Breast implant removal, also called explant surgery or implant revision, takes a great deal of surgical skill and training. Done well, it should prioritize your safety and help restore the original shape of the breasts. Whether you want your implants out for medical reasons, aesthetic reasons, or simply because your goals have changed, the technique your surgeon uses matters.
That is especially true if you have suspected implant rupture or symptoms you believe are tied to your implants. For women with symptoms of implant rupture or health problems associated with their implants, it’s essential to be vigilant about the technique used for breast implant removal. Dr. Mussat uses advanced breast implant removal techniques designed to help protect each patient from further complications.
Dr. Florence Mussat is a Chicago plastic surgeon with extensive training and experience in performing breast implant removals. To learn more about her approach and whether explant surgery may be right for you, contact her Chicago office online or by calling (312) 751-9000 to schedule a consultation.
What Is a Breast Implant Capsule?
A capsule is a layer of scar tissue that gradually forms around a breast implant. It happens with all implants because it is the body’s natural response to a foreign object. Capsules also form around knee and hip implants. A capsule usually causes no trouble. The concern begins when it thickens or hardens, a condition called capsular contracture. A contracted capsule can cause discomfort or pain, change the shape of the breast, and press on the implant.
Click here to read an article on a successful breast implant removal from Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open.
Why Might I Consider a Breast Implant Removal in Chicago?
For some women, explant surgery is a matter of health and safety, especially when something goes wrong with an implant. For others, it is a personal choice. Complications with implants can include:
- Implant rupture or leakage, including silicone leaking into surrounding breast tissue
- Capsular contracture, when the scar tissue around the implant tightens or hardens
- Breast implant illness (BII) and other health concerns women connect to their implants
- Dissatisfaction with the look, size, or feel of the implants
- Changes in preference or life stages, including a desire for a more natural look
- Size adjustments through breast revision surgery
For more information about breast implant illness, please visit Healing Breast Implant Illness and Breast Implant Illness. (Note: These links are to external websites that are not provided or maintained by or in any way affiliated with Florence Mussat M.D., S.C. Florence Mussat M.D., S.C. does not guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information on these external websites.)
What Happens During Breast Implant Removal Surgery?
The goal of explant surgery is to remove the implant and, when appropriate, the surrounding capsule together as a single, untouched unit. When an implant has ruptured, the surgery also aims to remove silicone gel without spreading it further into the body. Removing the capsule completely helps keep the body from retaining scar tissue that may be contaminated, and careful removal of the implant helps prevent foreign material from being left behind. As a precautionary measure after the removal, Dr. Mussat might place a drain to further discourage the formation of another capsule and to help the breast regain its original shape.
Click here to read an article on silicone migration from intact saline breast implants from Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open.
During your surgery, Dr. Mussat repairs muscle and tissue as needed to help restore the original contours of the breast. After she removes the capsule and the implant, your breast tissue and muscles can gradually settle back to their original position on the chest wall for breasts that look and feel natural.
Explant Techniques: En Bloc, Total, and Partial Capsulectomy
Not every explant is the same. The right technique depends on the condition of your implants and capsules, your symptoms, and your goals.
- En bloc capsulectomy: The implant and its capsule are removed together as one intact specimen, without opening the capsule. This is often recommended for ruptured silicone implants, breast implant illness, and cases where there is concern about implant-associated cancers.
- Total capsulectomy: The entire capsule is removed, typically after the implant has been taken out first.
- Partial capsulectomy: Only the thickened or problem areas of the capsule are removed.
- Implant removal without capsulectomy: In select cases, a healthy, soft