A breast augmentation can be a fantastic tool for improving body contour, boosting self-confidence, and creating a greater sense of youthful vitality. However, no medical device lasts forever. At some point, your breast implants will need to be replaced or removed altogether. Many patients today choose the latter for many reasons, including a change in aesthetics, age, and possible dissatisfaction with the idea of a medical device in the body.
If you are thinking about an implant removal procedure, there are things to consider. Your body may not be the same size and shape as it was when your implants were placed. Furthermore, the skin and tissues of your breasts will most likely have changed with time. You may need a breast lift and/or fat grafting to deliver a pleasing result. This is why it is important to schedule an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive implant removal experience. Having an honest conversation about what the procedure entails as well as what kind of result you can expect to achieve is essential for a happy outcome.
Implant Removal Consultation in Boston
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Sean Doherty, is an expert in all areas of breast surgery. Placing and removing breast implants has been the foundation of his Boston area practice for the last two decades. He is a surgeon who cares deeply about his patients and who is renowned for delivering exemplary results. He also prides himself on always being honest about what a procedure can deliver for any patient’s unique anatomy. This is extremely important when it comes to an implant removal procedure.
During your consultation, Dr. Doherty will listen closely to why you want your implants removed. He will then perform a thorough physical exam to assess your:
- Skin tone
- Skin texture on your breast
- Degree and health of your native breast volume
- The health of the breast implants themselves
Together, you will discuss the best treatment plan for removing your implants. Some patients may require a breast lift and/or fat grafting to create a more attractive breast contour.
Reasons Patients Desire Implant Removal
Patients who come in to discuss implant removal do so for a variety of reasons including:
- Different aesthetics
- Body changes due to age, hormones, menopause, weight gain/loss
- Disinterest in having a medical device in the body
- Complications such as capsular contracture
- No longer want to monitor implants
A change in aesthetics is one of the biggest drivers for implant removal. Not only do fashions morph with time, but so do your personal aesthetics. What looked good in your 20’s may no longer suit your personality at 38 or 48. Furthermore, bodies change with age, pregnancy, and menopause. You might have gained some weight and no longer need the extra volume in your breasts, or maybe you are just tired of your breast implants.
Breast Implant Removal Real Patient Testimonial in Boston
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Breast Implant Removal Due to Complications
Another big reason for a patient to opt for implant removal as opposed to replacing an implant is due to a complication such as capsular contracture and fear. Breast Implant Illness (BII) is a term for a wide range of health issues that may be linked to breast implants including:
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Rash
- Depression
- Neurological issues
There are also rare cancer risks. Breast cancer has never been associated with breast implants. In rare cases, lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma have been found in patients with implants. Patients who develop a complication often choose to remove their implants altogether, and sometimes a patient with perfectly healthy implants decides that living with the fear and anxiety that something may happen is just too much.
Breast Lift After Implant Removal
During your implant removal procedure, Dr. Doherty will access your breast implant and the surrounding capsule through your original incision. Both will be removed. If it has been years since your breast augmentation, there is a high probability that the tissues of your breast have weakened, and without the additional volume provided by the implant, your nipples may sag. If they rest at or below the inframammary fold, which is the crease beneath your breasts, you will need a breast lift to re-center the nipples on your breast mound. Dr. Doherty may also recommend fat grafting to improve the appearance of your result.
These options will all be discussed with you in detail during your initial consultation. Careful surgical planning is mandatory as blood supply to breast tissue, including the nipple and areola, is altered with previous breast surgeries. Risks of disrupting this blood supply with additional breast surgeries are rare, but real, and should be discussed and weighed.
Scars on the Breast Tend to Heal Well
Patients are often fearful of a breast lift due to the idea of additional scars. Dr. Doherty typically employs an anchor incision for his breast lift procedures as it delivers the best sustainable result. This does mean a vertical scar down the center of the breast, around the areola, and along the inframammary fold. Generally, scars on the breast tend to heal well. Dr. Doherty practices exemplary surgical technique that places the least amount of tension on the skin and tissues. It is this tension or pulling that produces an unsightly scar.
Some patients, however, are more prone to scarring issues such as hypertrophic scarring or keloids. During your initial consultation, Dr. Doherty will examine your original incisions to determine a realistic baseline for how your body heals. But even if you are someone who does have scarring issues, there are a lot of cutting-edge procedures to help diminish the appearance of scars such as:
- Silicone topical treatments
- Massage
- Steroid injections
- Micro-needling procedures
- Laser skin resurfacing
Managing Expectations with an Implant Removal Procedure
Dr. Doherty wants all of his Boston area patients to be happy with the outcome of their chosen aesthetic procedure. A key component to ensuring satisfaction with your implant removal result is to have realistic expectations. Without the added volume from your breast implants, your body is not going to look the same. While you desire this new aesthetic, it is important to acknowledge that there may be some initial surprise and/or shock at the changes in your body contour. Dr. Doherty will spend considerable time during your consultation going over how these changes may manifest, using photos to give you a realistic idea of what you can expect to look like after surgery and during your recovery process. His job is to help you understand how removing your implants will affect the shape of your entire torso. This knowledge allows you to make an informed decision as to whether or not implant removal is right for you.
To find out more about implant removal, breast surgery, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.
FAQ’s about Breast Implant Removal
I perform my implant removal procedures under general anesthesia so you will not feel any pain during surgery. Afterwards, you can expect some swelling and discomfort especially if you have a breast lift. Most patients describe the recovery as uncomfortable more than painful. I am happy to prescribe prescription pain medication as needed.
This is a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia so there is always a certain degree of risk. The safety of my patients, however, is my number one concern and I employ every technique available to ensure a safe, exemplary result. Furthermore, my anesthesiologists are board-certified and extremely experienced with excellent track records as am I.
The total cost for your implant removal in one of my Boston area surgery centers is going to depend on your treatment plan. If you need a breast lift and/or fat grafting, this will be an additional charge. Generally, the cost of an implant removal procedure ranges from: $8,000 to $16,000.
If you’ve only had your implants for a few years and still have healthy breast tissue, you may be a candidate for implant removal alone. In general, however, many of my breast implant removal patients are older with skin and tissues that have stretched from the implant and life. For them, a breast lift may be necessary to create a more pleasing body contour. I may perform some fat grafting as well for exactly the same reason. After I examine you in person during your initial consultation, I will be able to give you an honest assessment of what I think it will take to achieve the happy result that we both want.
The amount of time you’ll need for recovery will depend on your treatment plan. If I simply remove your breast implants, the recovery will be similar to what you went through during your original breast augmentation. However, if we decide on a breast lift, you will need some more time to heal. I will go over exactly what to expect in terms of recovery during your consultation and pre-op appointments, making sure that you have plans in place for help if needed.