Breast implant removal
Breast implant removal surgery is a procedure where previously placed breast implants are taken out, typically to address medical, aesthetic, or personal reasons. Common reasons for breast implant removal include:
- Complications: These can include capsular contracture (scar tissue tightening around the implant), implant rupture, infection, or displacement of the implant.
- Aesthetic Concerns: Over time, some individuals may want to change the appearance of their breasts, opting for a smaller size or a more natural look.
- Health Considerations: Some people experience pain, discomfort, or concerns about breast implant illness, a collection of symptoms that some believe are related to their implants.
- Lifestyle Changes: Personal preference changes or shifts in lifestyle (such as increased physical activity) may lead to the desire to have implants removed.
The surgery can also include:
- Total removal: Taking out both the implants and the surrounding scar tissue (capsulectomy).
- Partial removal: Only the implants are removed, leaving the scar tissue intact.
- Replacement: Some people opt to have the old implants removed and new ones inserted.
- Breast lift (mastopexy): This may be done in conjunction to improve the shape of the breast after implant removal.
Recovery time depends on the complexity of the procedure and the individual’s health but generally takes several weeks for full healing
| Results | Permanent solution |
|---|---|
| Surgery time | 2-3 hours |
| Time off work | 7 - 14 days |
| Exercise | Must be limited for 6 weeks |
Our breast implant removal includes surgeons fee, hospital fee, general anaesthetic costs, compression garments and lifetime follow up care.
Some Medicare rebates and health fund covers may apply to this procedure.
The Surgery Process
The decision to undertake any type of elective surgery should be a well thought and long process. We do not recommend rushing into any procedures. Below is a guide on the surgery process and the risks involved.
The first step in finding out more about breast explant surgery is to schedule a private consultation. In this consultation, you will meet directly with your specialist plastic surgeon. This gives you an opportunity to discuss your concerns and get all of your questions answered about this procedure.
To book a surgery date you can contact our team after a face to face consultation has been completed. You must wait 7 days from the consultation to book a procedure.
During the consultation, your surgeon will delve into your medical background, inquiring about your medical history and any history of substance abuse, tobacco, or alcohol use. It’s essential to bring along a comprehensive list of all medications and supplements you are currently taking. The consultation includes a thorough examination of your complete and accurate medical history, where you’ll disclose any past surgeries, procedures, or complications you’ve encountered.
This detailed information equips your surgeon to make an informed decision about your general health and assess whether you are an ideal candidate for the procedure—fortunately, the majority of individuals meet the criteria for the intended procedure.
At the end of your consultation, your surgeon will make recommendations about the best course of action to take for your breast surgery to achieve the result you are after. Every patient is different, and results always vary. While we can look at your inspiration images, we cannot ever guarantee your post surgery results. You must take this into consideration before proceeding with breast surgery.
Once you’ve booked your surgery date, a pre surgery appointment will be scheduled 4 weeks prior to your date. This is your chance to meet with your surgeon again, ask any further questions, go over the surgery plan and take some images. This appointment ensures you’re well prepared for the upcoming surgery date.
During breast implant removal, your surgeon will make an incision in the inframammary fold to access the implant and capsule. If your implants were originally placed through this incision, the existing scar can often be reused without needing to extend it. If the implants were inserted via an areola incision, it may also be possible to use the same incision for access.
During the surgery, the pocket containing the implant and capsule is carefully dissected from the surrounding tissue and removed. Depending on your specific case, a partial or total capsulectomy will be performed. This will be thoroughly discussed during your consultation with your surgeon.
The surgery will be completed under general anaesthetic in one of our private hospitals. Some patients may need to stay overnight, your surgeon will advise if this is required during consultation.
Post-surgery, you will be given a support bra or elasticated bandage to minimise swelling and provide additional support during the healing process. In some cases, a small, temporary tube may be inserted to drain excess fluid or blood. The surgeon will provide specific instructions for recovery, covering areas such as:
-Tips for post-surgery breast care
-Follow-up appointments with the plastic surgeon
-Prescribed medications, whether applied topically or taken orally, to prevent infection and support healing
-Special care instructions for incisions and general health It is crucial to address any specific questions about your individual recovery period.
Some women opt to combine a breast lift with a breast augmentation procedure using implants, achieving both elevation and enlargement in a single surgery.
Breastfeeding difficulties, including reduced milk supply
Reduced effectiveness of breast cancer screening, since an implant may hide breast tissue (and tumours) during a mammogram
Movement of the implants from their original position
Further surgery to treat complications
Risks of anaesthesia including allergic reaction or potentially fatal cardiovascular complications such as heart attack
A blood clot in the deep veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis), which can move to the lungs (pulmonary embolus) or to the brain and may be life threatening
unsatisfied with surgery outcome
Surgical risks such as bleeding or infection
Fluid accumulation around the implant after surgery
Allergic reaction to suture materials, tape adhesive or other medical materials and lotions
Changes in breast and nipple sensation
Temporary or permanent areas of numbness
Wrinkling of the skin over the implant
Keloid, or lumpy scar tissue, which is pink, raised and irregularly shaped. These scars may be inflamed and itchy. There are several possible sites for the incision. Discuss this with your surgeon
Asymmetry (unevenness) of the breasts
Risk of general anaesthetic
Excessive firmness of the breast
Potential partial or total loss of nipple and areola
Allergic reaction to suture materials, tape adhesive or other medical materials and lotions
Skin discoloration, permanent pigmentation changes, swelling and bruising
Allergic reaction to medications
Breast Implant Illness
In recent years, there has been heightened attention to a non-specific disease labeled as “breast implant illness” (or “BII”) by many patients. This is not an actual medical diagnosis and does vary between women most likely due to genetic factors. This likely explains the very low incidence. This may encompass many diverse and unrelated systemic illnesses, in particular, illnesses that are commonly classified as auto-immune. Although there is no clear evidence that breast implants cause any of these disease processes, many patients have difficulty moving past the association.
Further, there is some thought that these symptoms may be associated with colonization of the implant with some type of bacteria, which may set up a sub-clinical infection of the implant space. Patients have reported the following symptoms:
- Numbness and tingling of the breast and extremities
- Headaches
- Malaise
- Feeling like they are in a ‘fog,’ memory difficulties
- Fertility issues/ menstrual changes
- Insomnia
- Muscle aches, joint pains, and breast pain have been described by patients.
Most patients who present with these types of issues (usually after a long and comprehensive evaluation by their primary care doctor that rules out other more likely and serious illnesses) often request to have their implants removed. They also commonly request to have their breast capsules removed at the same time. Many patients report improvement in their symptoms following surgery for removal, though this is not universal.
Dr. Wessels featured on 9NSW The Today Show ‘Breast Implant Illness’
Macquarie University Hospital (Macquarie University, NSW)
Double Bay Day Surgery (Double Bay, NSW)
Frequently Asked Questions
We regularly get asked about our procedures, so we have put together a couple of questions we get asked on a regular basis. If there is something else you would like to know, please get in touch!
No, we cannot make any guarantee that removing breast implants can relive patient s of illnesses. We ask patients to cross out all other possibilities before removing their breast implants.
This is really common for women to be concerned about the appearance of their breasts post explant. Dr Wessels regularly performs explant surgery in combination with a fat transfer and a breast lift.
Yes, in some cases this surgery is considered a medical procedure so your private health insurance may cover your hospital costs.
In some cases, Medicare rebates are available on this procedure.
Every year there are thousands of women who undergo breast augmentation surgery. Although relatively rare, there are many reasons that breast implant removal surgery becomes necessary. Breast implants don’t last a lifetime and will need to be replaced at some point even if there are no other problems. Most implant manufacturers identify that breast implants commonly have an implant life of between 10 and 15 years. Breast implant problems do exist and have a variety of causes, although risk factors have diminished greatly over the past 20 years. Still, over 23,000 women had their implants removed in 2013.