Women who are unhappy with the results of their breast augmentation cosmetic surgery or experience complications with breast implants at a later stage may require saline or silicone breast implant removal.
If the original breast implant placement was done incorrectly, breast implant revision surgery might be required. The improper placement or strain from scar tissue can lead to breast implants becoming displaced or constricted.
Additionally, the procedure may also be necessary if the implants rupture or deflate due to a defective implant or an injury. In case an infection occurs, the breast implants may have to be removed.
Board certified plastic surgeons at the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery (ACPS) provide breast implant removal to patients in Houston, Texas, TX, and surrounding locations.
What happens during Breast Implant Removal Surgery
Before breast implant revision surgery, the surgeon will understand the reason for the implant complications and recommend a course of treatment.
In case the patient decides to have their saline or silicone implants replaced with a more suitable type of breast implant, the replacement will be performed during the breast implant removal surgery.
If the patient decides to have their implants replaced, the surgeon will offer them advice about cosmetic surgery options, such as breast lift surgery, which can be performed at the time of the surgery. The surgeon will likely undertake the procedure using general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. The surgeon will make an incision in one of the below-mentioned areas to access the implant:
- Right underneath the armpit
- Around the areola
- Under the breast fold
- In rare cases, through the navel
The incisions for breast implant removal are typically the same as the ones placed during primary breast augmentation surgery. In addition, the surgeon will usually remove scar tissue along with the breast implants during this plastic surgery procedure.
Removal of Saline Breast Implant
Before removing the implant, the surgeon may deflate it during saline revision surgery to allow easier removal. Once the implant has been removed, the surgeon will excise the scar tissue from the original breast augmentation procedure.
New implant placement or breast lift surgery will be performed as soon as the original implant is removed. The surgery will take between 30 and 45 minutes to complete. Following the procedure, the patient will remain in the hospital for a few hours under observation.
Removal of Silicone Breast Implant
A silicone implant that has ruptured may have gone undetected. For this reason, the surgeon will manually examine the implant for any signs of rupture or distress prior to removing it during silicone revision surgery. This will reduce any risk related to the breast implant procedure.
The implant removal may be more complicated than the primary augmentation procedure, particularly in cases where the outer shell is textured or foam covered. Sometimes, the adjacent tissue and muscle may have to be removed along with the implant.
The total time taken to perform the removal procedure depends on whether other procedures are being undertaken at the same time. During the removal, the patient may also receive a breast lift, a scar revision, or breast implant replacement. It usually takes under an hour to remove silicone breast implants.
Cosmetic surgeons at the ACPS receive patients from Houston, Texas, TX, and nearby areas for breast implant removal.
For more information about The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery (ACPS) physicians and the cosmetic surgery treatments and procedures they perform please click here or call us at 713.799.9999. We have offices in and around Houston, Texas.
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