Following
breast augmentation cosmetic surgery, a woman may choose to have the breast implants removed or replaced at any stage. In some cases, this situation may be necessitated due to implant rupture, damage, or other deformities developing due to capsular contracture. In any case, whether breast revision is voluntary or necessitated by the situation, the patient will have to choose between implant removal and replacement.
Each patient’s needs are unique, and the decision to have the implants removed or replaced should be made after taking into account all the circumstances related to the breast revision and the woman’s personal aesthetic needs and goals. Board certified
plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify provides breast implant revision to patients in Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and surrounding locations.
Pros and Cons
A majority of surgeons recommend their patients to choose
implant replacement rather than implant removal. Breast implant removal
plastic surgery can be more complicated than a replacement surgery, with increased risk of infection and bleeding. However, the final decision will depend on the patient’s personal choice and her current aesthetic preferences.
In some cases, breast implant removal may be a medically preferred option. If the woman suffers from rheumatological and pain symptoms, she may achieve marked improvement in the symptoms when the implants are entirely removed rather than replaced. A woman suffering from autoimmune diseases such as lupus, MS or arthritis may be particularly sensitive to substances found in implants, such as silicone.
When a woman decides to have the implants removed completely, she should take care to choose a
cosmetic surgeon with experience in breast revision and implant removal procedures. Implant removal surgery can be more complex than the primary breast augmentation procedure. Therefore, it should be performed by a surgeon with a proven track record in revision procedures.
Results
When breast implants are removed, particularly in case of larger implants, the natural breasts will often have a sagging, deflated appearance. This can happen because the implants have caused the stretching of the breast tissue. A skilled surgeon can try to ensure that the implant removal surgery will leave the breasts as appealing as they were before the surgery.
But in many such cases, the right way to ensure this is by performing a breast lift surgery in conjunction with implant removal. This challenge usually does not occur in case of implant replacement surgery. The woman can choose to maintain her current breast size, or select larger or smaller sized implants than the previous ones.
Implant replacement will produce full, shapely breasts as with the original breast augmentation. The patient should carefully discuss her needs and goals with the breast revision surgeon during the pre-operative consultations. That will help the surgeon give appropriate advice about whether to choose implant replacement or removal.
Recovery
In case of
implant replacement surgery, the recovery process will be quite similar to that of the primary
breast augmentation. However, when breast implants are removed completely, the recovery is usually brief and involves minimal discomfort.
Dr. Seify receives patients from Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and nearby areas for breast revision.
See more procedures and treatments by plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify in Newport Beach | Orange County
