Breast implant removal
No matter how much you loved them when they were new, the fact of the matter is that as time has passed, you’ve simply changed your opinion and no longer desire to have implants.
Breast implant removal is a highly personal choice to each individual woman, and there is no right or wrong reason why a woman would remove her implants without opting to replace them.
Breast implant removal is also known as explant surgery. In such cases where implants are removed and not replaced, excess skin may negate a breast lift in conjunction with explant. This is recommended in some cases in order to achieve more aesthetically pleasing results.
Breast implants are not lifetime devices
Breast implants have a finite lifespan, and as many women reach this milestone, they simply opt to remove their implants without replacing them.
The most common reasons for breast implant removal are:
As time passes, women may find that it is more challenging or uncomfortable living with larger and heavier breasts. From difficulty maintaining their fitness goals to shoulder or back pain, discomfort is a driving factor for implant removal.
Changes in lifestyle and personal preference for less of an enhanced breast size may occur for personal reasons and throughout the course of your life, an enhanced breast size may prove to be undesirable and no longer the look you want.
As women approach menopause, hormonal changes, including weight gain, can impact comfort.
Some women find that during menopause, their implants become more cumbersome.
Implant removal can make a woman feel more comfortable and healthier, and improve her overall wellbeing.
Capsular contracture is the medical term given when a ‘capsule’ of scar tissue forms around the breast implant. It is the body’s natural response to a foreign object – the implant – and in many cases is not considered dangerous.
However in some cases, and as time progresses, the capsule can harden and tighten around an implant and cause discomfort, pain or breast shape changes due to distortion and/or shifting of the implant.
In such cases, we recommend a consultation to assess the condition of your implants and check for capsular contracture, rupture or other damage.
- Leakage, Rupture or Migration of Prosthetic Material
Breast implant leakage or rupture can occur due to factors like wear, tear, trauma, or defects in the implant's outer shell. Saline implants deflate harmlessly if ruptured, while silicone implants may leak within the capsule or into surrounding tissue, often requiring surgery for removal. Monitoring via imaging techniques such as Ultrasound, CT or MRI may assist in detection of rupture, but are never 100% accurate and the majority of ruptures can only be diagnosed in surgery.
In rare cases, silicone implant rupture may lead to silicone migration or granuloma formation. Silicone migration involves gel movement within the body, while granulomas are immune responses causing nodules. These occurrences are infrequent, but when they happen, they might cause discomfort, swelling, or lumps in the affected area. Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the migrated silicone or granulomas, ensuring the patient's health and preventing any further complications.
- Breast implant illness (BII) and autoimmune disease
Some women experience a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, joint pain, dry eyes, skin rashes, autoimmune-like symptoms.and other symptoms due to their implants.
Breast Implant Illness (BII) is a term used to describe a range of symptoms and health issues that are experienced by some women and may be attributable to their breast implants. Unfortunately, this is not officially recognised as a medical diagnosis.
Dr. Hertess acknowledges the existence of BII (breast implant illness). Although there is no definitive diagnostic test for BII, she can recognise this condition by excluding other potential causes and symptoms.
Dr Hertess, along with other medical professionals, acknowledges the validity of patients' concerns and experiences related to this issue.
