When should I remove or replace my breast implants?

For patients who already have or are considering getting breast implants, a common question that may be on their minds is, “When should I remove or replace my breast implants?” Breast implant removal, also known as explantation, is a procedure many women choose for a variety of reasons. Some women may find that as their bodies change with aging, pregnancy, or weight gain, they no longer want the increased size from their breast implants. Others may simply evolve their personal preferences over time and wish to have their implants removed. Still others may have unfortunately gotten a result they were unhappy with from their breast augmentation, and immediately desire a change. There are also a few different medical indications for explanation. These may include implant rupture, capsular contracture, infection, or addressing any concerns the surgeon or patient has. It is important to remember that foreign objects introduced to the body – whether it be a pacemaker, knee replacement, or breast implant – are not considered lifelong devices, and require some maintenance over time.

Whatever the reason a patient is exploring the option of having her implants removed, Dr. Traci Temmen recognizes that the explantation decision is a big one for many women, and is often accompanied by worries of what the breasts will look like after the procedure. Dr. Temmen works one-on-one with each patient, listening to their wishes for their appearance after explantation as well as their concerns and fears. She works together with her patients to develop a personalized plan to achieve an attractive result that is as close to the patient’s goal appearance post-surgery as possible.

Another point patients considering explantation should keep in mind is there is significant variability in breast appearance after the implants are removed. For some women who had smaller implants placed, more recent implantation, or more robust overlying tissues and tighter skin, a breast explantation surgery alone may yield a very aesthetic result. This means that after 4-6 weeks of recovery, the skin will tighten and the breasts will “fluff up” with minimal sagging or drooping. Typically, these patients have the best chance of attaining results from explantation alone that look most similar to their pre-implantation appearance. For women with larger implants, who have had them for a long period of time, or have less robust overlying tissue and looser skin, a simple breast explantation procedure may leave a result the patient is unhappy with. In other words, removing the implants in these patients without doing any other procedure may leave the breasts with a “deflated” or saggy appearance.

In these cases, there are many options for improving the breast appearance – and Dr. Traci Temmen is an expert at working with her patients to identify the best option for them that will yield the most beautiful and natural-looking result. These options include breast reduction, breast lift, and liposuction with fat transfer to the breast. The breast reduction and breast lift options are ideal for removing excess tissue that causes the breasts to sag, creating a perkier and more youthful appearance. A breast reduction removes more tissue than a breast lift, so it is generally better suited for women who wish to decrease the size of their breasts even more in addition to removing their implants. Liposuction with fat transfer to the breast is a great option for filling out breasts that look “deflated” after explantation. In this procedure, fat is first liposuctioned form the patient’s midsection, which has a slimming and smoothing effect. This fat is then precisely transferred to the patient’s breasts, providing soft, natural-looking volume. As a highly skilled female plastic surgeon,

Dr. Traci Temmen has both the technical skill to perform all of these variants of breast explanation as well as the patience and understanding to listen to her patient’s wishes and concerns, ensuring that they leave with a result that makes them feel beautiful and confident.

Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Traci Temmen expertly performs breast explantations of all variations with beautiful results! To view some real examples, please explore the tabs under the “Breast” section of the “Before and After” tab of this website, including the “Breast Implant Removal” and “Fat Transfer to Breast” tabs.

If you are interested in seeing if you are a candidate for breast implant removal, or any other cosmetic surgery procedure you are interested in, book a one-on-one consultation with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Traci Temmen, MD: 813-771-6393.