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Posted June 26, 2020 in Breast Implant Removal

Do I Need My Breast Implants Removed?

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More women choose to undergo a breast augmentation than any other type of plastic surgery procedure in the United States. While there are no signs of this popularity slowing down, some women do change their minds after the procedure. There are many reasons why women would question their implants. Luckily, there are many options they can take to remove their implants.

Plastic surgeon holding a breast implant in front of patient.

Why Do Women Choose to Remove Their Breast Implants?

While some women may question why a woman would want to remove their implants, others find that larger breasts are no longer for them. Even celebrities like Chrissy Teigen have decided to make that choice, selecting to remove her breast implants to increase her personal comfort.  There are various reasons why women choose to remove their breast implants. Some of the most common include:

Lifestyle Changes

A woman’s lifestyle may change over time, and her breast implants may not suit her new life story. For example, she may become passionate about a sport where her breast implants interfere.

Self-Image Changes

A shift in self-image can spur a woman’s decision to remove her breast implants. It’s not uncommon for women who wanted very large breasts in their early 20s to come back later in life after their natural body changes and aesthetic ideals have shifted. Alternatively, some moms feel that their breast implants don’t suit their new identity as a caregiver. And, still, some women preferred how their body looked before they had breast implants.

Breast Implant Complications

At times, breast augmentation can come with complications. The possibilities include capsular contracture or the implant rotating (if a shaped implant is used), moving out of the breast pocket, leaking, or deflating.

What Are My Breast Implant Removal Options?

There are four main options for a breast implant removal surgery:

Regular Implant Removal

This procedure looks to restore a woman’s natural breast shape. The implant and the surrounding scar tissue capsule are removed, and the breast pocket is tightened. All incisions are closed with sutures.

Implant Removal with a Breast Lift

Sometimes, a breast implant removal can result in some sagging. This is because the skin was stretched to accommodate the larger breast size when the implants were inserted. Many women choose to opt for a breast lift along with their implant removal to tighten the breast’s appearance and trim away any excess skin.

En Bloc Capsulectomy

En bloc translates to “one-piece.” This procedure is named en bloc because it looks to remove the implant and tissue capsule together. This procedure does require a longer incision so that both objects are removed without puncturing the capsule; however, women with capsular contracture may prefer this procedure as it removes the constricting scar tissue. Additionally, this procedure is typically recommended for women with an implant rupture, as all loose silicone may be kept in the tissue capsule.

Implant Removal With Replacement

Many women who choose a breast implant removal want to remove the implants permanently, but some will replace their implants with new ones. This can be to fix a damaged implant or to change the size of the implant.

Interested in Learning More?

Dr. Hochstein has performed over 27,000 breast-related surgeries throughout his career. If you’re ready for your breast implant removal, schedule a consultation by calling (305) 931-3338 or filling out this form.