitoring
Personal Empowerment: Some patients describe explantation as reclaiming their natural body and feeling more authentic to their true selves. This personal empowerment aspect represents an important and valid reason for choosing removal.
Simplification Desires: The appeal of eliminating implant-related considerations, future surgeries, and monitoring requirements motivates many patients to choose natural breast restoration.
Surgical Approaches to Implant Removal
The explantation technique depends on your implant type, capsule condition, and aesthetic goals. Our surgeons evaluate each case individually to determine the optimal approach for achieving your desired outcome.
Simple implant removal involves extracting the implants while leaving the natural capsule tissue intact. This approach works well when the capsule is healthy and patients are satisfied with their expected breast appearance after removal.
Complete Capsulectomy Benefits: Total capsule removal, or en bloc capsulectomy, involves removing both the implant and surrounding capsule tissue as one unit. This thorough approach addresses concerns about capsule-related issues and provides the most complete implant removal possible.
Selective Capsule Management: Partial capsulectomy involves removing problematic capsule areas while preserving healthy tissue that contributes to breast shape and contour. This selective approach balances thorough removal with optimal aesthetic outcomes.
Breast Shape After Implant Removal
Understanding realistic expectations about breast appearance after explantation is crucial for satisfaction with your decision. Factors including implant size, duration of placement, skin elasticity, and natural breast tissue all influence post-removal appearance.
Many patients are pleasantly surprised by their natural breast appearance after implant removal, particularly when adequate natural tissue remains and skin elasticity is good. However, some patients may experience changes in breast shape, position, or volume that can be addressed through additional procedures.
Factors Affecting Appearance
Original Breast Size
Amount of natural tissue present before augmentation
Implant Duration
Length of time implants were in place affects tissue changes
Implant Size
Larger implants may create more significant tissue stretching
Skin Quality
Elasticity and thickness of the skin often influences post-removal contours
Age and Genetics
Natural aging processes and individual healing patterns
Some patients choose to combine explantation with breast lift procedures to optimize their final appearance and achieve the most attractive natural breast contours possible.
Combining Explantation with Breast Lift
Many patients benefit from combining implant removal with mastopexy to address changes in breast position and shape that may occur after explantation. This combination approach can create beautifully contoured natural breasts.
The decision to include a lift depends on factors like skin elasticity, desired breast position, and overall aesthetic goals. Our comprehensive consultation process helps determine whether combination procedures will optimize your results.
Combination Benefits
- Optimal Positioning: Restores youthful breast position after implant removal
- Enhanced Shape: Creates attractive breast contours using natural tissue
- Single Recovery: Addresses multiple concerns in one surgical session
- Comprehensive Results: Achieves the best possible natural breast appearance
Recovery from Breast Implant Removal
Recovery from explantation is often more comfortable than the original augmentation since no foreign objects are being placed and muscle manipulation is typically minimal. Understanding the healing process helps you plan appropriately for optimal outcomes.
Most patients experience relatively quick recovery, with many returning to normal activities within 1-2 weeks. The absence of implants often provides immediate relief for patients who experienced discomfort or restrictions related to their augmentation.
Recovery Advantages: The removal of implants often results in immediate improvement in comfort and mobility. Many patients report feeling “lighter” and more comfortable almost immediately after surgery, particularly those who had been experiencing implant-related discomfort.
Healing Timeline: Initial recovery typically involves 1-2 weeks of activity restrictions, with gradual return to full activities over 4-6 weeks. The healing process is often smoother than original augmentation recovery since tissue is being restored rather than stretched.
Emotional Aspects of Explantation
The decision to remove breast implants often involves complex emotional considerations beyond the physical aspects of surgery. Many patients experience a range of feelings throughout their explantation journey, from excitement about returning to their natural body to concerns about appearance changes.
Understanding that these emotional responses are normal and valid helps patients navigate their explantation experience with confidence. Many patients report feeling a sense of freedom and authenticity after explantation that enhances their overall satisfaction with the decision.
Our Silk Plastic Surgery team provides comprehensive emotional support throughout the explantation process, recognizing that this decision represents an important personal journey for each patient.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Implant Removal
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Breast appearance after removal depends on factors like skin elasticity, implant size, and duration. Many patients are satisfied with their natural appearance, while others choose to combine removal with a lift for optimal results.
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En bloc capsulectomy is recommended when there are concerns about capsule-related issues or when patients prefer the most complete removal possible. We discuss the best approach based on your individual situation and preferences.
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Simple implant removal typically takes 1-2 hours, while procedures involving capsulectomy or lift may take longer. We provide specific timing estimates based on your planned procedure.
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Yes, breast augmentation can be performed after explantation, though tissue changes from the removal may affect the approach and outcomes of future augmentation.
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Insurance may cover removal when performed for medical reasons like rupture or capsular contracture. We help patients understand their coverage options and navigate the approval process when applicable.
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Removed implants and tissue can be sent for pathological examination if desired. We discuss disposal options and any testing preferences during your consultation.
Why Choose Silk Plastic Surgery for Breast Implant Removal
Our surgeons’ extensive experience with both breast augmentation and explantation provides comprehensive expertise in achieving optimal outcomes for implant removal. With advanced training in breast surgery and hundreds of successful procedures, we understand the nuances of different removal techniques and aesthetic considerations.
Our approach emphasizes thorough consultation, realistic expectation setting, and personalized surgical planning to help you achieve your goals. We support patients through every aspect of their explantation journey with understanding, expertise, and compassionate care.
- Extensive experience with all explantation techniques including en bloc capsulectomy
- Comprehensive consultation addressing both medical and aesthetic concerns
- Advanced surgical skills for optimal breast appearance after removal
- Proven track record of patient satisfaction with explantation outcomes
- Supportive, understanding approach to this important personal decision
About Silk Plastic Surgery
At Silk Plastic Surgery, we blend advanced surgical expertise with a personalized, compassionate approach to help you look and feel your best. Our team includes double board-certified surgeons, who trained at prestigious institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and Emory University. We are dedicated to achieving natural, refined results that enhance your unique beauty. Every detail of your experience is designed to make you feel comfortable, confident, and fully supported from consultation to recovery.
We specialize in a comprehensive range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures for the face, breast, and body, offering both transformative enhancements and delicate restorative care. Whether you’re seeking subtle refinement or a significant change, our commitment to safety, precision, and artistry ensures beautiful, lasting results. At Silk Plastic Surgery, your goals inspire our work, and your confidence is our greatest success.
Schedule Your Breast Implant Removal Consultation in Atlanta
Whether you’re considering simple implant removal or comprehensive explantation with additional procedures, expert surgical care is essential for achieving your desired outcome. Our experienced surgeons at Silk Plastic Surgery provide thorough consultation and advanced surgical techniques to help you transition confidently to your next chapter.
Contact our Atlanta practice today to schedule your explantation consultation and explore your options for returning to your natural breast appearance.