Breast Implant Removal
Top Rated Plastic Surgeon
Many women elect to have breast implants placed for a cosmetic or reconstructive purpose. Breast implants are not lifelong device and may be removed and replaced through breast revision surgery at some point in your life.
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a cosmetic procedure that can restore sagging breasts into a natural breast shape and youthful position. A breast lift often requires the removal of the excess breast skin and redundant breast tissue. Additionally, a breast lift may be combined with a breast augmentation (breast implant surgery) for additional volume and to create a perkier appearance.
As a Top Female Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Parcells is distinctively qualified to address your concerns and tailor her technique to achieve your desired results. Her goal is that you receive the very best breast lift New Jersey has to offer. This procedure is very popular, and our breast lift patients are some of the happiest patients in our practice.
The Facts About Breast Implants
The most common options for breast implants are those filled with silicone gel or saline (saltwater). Saline implants gained popularity in the 1990-2000s, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was trialing the use of a new silicone gel implant.
Since 2006, the majority of women elect to have silicone gel implants, due to their more natural feel and appearance, less risk of rupture, and a reduction in scarring around the implant. Since 2006, the FDA has shown no link between silicone implants and connective tissue disorders.
When Should Implants Be Removed?
While there is no exact time frame to determine when breast implants should be removed, on average, breast implants typically last for 10-20 years. However, the development of any of the above-noted conditions, along with any concerns for health and safety can drive the decision for removal at any time.
Reasons For Implant Removal
There are many reasons to initiate a breast implant removal. For some women, especially as they get older, they wish to simply return to their natural size. As breast implants are not lifelong devices, some women choose to only have them removed when it is time for an exchange.
The scar that forms around the implant, called a capsule, may begin to harden around the implant, causing a condition called capsular contracture. This hardness can even migrate up to the armpits and change to how the breast implants feel. This may happen years after implant placement, occur to one or both of the breasts, and is alleviated by removal.
A trauma, such as a car accident of bad fall, can cause a breast implant to rupture. In a saline implant, this will cause deflation, as the saline harmlessly becomes absorbed by the body, leading to a smaller or deflated breast.
In contrast, a rupture to a silicone implant may not be immediately noticeable to you, as newer silicone breast implants have a gel or gummy bear-like texture. These cohesive gels make it a bit more difficult to detect a rupture, as the breast appears the same in size. Symptoms that may lead you to notice a rupture in a silicone implant include:
Change in breast shape
Swelling
Changes to sensation
Pain or tenderness of the breast
If a rupture is suspected, an MRI can help to diagnose this.
Positional changes, such as significant weight gain or loss, or by gravity and time can cause changes to the appearance of the breast, leading to sagging. If the implant is removed without being replaced, a breast lift, or mastopexy, is required to maintain the aesthetic and youthful appearance of the breast.
Recently, there has been a lot of media attention regarding a condition called Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). As of October 2019, of the 5-10 million women who have breast implants in the United States, there have been 573 cases of BIA-ALCL have been confirmed pathologically, and another 288 have been suspected, but are unconfirmed.
It is important to note that BIA-ALCL is not a type of breast cancer, but rather, a type of lymphoma that has been linked mainly to textured silicone breast implants. As such, Dr. Parcells is fully texture free practice.
Some of the symptoms associated with Breast Implant Illness include chest pain, hair loss, photosensitivity, brain fog, sleep disturbance, depression, chronic pain, headaches, and more. If you are suffering from such symptoms and feel it could be related to Breast Implant Illness, your next step is to see Dr. Parcells for a consultation.
Women who have suffered from these symptoms report resolution with implant removal. At Parcells Plastic Surgery, our goal is to educate and empower you to decide what’s best for your body. Learn more about Breast Implant Illness.
Surgery
At Parcells Plastic Surgery in New Jersey breast implant removal can be completed in about an hour on average.
If a capsulectomy is also to be performed, this takes an additional hour per side. Lastly, time may be required if a revision is also being done, such as a mastopexy. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. The scar can be placed in a variety of locations, depending on if a revision procedure is being performed, the location of previous scars, and the type of implant being removed.
Recovery
A numbing agent is often utilized to relieve discomfort, and you’ll go home the same day.
A surgical bra will be worn for the next several weeks to help with swelling and shaping. Most women will experience mild to moderate discomfort for the next several days, but can usually resume routine activities and return to work in about a week.
Impants Removal Faqsl
You may require a breast lift if you opt for breast implant removal. A breast lift, or a mastopexy, is the removal of the excess breast skin and redundant breast tissue to restore the breasts and nipples to their ideal anatomic position and create a perkier appearance.
This is a great option for women who have deflated natural breast tissue, and wish to have their breast tissue rearranged instead of having an implant placed. As such, the deflated breast tissue is reshaped to mimic the appearance of a firmer breast. Since this can sometimes result in a slightly smaller cup size, it is important to discuss your goals with Dr. Parcells, to determine if this procedure is right for you.
At this time, Dr. Parcells is not offering this procedure in her practice. There are no long term efficacy studies looking at the safety of injecting fat directly into the breast gland.
Currently, neither the FDA nor any plastic surgery society recommends that women should preventatively remove textured breast implants to prevent BIA-ALCL. However, there are women who are concerned enough and were already considering removing their implants, and this is just another reason to do so.
At this time, breast implant illness (BII) is not an official medical diagnosis, as there is no blood or diagnostic exam to test for breast implant illness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made no recommendations on the diagnosis or treatment of these symptoms. That said, women who have suffered from the symptoms associated with Breast Implant Illness report resolution after breast implant removal.
Breast Implant Removal Cost
Every woman is different and has unique needs. You’ll have a one on one consultation with Dr. Parcells, where she will evaluate your medical history, prior surgery, surgical goals, and perform an exam to evaluate your breasts, skin tone, laxity, and nipple position.
During your consultation for implant removal New Jersey plastic surgeon Dr. Alexis Parcells will provide her expert advice, discuss your options, review the risks and benefits, and answer all of your questions. Afterward, you’ll meet with the surgical coordinator, who will create an individualized quote, and address the logistics and finances of your procedure. As not all cosmetic procedures are covered by insurance, Dr. Parcells has partnered with CareCredit to help you achieve your aesthetic goals today.
Why choose Dr. Parcells for Breast Implant Removal?
DR. PARCELLS IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO UNDERSTAND THE AESTHETIC NEEDS OF YOUR BREAST APPEARANCE
As a female plastic surgeon, Dr. Parcells is uniquely qualified to understand the aesthetic needs of your breast appearance, especially after the removal of your implants without a replacement. In addition, Dr. Parcells is a trained plastic surgeon, licensed in the state of New Jersey, and is board certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Here at Parcells Plastic Surgery, we want you to feel confident and celebrate your natural beauty. Our goal is to educate and empower you to decide what’s best for your body. We look forward to meeting you and addressing your aesthetic concerns. Call or text us if you would like to know more, or schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Parcells. We hope to see you soon!
Schedule a Consultation
Parcells Plastic Surgery offers the most advanced surgical and cosmetic medical spa treatments to women in New Jersey.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Alexis Parcells is here to educate and empower you to celebrate your natural beauty.
4 Industrial Way West #101, Eatontown, New Jersey 07724
