Breast Implant Removal Archives | La Jolla, San Diego

En Bloc Breast Implant Removal Technique Compared to Others

With over 190,000 operations performed annually, breast augmentation with implants is one of the top cosmetic surgeries in the U.S. Nonetheless, approximately 35,000 patients a year opt for breast implant removal.

There are three primary techniques available to surgeons when removing breast implants: simple device removal (just taking out the implants), capsulectomy (removing the implants and either part or all of the capsule of tissue formed around them), and en bloc capsulectomy (removing the implant and capsule together as a unit).

Here, Dr. Sayed discusses the En Bloc technique compared to other breast implant removal procedures.

What happens during breast implant removal?

Breast implant removal is the process of removing the implants from the breast. However, there are several vital considerations surgeons and patients must take into account in order for this procedure to be successful.

First, depending on the length of time the implants have been in the patient, scar tissue, which forms naturally, will now be surrounding the implants. Second, different insertion procedures , implant sizes, and incision types mean that implant removal surgeons must consider the best way to remove the implants, which will depend on whether the surgeon is trying to remove the capsule tissue at all, and whether the surgeon is aiming to remove all the capsule tissue in one piece on each breast. The incision(s), length of surgery, and other factors that may influence recovery will depend on the operative approach and patient goals.

En Bloc Implant Removal

The term En Bloc essentially means “as a whole.” En Bloc removal means removing the implant and capsule (scar tissue) as a single unit. In doing so, the surgeon must separate the capsule from the surrounding tissue and try to leave the capsule intact. It is common for small tears or perforations to occur in the capsule through the process of separating it from the surrounding tissues (like the muscles of the chest, or the rib cage), but in the en bloc method, the surgeon is making a concerted, deliberate effort to try to keep the capsule as intact as possible. This allows the surgeon to try to ensure no capsule tissue is left behind and to photograph the removed specimen for patient reassurance. It is also important to try to avoid directly opening the capsule in cases where there may be a known or suspected leaking silicone implant, in order to reduce the likelihood of spillage of silicone gel into the patient’s tissues.

In simple breast implant removal procedures, without a capsulectomy, the surgeon opens the capsule, removes the implant, and then leaves the capsule behind. The surgeon may “rough up” the inside surface of the capsule to get the tissue to stick to itself and obliterate the space where the implant sat. While some patients coming in for implant removal want this simpler procedure (which can be done through smaller incisions than a capsulectomy), most of Dr. Sayed’s patients specifically are seeking a complete capsule removal, preferably with the en bloc technique, due to concerns that capsules may harbor microbes or other biochemical factors that may contribute to what is called “Breast Implant Illness.” It is not clear from current studies that we need to be so thorough in removal of capsule tissue, but Dr. Sayed feels it is better not to leave capsule behind so that patients know they have a “clean slate.” It is also known that capsules can be contaminated with microbes in what is called “biofilm,” which is the current leading explanation for the phenomenon known as capsular contracture. Additionally, certain recalled implants (Textured Biocell implants, previously made by Allergan) have in some cases led to cancer development from the inside capsule surface, so Dr. Sayed feels the capsule is not necessary an “innocent bystander.”

Removal of the capsule, especially with the en bloc method, is more complex and requires larger incisions than simple implant removal. However, since many patients undergoing removal will also need breast lifts or other forms of skin removal at the same time, the incision to access the capsule for removal will be designed based on the pattern of skin removal expected, so the net resulting scar is what would have been dictated by the loss of implant volume anyway. Simply removing the implants but not removing skin is more likely to result in strange folds, double and triple creases, indentations, nipple inversion, and other unaesthetic changes because the breast is a 3-dimensional structure and the skin draped over the breast should be downsized if the breast volume is being reduced.

Breast Implant Removal in Newport Beach, CA

Which type of implant removal technique is best for you depends on several unique factors. Because of this, it’s essential to consult with industry-leading breast implant removal (explant) surgeons like Dr. Tim Sayed.

Reach out to Tim Sayed MD Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA on (858) 247-2933 or via this online form to arrange a virtual consultation to discover how we can help you look and feel your best.

After Breast Implant Removal: Here Are Your Options

Breast augmentation via implants remains one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in the U.S., with over 190,000 operations performed annually. However, due to changes in lifestyle preferences, body image desires, or even health concerns, around 35,000 patients a year opt for breast implant removal. The FDA has recommended a checklist that patients should review before considering breast augmentation that speaks to current understanding of breast implant illness symptoms and other concerns.

Many patients are understandably concerned about their options after breast implant removal and what their breasts will look like. Here, Dr. Sayed discusses post-breast implant removal options and what patients can expect from the procedure.

What Happens to the Breasts After Implant Removal?

The concept behind breast implants is to add volume and shape to the breasts. As such, when a surgeon removes the implants, that volume and shape are lost. This then leaves the breasts looking deflated and unshapely, something patients are understandably concerned about.

Fortunately, there are several options available to restore an appealing look to the breasts after breast implant removal.

Breast Lift

Probably the best option available to people after a breast implant removal is a breast lift.

Breast lift surgery removes excess skin and positions the breast in a higher, more youthful, and appealing position on the chest wall. When done by a highly experienced plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Sayed, a breast lift should also reposition the areolas and nipples in a more forward-facing, youthful setting.

In many cases, a breast lift is all that is required to restore desirable aesthetics to post-implant removal breasts.

Breast Implant Removal in Newport Beach, CA

Just as opting for breast implants is a significant life decision, so too is getting them removed. We strongly recommend discussing your breast implant removal procedure with several qualified and recognized surgeons before committing to the procedure. This way, you can find the perfect surgeon to help with the procedure and follow-up treatments so that you get the results you desire.

Fat Grafting to the Breast

Fat transfer breast augmentation essentially uses liposuction to take fat from other parts of your body and inject it into your breasts. While it can provide some volume improvement to the breast after the deflation associated with implant removal, it is not a perfect substitute for the shape of an implant and there are some trade-offs. However, most patients who elect fat grafting to the breasts are glad they did, as it provides additional shaping and volume that they would otherwise not have with implant removal, especially those patients who had larger implants and smaller natural breasts.

Want to Learn More? Get In Touch with Us Today!

Reach out to Dr. Tim Sayed in Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA at (858) 247-2933 or via this online form to arrange a consultation to discover how we can help you look and feel your best.

Will I Need a Lift After Breast Implant Removal?

Breast implant removal is the process of getting breast implants taken out from the breasts.

While there are several reasons compelling patients to undergo the procedure, some of the most common causes include:

Breast implant illness
Change in lifestyle
Fluctuations in body weight

Regardless of the motivation driving you to consider removing your breast implants, it is essential to know how the procedure will affect the appearance of your breasts once the implants have been removed.

Here, Dr. Tim Sayed discusses what happens to the breasts after implants are removed and whether or not patients will require a breast lift to optimize the aesthetic results of the procedure.

What Happens During Breast Implant Removal?

Breast implants provide volume and shape to the breasts with artificial structures placed in between the soft tissues of the breast, skin, and musculature.

As such, when these implants are inserted, the skin and surrounding musculature of the breasts and chest wall must adapt to the implants, which often means they will stretch to compensate for the added volume.

Furthermore, the weight of the implants will cause the breasts to sag more than usual.

When these implants are removed, the surrounding soft tissue will lose volume and likely appear deflated.

The extent of this depends entirely on the size of the implants themselves – the bigger the implants, the more the skin is stretched, and the more significant the difference will be when the implants are removed.

Will I Need a Breast Lift?

In his extensive experience, Dr. Sayed notices that patients from breast explant removal get the most satisfying results from the procedure when it is combined with a breast lift.

A breast lift is a surgical operation that removes excess soft tissue from the breast area and upper chest, which positions the breasts higher on the chest, makes them firmer, and positions the nipples and areolas in a forward-facing setting.

Essentially, a breast lift reverses the aesthetic and physical effects removing the implants has on the breasts.

However, it’s important to note that a breast lift isn’t necessarily required – there is no added health benefit to getting a breast lift after breast implant removal. However, the appearance of the breasts can be significantly improved with a post-implant removal lift.

Breast Lift and Breast Implant Removal in Newport Beach, CA

If your breast implants are causing discomfort or getting in the way, don’t hesitate to consider breast implant removal. It is a highly satisfying and effective procedure, that when combined with a breast lift, will leave you looking and feeling younger, lighter, more confident and more athletic.

Reach out to Dr. Tim Sayed in Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA, by calling (858) 247-2933 or via this online form to arrange a quick virtual consultation to discover how we can help you look and feel your best.

5 Reconstruction Options After Removing Breast Implants

Choosing to remove your implants is a major decision. Worries over the appearance of your breasts after explant surgery shouldn’t have to be one of your concerns. Of course, we understand this is a significant factor for almost all of our patients considering removing their breast implants. If you’re unhappy with your breasts for any reason, you deserve options, and we can provide them.

Dr. Sayed is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience and a deep understanding of every aspect of the breast reconstruction process. He has worked with women of all ages and body types and provides his expert opinion to help you achieve attractive, beautiful breasts after removing your implants.

Below we have listed some of the most popular and successful reconstruction options after implant removal. If you want to schedule a consultation or have any questions you’d like answered, please get in touch with our San Diego or Newport Beach, CA, offices by calling 858-247-2933 today.

Lipoaugmentation

Lipoaugmentation, which also goes by the names of fat transfer or a fat graft, is a somewhat recent innovation in breast reconstruction surgery. It provides stunning, natural-looking and feeling fullness post explant.

By removing fat tissue from other parts of your body — often “problem areas” such as love handles, thighs, abdominal area, or butt — via liposuction, Dr. Sayed provides holistic results to slim your figure. He purifies the extracted fat cells and carefully injects them into your breasts to provide volume, shaping, and an overall harmonious body contour. Though lipoaugmentation generally does not have the same capability to increase your breast volume as implants do, the results are often comparable.

A recent clinical study found that both patients and doctors to prefer the results of lipoaugmentation after explant surgery to implants themselves. If you are hoping for a natural-looking, transformative reconstruction, fat transfer could be right for you. For patients hoping for more comprehensive lift and sculpting, Dr. Sayed can combine this procedure with a breast lift.

A Breast Lift

After your implant removal, your breasts will be considerably smaller. The loss of volume can result in excess tissue causing your breasts to look saggy or deflated — especially if you have low skin elasticity. The change in size also can lead to your nipples and areolas looking unproportional in comparison to your new, smaller breasts.

For patients who undergo a drastic downsize, these symptoms can become quite pronounced. Luckily, a breast lift can efficiently address all of these issues and restore a youthful-looking, firmer, shapely breast contour with aesthetically pleasing nipple sizing and placement. Breast lifts do tend to result in additional scarring, but the majority of patients feel it’s worth it to get breasts they love. Plus, over time, when properly cared for, scarring tends to flatten and fade.

Swap Your Implants

If you are only hoping for a change in size or love the results of your implants but choose to remove them due to rare conditions such as capsular contracture, implant replacement can provide a gorgeous final result with minimal downtime.

Dr. Sayed can remove your existing implants using the same incision site as your initial enhancement (causing no extra scarring). He then inserts new implants of your desired size, shape, and placement to provide the results you want. Since your body has already developed an implant “pocket” and stretched to accommodate your initial implants, the recovery time tends to be considerably less extensive than your initial augmentation.

Breast Reduction

Some women want to return to their natural breasts due to discomfort or increased neck and back pain caused by their breast enhancement. In that case, a breast reduction after implant removal can provide instant relief. Performed similarly to a breast lift, often using the same incision patterns, a breast reduction varies in how much tissue Dr. Sayed removed from your breasts.

DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

Using tissue taken from targeted areas of your body, DIEP Flap breast reconstruction restores symmetry and provides natural-looking results. This procedure is ideal for women hoping to achieve smaller breasts after explant surgery. Generally, this technique requires a short recovery period and minimizes any discomfort or risk of complications.

Schedule a Consultation

Whether you’ve been on the fence about removing your implants for a while, or are just beginning to consider this as an option, you don’t need to worry about what your breasts will look like after explant surgery. Dr. Sayed, a skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon, can help you craft a breast contour you love.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation, please give our San Diego, CA, office a call at 858-247-2933 or contact us online.

Breast Implant Removal: San Diego Women’s Top 5 Reasons

Last year, nearly 24,000 women—most between the ages of 30 and 54—decided to remove their breast implants. In San Diego, as in the rest of the US, tastes and lifestyles are changing. Women are fitter than ever, and large breast implants can interfere with some types of exercise or may begin to look unproportional after weight loss.

Each woman chooses to undergo explant surgery for her own unique reasons. Whether you are inspired by celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Sharon Osbourne (both who have been open about their implant removal) or are among the small number of patients who experience breast implant complications—Dr. Sayed can help.

Read on to learn more about the top 5 reasons women are choosing to change their breast contour. If you have any further questions, please give us a call at 1-858-247-2933 today.

1. “My Implants No Longer Fit My Lifestyle”

Many of our patients who choose to remove their breast implants do so to better fit their lifestyles. Over the years, your body, routine, and activities change.

At the gym or on the track, large implants can cause discomfort during cardiovascular workouts or upper body toning. Often, women who have had their implants for several years may be due for a replacement surgery anyway and choose to remove them.

In some cases, older women feel their implants have “done their job” and no longer wish to have them as they enter a different phase of life. Whatever the case may be, we are here to help you feel at home and in love with your body.

2. Ease Neck and Back Pain

Large fake breasts may also cause shoulder, neck, and back troubles (just as in women with naturally large breasts who can face persistent pain). The larger your implants, the more your center of gravity is affected. In some cases, this can lead to an undue force exerted on your spine. After menopause, these symptoms can become even more pronounced as your weight fluctuates due to hormonal changes.

3. Avoid Future Corrections, Deflation or Rupture

Implants are not designed to last a lifetime. The longer you have them, the likelihood of needing additional surgeries to replace or remove implants increases. Some San Diego women choose to remove their implants rather than take on additional surgeries (and their associated costs and recovery times) down the line.

A small number of patients (10 to 20 percent) may experience rupture or deflation and choose to remove their implants. Though rare, another concern some women face is capsular contracture.

Though industry changes and modern techniques have considerably lowered the risk, some patients will still develop this condition, even as long as several years after the surgery. Capsular contracture is characterized by stiffening of scar tissue, which can lead to pain or in extreme cases, hard, misshapen breasts.

Implant removal is a solution to any of these complications and a guaranteed means of avoiding them in the future.

4. Ensure Mammogram Accuracy

Some patients choose explant surgery due to the small but very real chance of implants complicating the accuracy of future mammograms. Especially for women with implants placed on top of the chest muscle, technicians can face slightly more difficulty in ensuring a simple mammography process. Some patients may need additional films.

For some of our patients, this slight chance of experiencing mammogram complications is a health risk they don’t want to take. This can be especially true for patients with a family history of breast cancer.

5. “It’s Time to Do Something For Me”

Finally, women may just decide they want a change of breast shape or size. Over time, as our bodies change, so do our opinions and preferences. Patients may want to “do something for themselves,” and may feel encouraged by the wave of body positivity we’ve seen as a country over the last few years. Some say returning to their natural breast size increases their confidence and comfort in their skin.

Schedule a Consultation
What’s most important is to do what makes you content and comfortable. If you think implant removal may be right for you or want to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sayed, please call our San Diego, CA, office at 1-858-247-2933, or contact us here.