Breast Implant Removal

Women who have had breast augmentation in the past may decide one day that their breast implants are no longer right for them. Breast implant removal, also known as explantation, surgically removes breast implants from the body. If you’re ready for a new look, are no longer happy with the size or shape of your breasts or are concerned about breast implant illness (BII), then breast implant removal may be right for you.

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jennifer Harrington understands that when it comes to the female body, no two women have the same needs or desires. During your pre-surgical consultation, she’ll work with you to determine the best approach for breast implant removal that’s specific to your needs.

Harrington Plastic Surgery in Plymouth has helped women from the Twin Cities and beyond with breast implant removal. Contact us online or call our Plymouth office today at 651-413-9525 for more information about explantation surgery, including cost.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Implant Removal?

Almost any woman with breast implants can be a good candidate for breast implant removal. Some of the most common reasons women think about getting their breast implants removed include:

  • Your breast implants no longer fit your body due to age, weight fluctuations or hormones
  • You wish to reclaim a more natural appearance and feel that implants no longer match who you are
  • Your implants have ruptured or you have capsular contracture and do not want new implants
  • You’re concerned about or are experiencing symptoms related to breast implant illness

Women who would like to update their look may also be interested in breast implant revision surgery, which can replace your breast implants with new ones or otherwise revise your previous breast augmentation results.

Breast Implant Removal Incisions

Depending on how your original breast augmentation was performed, Dr. Harrington may be able to use the same incision location in order to minimize additional scarring. However, there may be cases in which she will need to create a new incision. In most cases where the original breast augmentation was performed with an inframammary incision, the same incision can typically be used to remove the implants.

Your Breast Implant Removal Procedure

Breast implant removal is a same-day procedure that usually takes between 1 and 3 hours. Dr. Harrington performs breast explantation surgery under general anesthesia in an accredited surgery center. Patients that have sensitivities to narcotic medications, may benefit from our opioid-free or reduced surgery and recovery customized approach. You should plan to arrive 1 hour prior to your procedure start time. You should also plan to stay at the surgery center for 1 hour after your procedure is finished while the anesthesia begins to wear off. Bring a friend or family member who can drive you home after surgery, as you will be unable to operate a vehicle after being placed under general anesthesia.

Your exact procedure will be customized based on your unique circumstances. In most cases, Dr. Harrington will remove the breast implant along with the capsule of scar tissue surrounding the implant.

Depending on your appearance goals, Dr. Harrington may suggest additional procedures in addition to explantation, such as a breast lift or fat transfer breast augmentation.

En Bloc Removal

Dr. Harrington performs a specialized breast explantation technique known as en bloc removal. This is when the breast implant is removed while still contained within the capsule of scar tissue. During an en bloc removal procedure, the entire capsule is carefully excised from the breast pocket with the implant still inside.

Dr. Harrington always attempts the en bloc removal, except in cases where it is not possible to do so. For instance, if the capsule is too thin, too adherent to the surrounding tissue or chest wall or too large to be removed all at once, Dr. Harrington may elect to remove the implant and capsule separately. In either case, all capsule tissue will be removed.*

Breast Implant Illness

At Harrington Plastic Surgery, we recognize the concerns of breast implant illness and understand that some women may develop symptoms after their implants are placed — sometimes even years after their breast implant surgery. BII symptoms can affect people differently. If you suspect that your breast implants are impacting your health, Dr. Harrington specializes in performing breast implant removal for women with BII and is a recommended explant surgeon by her patients on breastimplantillness.com.

Your decision to remove your breast implants is unique to you. We provide thoughtful and caring treatment to help you make the best decision for your health. Dr. Harrington will discuss your concerns and explain the process of explantation surgery for breast implant illness.

Typically, an en bloc removal is performed to ensure the entirety of the implant as well as the scar tissue is removed. Since breast implant removal surgery is a relatively safe and straightforward procedure, opioid free/reduced anesthesia may be used for women wanting faster recovery following surgery. Once your implants have been removed, you may be able to take them home. If you wish to have your breast implants after removal, we’ll conduct a decontamination process and a waiver will need to be signed.

Breast Implant Removal Recovery

Your recovery after explantation will depend upon Dr. Harrington’s approach during surgery, whether you included any additional procedures and how your body heals. Most women take anywhere from 3 days to 1 week away from work and their other normal activities as they recover from having their implants removed. On average, patients are able to resume all activities within 2 to 3 weeks.*

Over the following several weeks, you should avoid strenuous activities that may interfere with the healing process. Dr. Harrington may ask you to wear a post-surgical garment to aid in minimizing swelling. While individual experiences will vary, most women who have breast implants removed are able to enjoy their final results within 1 to 3 months after surgery, with scarring continuing to mature for 1 year or longer.*

During your consultation, Dr. Harrington will discuss any risks or complications associated with breast implant removal.

Next Steps

If you have questions or would like more information, contact us online or call our Plymouth office at 651-290-7600 to request your breast implant removal consultation.

*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.

Summary
Breast Implant Removal En Bloc
Service Type
Breast Implant Removal En Bloc
Provider Name
Dr. Jennifer Harrington,
2805 Campus Drive - East Building, Suite 485,Plymouth,Minnesota-55441,
Telephone No.(651) 413-9162
Area
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Description
Minneapolis plastic surgeon Dr. Jennifer Harrington performs breast implant removal at her Plymouth practice, including en bloc explantation.