Many women worry about the benefits of breast implant removal. There are many reasons why you may choose to have your implants removed. These include treating capsular contracture and reducing pain, as well as eliminating the risk of a rare type of cancer or changing the size (or model) of implants. Here you will find information on the benefits that can come from removing your implants.
Many women decide to undergo a breast augmentation procedure. However, many women are not aware that it is possible for their implants to rupture or leak silicone gel into the body. If an implant leaks, there can be consequences including pain and illness.
There are many medical benefits to explant surgery including:
Visually, explant surgery allows you to go back to your original size breast. If you have large implants, you may also choose to lift the breast to correct any loose breast tissue. The medical benefits of explant surgery, in detail, include:
Capsular contracture is a common but often misunderstood complication. It can cause significant pain and discomfort as well as changes in the shape, feel and symmetry of the breast(s).
There are many reasons why capsular contracture occurs. It could be due to infection or trauma that leads to inflammation around implant pockets. In some cases, there may be no obvious reason for developing this condition.
Explant surgery treats capsular contracture by removing scar tissue from around the implant at the time of implant removal. This reduces symptoms such as severe tightness, hardness and pain associated with implants. The result is a more natural look and feel of the breasts without any hardness or pain.
Explants remove any possibility for contracture to recur. This is because when the implants are removed there is no foreign body in the breast to stimulate scar formation around it. This reduces pain and discomfort significantly.
If you decide to have breast implant replacement, there is a chance that the condition may recur. This is a risk with all breast implants. It is important that you are aware of this before making your decision.
If you have capsular contracture, you may find that your implants are painful. In some cases, this contracture can be so hard that you cannot touch the breasts at all without pain. This is why explant surgery may be the best option for you.
If you have chosen large implants, you may also experience back or neck pain due to the weight of the implants. Removing your implants can reduce pain felt in the back.
Heavy implants can also cause postural issues, leading to head, neck and back pain. Removing your breast implants can help you feel better in the long run by improving posture.
Another reason you may choose to have breast implant removal is if you worry about getting BIA-ALCL. This is a rare type of lymphoma that can develop around breast implants. The risk is low and is specific to implants with a textured surface.
Removing textured breast implants removes the risk of developing this condition. If you decide to replace your implants with smooth implants, this risk is also eliminated.
Breast Implant Illness (BII) is a condition that has no specific cause, however, symptoms of this condition mimic fibromyalgia and autoimmune disorders.
Symptoms of BII may include chronic fatigue, dizziness, brain fog or pain in your ribcage area. Having breast implant removal surgery may help reduce these symptoms.
Many patients have symptoms that they believe are from their breast implants. Post-surgery, after removing their implants, the symptoms usually improve.
If you are unhappy with your breast size, removing your implants allows you to change their size. Options include:
Changing your implant size is a cosmetic benefit of implant removal. Yet, upgrading to newer implants can have medical benefits in the long run. Another benefit of removing your implants is that it allows for proper testing of the breast tissue. This can help to diagnose any potential issues, such as growths in the breast pocket. These scans can be useful when testing for breast cancer.
When Dr Doyle explants breast implants, he always uses the En Bloc method. This means that the breast implant and scar tissue come out as a whole. This way, not only is the implant removed but also all the scar tissue that has formed around it.
Some surgeons believe that it is not harmful to leave the capsule in the breast. Dr Doyle believes that the capsules should be removed at the time of implant removal, particularly in those ladies with textured implants.
In fact, recent clinical evidence suggests that uneventful resolution is not always the case. Problems may arise from retained capsules after the removal of the implant. The capsule may cause:
It may also contain implant-related silicone, which can have further health complications. To avoid complications from breast capsules, a total capsulectomy is best. This is why you should always get breast implant removal with a Specialist Plastic Surgeon.
If your implants need to be removed because of a medical concern, Private Health Insurance may help. Typically Private Health Insurance will assist with explant surgery if you qualify for a Medicare item number. If you get an item number, Medicare will provide a small rebate for your surgery. Your health insurance will then assist with some of the out of pocket costs such as Hospital fees.
In summary, explanting your breast implants brings many medical benefits. This is not to say that every woman who has implants should consider removal. Many women are happy with their implants for extended periods of time, but if you suffer complications with your implants, explant surgery may be a good option for you.
If you have any questions about breast implant removal or cosmetic surgery, please feel free to contact Dr Mark Doyle, Specialist Plastic Surgeon.
Dr Mark Doyle is a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon with over 30 years of experience performing breast, body, face and nose surgery. He has completed all required training and only carries out approved surgical practices. There are NO undertrained doctors or cosmetic doctors acting as surgeons at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery.