What is breast implant removal?
Breast implant removal is surgery to take out breast implants. During the operation, Dr Lofts may also remove scar tissue or silicone from implant leaks. You may require a breast lift or fat grafting following removal.
You may want to remove old implants and replace them with new ones. Or you may no longer want implants at all. Sometimes, people need the surgery because they have had implant complications.
Why is breast implant removal done?
Breast implants don’t last a lifetime. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends that people with breast implants have them removed or replaced every 10 to 15 years. However, Dr Lofts may not recommend that you have them removed if you haven’t had any complications.
Some people opt for breast implant removal because the shape of their breasts has changed since their breast augmentation. Breast appearance may change due to:
- Age
- Breastfeeding
- Pregnancy
- Weight changes
Who needs to have breast implant removal?
In some cases, breast implant removal or replacement is medically necessary. The most common reason to remove implants is that scar tissue hardens around the implants. This hardening is known as capsular contracture. It can cause pain, discomfort or breasts that look different than they once did.
You may also want implant removal because of:
- Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare cancer that occurs in scar tissue around an implant. BIA-ALCL is associated with textured implants. You should check with your plastic surgeon to see if you’ve ever had textured implants placed.
- Calcium buildup around the implant.
- Leaking of the implant.
- Movement or shifting of the implant.
- Decision that you no longer want to have implants.