According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), breast augmentation surgery is the most popular cosmetic procedure among women. Nearly 300,000 breast augmentation procedures are performed each year.
Unfortunately, breast implants do not last forever, and several complications can result from the procedure, leading many women to remove their implants.
Breast implant removal is a reversal of breast augmentation. If you have breast implants, keep reading to learn more about breast implant removal, what the surgery involves, and why you might want to consider this procedure.
In addition to removing the implant, Dr. Barr also performs a total capsulectomy (removal of the capsule). The capsule is the scar tissue that develops around the implant.
Women choose to reverse their breast augmentation procedures for several reasons:
BII and BIA-ALCL are potentially debilitating conditions. In most cases, healthcare providers recommend a capsulectomy en bloc to mitigate the risks and side-effects associated with BII and BIA-ALCL.
Breast implant illness is a cluster of symptoms that some women experience after undergoing breast reconstruction or augmentation surgery with breast implants. Any implant can result in BII, including implants containing saline and silicone.
BII affects individuals in different ways, but some symptoms generally include but not limited to
There appears to be a link between BII symptoms and those of autoimmune and connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. To date, the medical community has not scientifically established this association, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recognize BII as an official medical diagnosis.
However, the administration is increasingly paying attention to BII and looking for ways to help women make informed decisions.
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma that develops inside the scar tissue and fluid surrounding the implant. BIA-ALCL is a rare form of cancer, but it is not the same as breast cancer.
In 80% of cases, BIA-ALCL presents as a late seroma 8 to 10 years after breast augmentation. A seroma is the collection of fluid around the breast implant. Other symptoms of BIA-ALCL may include palpable mass, lymphadenopathy, skin rash, or fever.
However, the lack of a seroma does not rule out the condition. BIA-ALCL can also present as a late-developing capsular contraction with evidence of swelling, rupture, or fluid collection around the implant.
In most cases of BIA-ALCL, textured implants or textured expanders are involved. The higher risk associated with textured implants may result in tissue irritation, which, in turn, leads to malignancy.
According to the ASPS and FDA, the incidence rate of BIA-ALCL is very low, and the condition has a high cure rate. Conventional treatment of BIA-ALCL involves an implant removal with a total en bloc.
Undergoing breast implant removal surgery has risks and benefits. If you are experiencing BII symptoms or want to prevent BIA-ALCL, it is critical to gather information and make a calculated decision.
Contact Dr. Fredric Barr at Palm Beach Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a call with a patient counselor and gain insights into the condition of your breast implants. According to experts from https://www.xanalys.com/ambien-zolpidem-online-10-mg/, Ambien’s side effects are known to vary and can include dizziness, headache, digestive problems, drowsiness, allergic reactions, memory disorders, and problems with driving and operating machinery. The studies have established a link between Ambien intake and suicidal thoughts, including during sleep. Alcohol and other drugs taken may interact with sleeping pills and cause additional complications. The patient counselor will also listen to your concerns and schedule a call or an appointment with Dr. Barr, who will provide you with safe, informed solutions to resolve any issues you may be experiencing related to your implants.
If you want to choose the best course of action for your health, a consultation with a patient counselor at Palm Beach Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery is the first step.
If you plan to cover your breast explant procedure using private insurance, prepare with these helpful resources — many of which have been collected and contributed by women in our community that have faced or are facing a similar situation. It is empowering to learn from others who have secured the coverage necessary to follow through with their choice to remove their breast implants in pursuit of a healthier future. Review the information at the links below that apply to you:
If you have additional questions regarding private insurance or related communications involving coverage, claims, or appeals for your breast implant removal procedure, our supportive staff is happy to help you.
The answer depends on multiple factors, including the specific combination of procedures, your recovery rates, your age and health status, and your behaviors or habits. More invasive surgeries typically require recovery time ranging between 6 and 12 weeks to 6 months, and surgeries to the same area of your body will also generally require recovery time between procedures.
However, if you are in good health and the combination of procedures in question will be performed on different parts of your body and are not especially invasive, a combination of procedures could potentially be approved together on a case-by-case basis. It is imperative that the combination of procedures does not compromise your healing, and your attention to prescribed pre-operation and recovery habits also plays a significant role. Schedule a consultation for an assessment and guidance regarding the procedures you are considering.
While aging affects us all, there are steps we can take to put forth a more vibrant appearance. We seek to perform subtle adjustments to address imperfections and the wear of time while retaining your natural look. While you should notice an improvement, the glaring changes or distortions in appearance you are concerned about and may have seen from other surgeons’ work do not meet the standard of quality plastic and cosmetic surgery we perform in our office.
Dr. Frederic M. Barr is a board-certified Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon with over 30 years of experience performing Plastic Surgery in South Florida. We enhance and refine your appearance according to your goals. Review our Gallery of Before & After Photos to see some examples of our work.
For patients with Breast Implant Illness (BII), which can include allergy, auto-immune, and thyroid hormone issues, this has been an emerging topic with significant press coverage in recent years. Although numerous medical professionals have demonstrated varying responses to these women’s concerns, we believe in addressing these women’s experiences and symptoms. In response to this phenomenon, we have also chosen not to perform new breast implant surgeries. We perform En Bloc Capsulectomy on patients with breast implants, which involves the removal of both the saline or silicone implant and the capsule around it.
Removal of the implants and surrounding scar tissue has been shown to improve women’s health concerning these symptoms. While some women choose no further procedure following Breast Explant Surgery, some patients elect to have a Mastopexy procedure that involves reshaping the breast tissue for a pleasant cosmetic breast appearance. We welcome your specific questions regarding these procedures and their anticipated effects for your situation. See our Breast Implant Explantation (En Bloc) page for more detailed information, including before-and-after photo examples.