Breast Implant Removal Philadelphia & Doylestown, PA

Patients who are in a good state of physical health, are at a stable weight, maintain realistic expectations, and are non-smokers may be eligible for breast implant removal. The surgery is customized based on the needs of each patient. Patients may choose to have breast implant removal surgery if they dislike the appearance or heaviness of their implants, if their implants are getting in the way of their lifestyle, if they’re experiencing discomfort or pain, if they’re experiencing tightening or hardening due to capsular contracture, if there has been shifting or movement of one or both implants, or if they have found a rupture or a leak in their implants.

Patients may also decide to have breast implant removal surgery because of calcium buildup around an implant or other medical issues. Sometimes changes to the size, shape, or weight of the breasts due to age, pregnancy, or breastfeeding may change the way the implants impact the breasts. This can prompt some patients to consider breast implant removal. Alternatively, some patients may simply no longer want to have implants or want a different size or shape because their cosmetic goals, tastes, or personal style may have changed. Breast implant revision surgery is another option for patients seeking to address aesthetic concerns or complications that may arise after breast augmentation.

Breast implant removal is typically performed with the patient under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation to reduce sensation during the surgery. This surgical procedure is a specialized operation for extracting previously placed implants due to complications, dissatisfaction, or the natural device lifespan. Once an incision site is chosen in a specific area—such as surrounding the areola or below the breast fold to allow access to the current implant—the skin is cleaned to lower the risk of infection, and the surgical sites are prepared.

Various techniques are then used to remove the implant, as well as some or all of the breast capsule if necessary. Saline implants can very often be removed in the office setting through a small incision. Many patients choose this option due to the lower cost versus having them removed in an operating room.

Silicone implants, however, may present potential complications such as deflation, rupture, and the need for removal due to these issues. Detection of ruptures often occurs during routine imaging, and surgical removal is necessary when addressing concerns related to these implants.

As your skin stretches to accommodate breast implants after they are first inserted, patients often worry about whether they will have sagging or misshapen breasts after breast implant removal. If this is one of your concerns, you can talk to Dr. Chapin about combining your breast implant removal with a breast implant exchange or breast lift to remove the redundant skin, reshape and tighten the remaining tissue, and reposition the nipple and areola, resulting in perkier and more youthful-looking breasts.