Believe it or not, there are reasons women may want to opt for breast implant removal. Often times it’s because of complications like the implants leaking or scar tissue building up around the implant – or to put new implants (which may be the same size/style or completely different) in.
The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery says that in 2003, roughly 235,000 women has breast implants put in, and 40,000 had them taken out. This procedure is widely known as explantation (the opposite of implantation).
How The Procedure Happens
Removals are usually done with the patient sedated with general anesthesia or local anesthesia in combination with IV sedation. It’s a relatively short procedure, taking about half and hour or a little longer to complete.
Usually it only requires on outpatient surgical center. The costs range between $1000 and $4000 on average.
The incision will be placed in the fold directly under the breast or through/directly next to the nipple. If the implant is a silicone one, the whole implant will need to come out intact. If it’s a saline implant, the surgeon may choose to deflate the implant first for easier removal.
The recovery from this type of procedure is usually fairly quick. Many women find that after having implants removed they can return to much of their normal (but not strenuous) activities within a few days, and resume full activity in 2 or 3 weeks. However, just because you can return to full activity in less than a month that doesn’t mean you are fully recovered. The body actually takes months to fully heal, and since this is surgery we’re dealing with, there is a chance that complications (infection, bleeding, loss on sensation) will exist.
Issues After Breast Implant Removal
Removing the implants and getting rid of the problem (if there was one to begin with) like capsular contraction or implant leakage is all well and good, but some women may find that they’re unprepared for such a big change in their body.
Naturally, if you don’t replace your implants, you’ll be left with the same size breasts that you came in with before surgery. In some cases, especially with very large implants, the breasts may look completely different than even before the surgery. This is because large implants can leave you with a deformity of the chest wall and tissue atrophy. Sagging skin may also be apparent since there isn’t an implant to fill the stretched out skin that the implant caused.
This type of change can really make some women feel emotionally upset. Some deal with similar feelings as mastectomy causes in others. It’s important to understand your feelings, and if you need help managing them, please contact your doctor or a trained professional to help you through this difficult time.
