Breast Implant Removal
Key Takeaways
Breast implant removal, or explant surgery, focuses on safety and function first, with aesthetics carefully planned based on your anatomy and goals.
Common reasons for explant surgery include shifting aesthetic preferences, discomfort, implant issues, and concerns related to breast implant illness or cancer treatment.
Surgical options range from simple implant removal to capsulectomy and breast lift or fat grafting, and the right approach depends on clear medical indications.
Recovery usually takes several weeks, with activity limits and follow-up care that support healing, comfort, and long-term breast health.
Mirror Plastic Surgery offers personalized, low-volume care for explant surgery with Dr. Akash, and you can schedule a consultation here.
Overview of Breast Implant Removal (Explant) Surgery
Breast implant removal, or explant surgery, is a procedure that removes breast implants and sometimes the surrounding scar tissue. The goal is to improve health, comfort, and breast appearance while protecting long-term function and safety. The procedure can help restore a more natural breast shape, relieve discomfort, and address concerns related to implant complications or changing preferences.
Many people choose explant surgery due to changing aesthetic goals, interest in a more natural look, body changes over time, physical discomfort, or concerns about breast implant illness. Explant surgery offers a structured way to adjust or remove implants while maintaining breast health and function.
Why Choose Mirror Plastic Surgery for Breast Implant Removal?
Mirror Plastic Surgery follows a concierge-style model that limits surgery volume so the team can focus on one to two patients per day. This approach supports careful planning, detailed surgery, and close follow-up.
Care is guided by a clear priority order: safety first, function second, and aesthetics third. The team uses evidence-based planning, in-office ultrasound when appropriate, and accredited surgery centers with board-certified physician anesthesiologists. This structure helps lower complication risk and supports predictable outcomes.
To explore options with a focused, individualized approach, you can book an appointment with Dr. Akash.
Meet Dr. Akash: Focused Expertise in Breast Implant Removal
Dr. Akash combines training from Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins, and an aesthetic surgery fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. His background in medical innovation at Stanford University keeps his technique current and detail-oriented. He has testified before the FDA on breast implant safety and serves on advisory boards for medical technology companies such as Motiva and Tiger Aesthetics.
His approach emphasizes education, clear discussion of risks and benefits, and realistic expectations so you understand your specific options for implant removal and breast reshaping.
Understanding Breast Implant Removal: Procedure Details
Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Implant Removal?
Good candidates include people with medical or cosmetic concerns about their implants. Medical reasons can include capsular contracture, rupture, breast cancer, interference with cancer treatment, or suspected autoimmune or implant-related reactions. Cosmetic reasons can include dissatisfaction with breast size or shape, or changes from pregnancy, weight shifts, or aging.
Breast implants are not lifetime devices, and many people will need removal or exchange at roughly 10-15 year intervals, although timing depends on symptoms, imaging, and personal goals.
Surgical Approaches: Implant Removal and Capsulectomy
Implant removal can involve the implant alone or the implant plus part or all of the surrounding capsule. Simple removal takes out the implant and leaves most capsule tissue in place. Capsulectomy removes some or all of the capsule.
Current guidance identifies capsular malignancy as the only absolute indication for en bloc capsulectomy. Relative indications include capsular contracture, ruptured gel implants, and some textured implants. Dr. Akash recommends the least invasive approach that safely addresses your symptoms and imaging findings.
Adjunctive Procedures for Aesthetic Restoration
Some breasts look deflated or saggy after implant removal, especially after large or long-standing implants. Additional procedures can improve shape and balance.
Breast lift to tighten skin and reposition the nipple
Fat grafting to add volume and soften contour
Breast reduction or tissue reshaping when native tissue is heavy or stretched
Final breast appearance depends on your tissue, skin quality, implant size, and time in place, so adjunctive procedures are often part of a complete plan.
Preparing for Your Explant Surgery
The Mirror Plastic Surgery Consultation Process
The consultation usually lasts about an hour and includes a detailed review of your medical history, implant records when available, symptoms, and goals. Dr. Akash performs a focused physical exam and may recommend imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI, to evaluate implant integrity and capsule characteristics.
This information shapes a customized plan that can include simple implant removal, capsulectomy, and lift or fat grafting when appropriate. You receive clear explanations of expected scars, recovery, and realistic outcomes.
Pre-Operative Instructions and Lifestyle Planning
Preparation often includes adjusting medications that affect bleeding, stopping nicotine use, and planning for help at home after surgery. Nutrition, sleep, and stress management also support healing.
The FDA recommends periodic MRI screening for silicone implants to detect silent rupture. Abnormal imaging can influence whether a capsulectomy or a different incision pattern is recommended.
Recovery After Breast Implant Removal
Post-Operative Care and Healing Timeline
Most patients go home the same day with detailed instructions. Light daily activities usually resume within a few days. Many people return to desk work within one to two weeks. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise often wait four to six weeks, depending on the extent of surgery.
Follow-up visits allow Dr. Akash to monitor incision healing, manage dressings or drains when used, and guide your return to normal activities. The team remains available for questions about symptoms or concerns between visits.
Managing Activity, Discomfort, and Scars
Initial restrictions protect your chest and incisions. These often include avoiding overhead reaching, lifting more than a set weight, high-impact exercise, and swimming until cleared.
Pain control may combine prescription medication for the first few days with a transition to over-the-counter options. Scar care instructions, such as gentle massage or topical products when appropriate, help support a smoother final result.
Important Considerations and Common Misconceptions
Many people assume that complete capsulectomy is always required for symptom relief. Current peer-reviewed data do not show that full capsulectomy is necessary for improvement in breast implant illness symptoms when no other indication exists. Another misconception is that all implants must be removed at a certain age, when in reality decisions should be based on symptoms, imaging, and personal preference.
It is important to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who offers enough time for a full assessment and clear explanation of options. Dr. Akash distinguishes between procedures that are medically necessary and those based mainly on preference so you can make informed decisions.
For a detailed evaluation of your situation and goals, you can book an appointment with Dr. Akash.
Cost of Breast Implant Removal at Mirror Plastic Surgery
Pricing depends on several factors, including the type of implant removal, the need for capsulectomy, and whether procedures like breast lift or fat grafting are added. Your anatomy, prior surgeries, and health history also influence complexity and cost.
During consultation, Dr. Akash outlines recommended procedures and provides a transparent cost estimate so you can plan with clear information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Implant Removal
Are breast implants meant to last a lifetime?
Breast implants are not designed as lifetime devices. Many people need revision, removal, or replacement within 10-20 years, or sooner if problems arise. Regular follow-up with a board-certified plastic surgeon helps identify the right time for any intervention based on symptoms, imaging, and personal goals.
What is the difference between a total capsulectomy and an en bloc capsulectomy?
Total capsulectomy removes the entire capsule, sometimes in pieces. En bloc capsulectomy removes the implant and capsule together as one unit. En bloc removal is absolutely required for capsular malignancy and is selectively used in other situations. For many patients, implant removal with or without partial capsulectomy is sufficient, and the plan should match specific medical findings rather than a one-size-fits-all rule.
Will my breasts look natural after implant removal?
Post-explant appearance depends on natural tissue volume, skin elasticity, implant size, and how long the implants were in place. Some people have minimal changes, while others notice deflation or sagging. A lift, fat grafting, or tissue reshaping can often improve contour and create a natural look. During consultation, Dr. Akash reviews your anatomy and outlines realistic expectations and options.
Is Breast Implant Illness (BII) a medically recognized condition?
Breast Implant Illness describes a group of symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain, and brain fog, that some patients associate with implants. There is no single test or universally accepted diagnostic criterion, so BII remains a diagnosis of exclusion. A thorough evaluation to rule out other causes is important. Some patients report symptom improvement after explant surgery, and ongoing research continues to study possible connections.
What are the risks associated with breast implant removal?
Risks can include bleeding, infection, delayed wound healing, changes in nipple or breast sensation, contour irregularities, asymmetry, and fluid collection. When fat grafting is added, there is a small risk of fat necrosis. Some patients may need revision surgery for aesthetic refinement or to address complications. Dr. Akash reviews these risks in detail so you can give informed consent.
Schedule Your Breast Implant Removal Consultation Today
Choosing breast implant removal is a personal decision that benefits from expert, individualized guidance. Mirror Plastic Surgery in the St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay area provides focused explant care with attention to safety, function, and natural-looking results.
You can book an appointment with Dr. Akash to discuss your concerns, review your implants, and build a treatment plan that fits your goals.
Address: 780 4th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: 727-361-6515
Email: hello@mirrorplasticsurgery.com
*Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person. Editorial content, before and after images, and patient testimonials do not constitute a guarantee of specific results.