If you have had breast implants and decided you no longer want them, whether for personal or medical reasons, or they need replacing, experts can surgically remove them from you.
Breast implants don’t last forever, and they should be replaced every 10-15 years to maintain breast health. One of the main reasons breast implants need to be removed or replaced is that scar tissue can harden around implants. This is known as capsular contracture and can cause pain, discomfort and even change the appearance of the implants.
Breast implant removal may also be needed due to:
- leaking of the breast implant
- a buildup of calcium deposits around the implant
- autoimmune response to the implant
- necrosis or tissue death around the implant
- pain related to the implants
- shifting or movement of one or both implants
Whatever the reason for your implant removal surgery, the experts at MyBreast are here to help.
What does the procedure involve?
First, you’ll meet your surgeon for a consultation to discuss the desired outcome of the surgery. You’ll receive instructions on preparing for your surgery, such as when to refrain from eating and drinking.
Surgery can be a cause for anxiety- even for a procedure as straightforward as this one. That’s why the My breast experts will be there for you every step of the way. The surgical process is likely to go like this:-
- Anaesthesia is administered;
- An incision will be made either along the inframammary fold (under the breast) or around the areola. Often, your plastic surgeon can use the original incision from your augmentation procedure to minimize scarring;
- The breast implants are removed from the breast capsule, a “pocket” made of fibrous scar tissue the body creates around a foreign material. Often, the capsule is removed too.
- The incisions are closed and covered as needed; then, you’ll recover as the anaesthesia wears off.
After your surgery
Once the anaesthesia wears off, a medical staff member will check your vital signs, pain levels, and dressing. A doctor will let you know when you can be discharged; depending on how much pain you’re experiencing, this could be within two days.
Before you can leave home, a medical professional will give you discharge instructions such as:-
- what you can expect in terms of recovery
- how to care for your incision sites (and drains, if you have them)
- how to safely bathe
- what you can do to help relieve any pain
- when to call your doctor regarding potential complications
- how long you should wait before resuming your daily activities
It’s recommended you take at least a week off work to heal, and you’ll gradually be able to resume regular activity, including exercise, within six weeks. It’s a good idea to wear loose clothing while your wounds heal.
Whilst you will be able to return to normal shortly after your surgery, it may be a while before you see any substantial results. In most cases, it can take up to a year for all tissues to finally heal, and you can expect swelling and fluctuations to your breast size and shape even after your incisions have fully healed.
