Home » Plastic Surgery Procedures » Breast Implant Removal

Breast implant removal (also called breast explant surgery) may be considered for a variety of reasons. Some who had a breast augmentation when young find after aging, lifestyle changes such as pregnancy or weight change, that their breasts are now larger or different shape than they desire. Often during and after menopause breast size will increase even when weight remains stable. Some women will find that after weight loss from exercise or other issues, that breasts are now too large for comfort with current implants or not in keeping with their age or style preference.

Many of these women wish to be evaluated for breast implant exchange or removal. The concerns with implants are removed often are: “how deflated will I look,” “how will my clothing fit,” “how will my partner feel about my change,” and “will I need or have to have additional surgery to address drooping or sagging or uneven breast, and can this be safely and reliably done.”

These questions reflect real and legitimate concerns and can be addressed during a breast consultation. During the consultation, your breast will be examined for implant positioning, size, and soft tissue covering. Probable volume and contour changes anticipated after removing implants will be estimated and reviewed, as will the potential need for additional surgical procedures.

Let’s explore some reasons why women will consider removing their existing breast implants.

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Change in Breast Shape

Breast implant extraction may be considered when shape changes have occurred over time that are either unpleasing or uncomfortable. Some women with implants will see changes with aging, after weight fluctuations, and after pregnancy that will result in asymmetry, misshapen breast, or breasts that appear unbalanced. Even soft implants that were appropriately placed might cause discomfort or visual concern with changes in lifestyle and aging.

Some women indicate that they have always felt their implants were not appropriately matched to their body from the beginning or noted postoperative asymmetry from the beginning, and either desire breast revision or implant removal. In many cases getting rid of the implants may result in a return to a more natural-looking breast.

During the consultation, we will examine your breast and implant position size and soft tissue characteristics will be assessed and discussed as well as possible volume and contour changes anticipated following removal of your implants. Some women may consider a breast lift as well at the time of removal or as a secondary operation depending upon desire after healing. It is not uncommon for women to see improvement in breast contour and skin consistency within several months following implant removal.

Hard Breasts (Capsular Contraction)

A known complication of breast implant placement is the occurrence of capsular contraction. All breast implants placed in the body become surrounded by a layer of tissue called a capsule. This is the body’s natural response to an implant. In most women this capsule lining is thin. Most breast capsules formed may not significantly change over the life of the implants. However, some women will find that one or both breast may become firm for hard overtime often associated with a change in shape. This hardness can occur quite rapidly and be noticeable over days or weeks. In some women, the tightening of the capsules may be so gradual that they may not be able to remember when their breast first became firm, hard, or misshapen.

Capsular contraction is believed to occur in some women as a result of a reaction to the natural bacteria within the breast tissue that stimulate response causing the capsule tissue to contract. These are not considered infections and treatment with antibiotics does not result in resolution. Capsular contraction is as well often associated with ruptured implants, particularly when significant chronic inflammatory changes occur. Capsules, when tightened, may become thickened or remain thin and still cause implant shape change. Capsular contraction can occur with saline or silicone implants, textured or smooth implants, and with implants placed above or below the muscle.

Many patients will complain of pain, discomfort, soreness, or interference with physical or sexual activity when a capsular contraction occurs. The capsule can adhere to the surrounding muscle and breast tissue and can cause interference during movement and result in nerve inflammation. Patients may experience discomfort in the chest, shoulder, rib, and back, numbness, tightness, heaviness, or nonspecific irritation from capsular contractures. Some will be generally embarrassed to give someone a hug because their breasts just feel too hard.

Encapsulated Breast Implant

  • Breast Implant Age: 28 years
  • Breast Implant Type: Saline
  • Breast Implant Size: Unknown
  • Breast Implant Placement: Subglandular
  • Reason for Explant Surgery: Breast implant age, bilateral hardening of breasts, pain, and discomfort
  • Surgery Performed: Bilateral breast implant removal and bilateral capsulectomy, enbloc
Encapsulated Breast Implant

Treatment Options for Capsular Contraction

Some women may decide to have implants removed after developing a capsular contraction or may wish to have a revision and replacement of the implants. Current studies have shown that implants should be removed and if replaced after capsule removal, brand new implants should be used. Keeping the original implants is not recommended since the implant surface has adherent bacteria called a biofilm.

In most cases, a capsulectomy (the surgical removal of the capsule) is performed at the time of implant replacement to improve the likelihood of soft breast and potentially reduce the recurrence rate of the capsular contraction. Removal of the capsule generally results in a dramatic breast shape change. These options, however, do not ensure that a capsular contraction will not recur, and patients that have had a contraction may be at significantly higher risk of subsequent capsular contractions.

During the consultation implant positioning, size, capsular contracture severity, and soft tissue characteristics will be assessed to estimate expected postoperative appearance. Many symptoms may resolve quickly after implant and capsule removal. Capsules removed are typically

Ruptured or Leaking Breast Implants

Breast implant should be removed and this is recommended when evidence of rupture or leak is encountered. Most commonly patients will have a routine mammogram that is suggestive of a rupture or may have an MRI or ultrasound test that is suggestive of a rupture or leak. A ruptured implant is considered and mechanical failure of the implant with a break in the silicone lining of the implant. If the implants are saline, the breast will often become much smaller within one to several days as the saline is absorbed by the surrounding tissue.

Many women will experience some soreness or discomfort from mild inflammation caused by this process. In the distant past, some surgeons were known to add antibiotics or soap solutions such as Betadine to the saline implants when filled, and these patients may experience more inflammation during rupture.

When the implants are silicone gel-filled, any rupture of the implant may allow the gel to leak into the capsule. Older implants were constructed with less cohesive (sticky) gel that acted more like a thick sticky liquid. The most recent implants are made using cohesive gel technology that helps restrict leakage even with implant rupture.

Implants in some cases may be ruptured for years before a patient experiences any shape changes and in some women, a ruptured implant may not result in a dramatic shape change.

Some women will develop significant inflammation following implant rupture. This will often result in the thickening of the capsule around the implant and in many women long term ruptures may result in calcification of the capsule. Calcification results in changes of the visible lining of the capsule where calcified areas may resembling eggshell fragments. These changes are always associated with some inflammation of the surrounding capsular tissue. When implants are removed for any reason and calcification is encountered, a capsulectomy is performed, and the capsules are sent for pathologic evaluation, and patients receive a written report of findings from the pathologist.

Concerns for General Health

There are a number of women who desire to have implant removal because of concern that the implants are impacting their general health. Many studies have been done in the US and internationally indicating difficulty in relating implants to specific medical conditions. However, there are a number of women who do not do well with breast implants. Some women will voice concern within a year of placement of implants of general medical and health changes. Many will present years later with concerns regarding breast implants and general health. Some women may have localized discomfort and visible changes. The other will have no visible breast changes or local pain or discomfort and may have a normal breast exam and still experience other health issues. Patients may notice a gradual onset of new symptoms relating to some specific condition or may just generally not feeling well.

Unexplained Symptoms and Poor Health

Women who present to our office for evaluation for removing breast implants are often sent by their general practitioner, rheumatologist, health consultant, or concerned friend. Some women have been evaluated by other surgeons who may either dismiss their symptoms of concern or recommend extreme solutions for treatment.

It is not possible to accurately predict with any single woman with implants who is experiencing other medical problems if removal of implants alone will positively impact their health. However, many women will report significant and often dramatic improvement in concerns soon after implant removal.

Symptoms can range from general fatigue to rashes, digestive issues, and a wide variety of issues often seen in autoimmune complexes. The most common complaints are extreme fatigue that simply does not resolve with “adequate” rest. Women that have a history of enjoying being physically active find that instead of being energized after exercise, more rest is required. Hair loss, allergies, skin changes that don’t seem to respond to treatment even with the best dermatologic evaluation are common as well. Joint pains that seem to migrate, sleep disturbance, and a range of other symptoms have been reported as well.

Most if not nearly all women describe a similar story, they have been to their family practice doctor, and or gynecologist who could find no objective lab evidence, and have often spent additional time and resources on more extensive labs, test, x-rays, scans, all without a diagnosis. This at a minimum leads to frustration, unresolved concern, and in some cases depression.

The decision to take out implants is neither easy and can be agonizing particularly trading aesthetic concerns for uncertainty on if “I will be better”. However many of these women report improvement or resolution of specific complaints often very soon after implant and capsule removal.

Women have seen rashes resolve, hair growth resume, allergies subside, pain resolves, all beyond what would be expected by placebo alone. There are some who as well report such significant improvement that they can reduce or eliminate other medications that they have been taking often for years to treat symptoms.

Surgical Options for Breast Implant Extraction

In most cases, when women present for evaluation for implant removal who have concerns with health issues, the general recommendations include implant removal and capsulectomy. The capsule is the tissue that your body makes that surrounds the implant. This is the “normal” reaction to foreign objects placed in the body. This tissue is living tissue with a vascular supply (blood supply). Many patients who present desiring to take out their implants for other reasons may often undergo capsule removal as well. Additional operations such as lymph node removal are generally not recommended. These operations carry additional long term and significant risk and are not considered appropriate unless other issues are documented as being suspected as health concerns. Limiting surgery to the safest least invasive method is often the best way to help restore prior breast health.

Modified “En Bloc” Implant Removal (Total Capsulectomy with Implant Removal)

Some women may be a candidate for “en bloc” implant capsule removal. This technique involves removing the implant with the surrounding lining as a single unit. In order to successfully achieve this result a significantly larger incision is required. Patients realize that when implants are first place the incisions may be quite short often 4 cm or less. However, removal of an implant cannot be done through the same incision size and if an “en bloc” resection is to be performed, and incisions can be as long as 8 or more centimeters. The incision is usually in the inframammary crease which is the fold under the breast and may include the original incision if the implant was placed through the site.

Implants placed above the muscle may be most successfully removed “en bloc”. Implants placed below the muscle may be removed “en bloc” if the capsules are significantly thick to allow for dissection without disturbing surrounding normal tissue. Some implant capsules behind the implant that is adjacent to the ribs will be so thin that “en bloc” resection may cause damage to ribs and muscle depending upon intraoperative findings.

The potential advantage of “en bloc” resection is that it helps control the removal of ruptured gel and calcified tissue, potential biofilm from bacteria, and other inflammatory components during implant and capsule removal. Implant removal alone will not result in reliable capsule resolution or disappearance.

Enbloc Breast Implant Removal  & Exchange

  • Reason: Breast Implant Capsulectomy
  • Patient Age: 55 years old
  • Breast Implant Size: 300CC
  • Breast Implant Age: 20 years
  • Breast Implant Type: Textured Silicone
Breast Implant Capsule After Implant Excision

A consultation is required to evaluate your potential for performing and block resection. It is not accurate to state that all implants can be removed safely by “en bloc” resection and the pros and cons should be seriously reviewed during your exam to determine realistic options and expectations.

Mastopexy After Removal of Implants

We have treated women for decades that have had breast implants placed at one time in their life and decided later to return to a more natural orientation. The reality is that anyone who has breast implants at some point will need implant removal. The decision is then to address the extra skin and soft tissue, or replace the volume with another device or method.

Larger breasts often become more droopy after removing implants. These clients benefit from a breast lift (mastopexy).

Breast lifts also work well for small breast volume women who are often most concerned and may report “traumatized” by the thought of removal of implants when it seems that the “only” tissue they have implants. A breast lift in these cases can effectively reduce the skin laxity to “repackage” the remaining breast tissue optimizing the volume in a “smaller” package to improve appearance.

Some women have minimal concern regarding appearance or may decide to have a breast lift at a later date. Fat grafting can be effective in patients that have dimpling, residual asymmetry, and need for “modest” volume. But this should be done by those with years of experience and for specific indications.

Contact us at 678.566.7200 to meet with Dr. Rudderman in our Alpharetta office or Midtown Atlanta office.

Real Patient Reviews

The staff is wonderful! I was grateful for Dr. Rudderman’s honesty regarding the surgery and outcome, and I appreciated his recommendations for me based on my goals rather than just being willing to do whatever I asked for. I’m so glad I took his advice.
Dr. Rudderman did a great job at removal and reconstruction. I couldn’t be more pleased with my results! He was very detailed in making sure I had the best outcome.
Breast explant well and I have full sensation! I look exactly as had hoped for. Also had liposuction under arms, mini tummy tuck and liposuction of thighs. Very pleased with all procedures and the professionalism of everyone in the practice. Dr. Rudderman is very kind and listened to my every concern. Never promised me perfection but improved my previously botched body to something I can feel proud of.

Atlanta Woman Shares Decision To Remove Her Breast Implants

Media from Fox 5 in Atlanta.

Written and reviewed by:

This article was written by Dr. Randy Rudderman, who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (1994). He practices medicine at his offices in Alpharetta and Atlanta.
Learn more about Dr. Rudderman, his medical training, and credentials.

Should I Remove My Breast Implants?

Some decisions seem quite obvious: hard breast, breast pain or discomfort with exercise, droop, feeling that “my breast are under my arms” or end up there when reclining, capsular contractions that recur, asymmetry, excessive size for comfort physically or psychologically. Some women are simply “tired of having breast implants”.

There are millions of women that love their breast with implants, have no symptoms of concern, and no issues with health. Then there are those who have what they describe as “great looking and feeling breast” with implants but have unexplained health concerns, some so severe that now daily life is effected.

These are the difficult decisions, requiring long and thoughtful consultations, and careful deliberation and reflection before selecting surgery as an option. Managing risk and expectations can be effectively and safely done with good patient communication and excellent staff and facility options. Being nervous before surgery is expected, being anxious that you have not made the best choice of surgery or surgeon means you need more time, better education, and a clearer path to health.

Breast Implant Removal Frequently Asked Questions

Search our list of FAQs for the answers you are looking for.

Patients who have breast implants who desire a reduction in volume, a shape change, who have experienced contour issues that can occur with implants such as displacement, capsular contracture, who are concerned regarding the age and integrity of the implants, who feel their implants are ruptured, or who have concerns regarding possible health issues with implants, may present for breast implant removal.ow the pectoral chest muscle to achieve a natural aesthetic outcome and may be placed above the muscle in patients depending on their desires and clinical exam.

Breast explant surgery can be performed most commonly through an incision along the breast fold (the inframammary crease). The most technical aspect of the surgery is removal of the capsule (lining around the implant) and the approach to restoration of the soft tissue in the area. You should consider using a surgeon with experience and skilled in delicate technique to allow for the least impact on your tissue during surgery to facilitate the best conditions for healing. The most accurate pre operative consultations can best prepare you for your post surgical appearance and potential need for any additional revisional surgery.

Your appearance after surgery will depend significantly on how much of your current breast volume is tissue vs. implant. Your cup size generally will be similar to your cup size before implants were placed. However, women who had had several pregnancies may have less OR more breast tissue than at the time of augmentation. Women who are near or through menopause may have experienced volume changes in breast, more commonly larger than smaller. Patients who have had gradual weight gain may as well have more native breast volume. And removal of implants placed above vs. below the muscle can impact the shape after surgery. All of these factors will be discussed during your consultation so that you can have a reasonable idea of possible outcomes before your breast implant removal surgery.

Yes, he performs all of his patient’s surgeries. Many surgeons use assistants to suture or perform part of the operations. Dr. Rudderman performs the entire operation on every patient. You should ask during any consultation to know who will be your operating surgeon.

Breast lift operations are associated with specific benefits and risks. The greatest risk are related to blood supply to the tissue including skin and nipple/areolar area. These risks are very low in patients without prior surgery, and may be greater in patients with prior implants, particularly those with implants above the muscle. Those with very little natural volume and implants above the muscle may need to consider the option of a second operation for a lift to allow for healing to occur and potentially reduce risk of postoperative issues. These risks will be fully evaluated and discussed for each individual during the consultation. Many patients with implants currently under the muscle are often better candidates for a breast lift at the time of implant removal. Like most issues in surgery, there is not an all or none answer for this option.

Many patients will have some asymmetry after surgery, and most are so pleased in general that they desire no additional treatment. Some will decide that they may wish to have a breast lift or some modification of a breast lift to improve contour. In patients that have areas of dimpling or irregularities related to prior surgery, some patients may be a candidate for fat grafting, a procedure where your own tissue can be transferred to restore volume, improve contour, and reduce asymmetry.

Fat grafting or fat transfer is a procedure used to remove fat from one area of the body and place it in another area to increase volume, change contour, fill in a defect or depression, or restore shape. Fat grafting can be performed in breast to adjust volume, and to improve contour in patients that have undergone breast implant removal, breast reconstruction, or breast radiation.

All surgeries involve some discomfort. Dr. Rudderman is highly skilled and uses advanced techniques and refined instruments that minimize comfort during his surgical procedures. Many patients will take either minimal pain medications for several days and/or Tylenol.

A capsulectomy (surgical removal of the tissue lining around your implant) is performed in effectively all operations with implant removal. If implants are removed without removal of the capsule, the capsule will persist indefinitely, and may scar together, but will not disappear. Retained capsuled may occasionally become a site for seroma (fluid collection) if retained.

All capsules removed during surgery are sent to the Northside Hospital Pathology department for microscopic evaluation, and a report is generated for your medical record with findings noted. It is very rare for any neoplasm (cancer) to be related with capsule removal.

You will need to avoid all rigorous, strenuous activities for a few weeks until healing is adequate and Dr. Rudderman tells you it’s ok. We will see you frequently during your healing process to help you return to your normal activity as soon as possible. Exercise can be an important part or recovery, and we follow your recovery closely to help you reach your goals.

Dr. Rudderman’s patients most often return to desk jobs in about 4 days. Most operations for implant removal can be performed on Thursday with return to work on Monday. If drains are placed, they usually can be removed in 1-4 days as well. He can give you a time frame specific to you during your consultation.

Yes. All cases are supervised a Board Certified medical doctor who has specialized in anesthesiology.

All of our surgeries are performed in a fully accredited surgery facility using state of the art technologies and a world-class staff with all the comfort and safety factors as a hospital surgery suite.

Breast Implant Removal surgeries are usually considered to be cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance. There may be exceptions so you should check directly with your provider for this answer.

Yes. Financing is available today for all the breast procedures Dr. Rudderman performs. Please check in our business office for information about it.

You will need someone to drive you to your surgery, stay there and then drive you home and stay with you overnight after you have had anesthesia. Dr. Rudderman will advise you based on what you have had done and especially if you have small children. Your follow-up visit will usually be within 24 hours, and you will generally need to have someone drive you to this appointment.