Breast Implant Removal

The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) reported that in 2022, breast augmentation remains the most common plastic surgical procedure for women. There were over 2.2 million procedures and over 4.4 million procedure on the breast. Despite the continual rise in the number of breast implant procedures, that has also been a significant rise in the number of women electing to remove their breast implants. Worldwide, over 300,000 women elected to remove their breast implants in 2022.

https://www.isaps.org/media/a0qfm4h3/isaps-global-survey_2022.pdf.

While the number of explantations has been slowly increasing over the last five years, the reasons for explantation are as diverse as the reasons for getting implants in the first place. Some women have had cosmetic problems, some women just don’t want them anymore because of aging or weight gain, and some women are experiencing health problems that they have no answer for. There has been a great deal of information in the news and social media, some accurate, unfortunately some misleading, but breast implants have always sparked controversy.

Over time, patients may experience local problems associated with their breast implants. The most common complication reported is capsular contracture, a tightening or thickening of the scar tissue around the implant known as the capsule. This condition is believed to be associated with a low-grade bacterial contamination that may cause the progressive firmness, but there are other potential causes, such as rupture and infection. All silicone implants will eventually rupture and need either replacement or removal; saline implants will eventually deflate.

There are also women who seek removal of their breast implants because they never really wanted them in the first place and often were talked into placing an implant by a surgeon, partner, or friend. Others have gained weight over the years with each pregnancy or with menopause and no longer want large, sometimes heavy breasts.

Less often, women elect to remove their implants because they may attribute new or worsening systemic symptoms to their implants. There is considerable social media surrounding the issues of Systemic Symptoms Associated with Breast Implants (SSBI). Dr. Glicksman is the lead author on numerous peer reviewed scientific papers looking into the possible association of systemic symptoms and breast implants.  The studies and information related to this issue will be discussed in detail at every consultation. All patients who have developed new systemic symptoms should undergo a complete work-up by a licensed medical professional. Medical, neurologic, and psychological conditions should not be ignored because a woman has breast implants. 

Many patients, both young and old are selecting to remove their implants for personal reasons. Depending on the size of the implants removed, their pocket location, the amount of breast tissue remaining and the quality of the skin, patients may either return to their previous breast shape, or desire either a lift or volume replacement with their own fat. Each possible procedure requires careful planning and decision making during an in-person consultation.