Several situations may lead a patient with breast implants to decide on breast implant removal in Dallas. Pain, discomfort, rupture, leaking, rotation, and dissatisfaction are just a few of the reasons women may get their implants taken out. Sometimes, the old implants are replaced with new ones, and other times, nothing is done or the patient opts for another procedure such as a breast lift.
No matter your preferred approach to breast implant removal, sometimes, it can be useful to learn more about the procedure — both before and after. In the article ahead, we’ll go further into both the side effects that may lead you to breast implant removal surgery. Let’s get started.
Before and After Breast Implant Removal
Side Effects That May Prompt Breast Implant Removal
Patients end up having their breast implant removed for a range of reasons. Let’s take a look at some of the most common side effects that may cause a patient to opt for implant removal.
- Pain or general discomfort in and around the breasts
- Capsular contracture (the development of a tight, uncomfortable scar tissue capsule surrounding your implants)
- Dissatisfaction with the appearance of your implants
- A desire for implants of a different breast shape, size, or texture
- Breast implant rupture
- Breast implant rotation (especially with teardrop shaped implants)
- Diagnosis of a serious medical condition such as breast cancer
- Fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble concentrating
- Memory issues
- Breathing issues
The last six side effects are commonly associated with a condition called breast implant illness (BII). Neither doctors nor medical scientists know a great deal about this illness — except for a long list of symptoms that may or may not occur, depending on the patient.
Essentially, BII is a medical condition wherein the patient (who has breast implants — either silicone or saline implants) is having multiple negative health side effects and doctors don’t know why. When enough of these symptoms are found to not be associated with any other legitimate cause, it is often thought that breast implant removal should be the next step. And indeed, in many cases, once the implants are removed, symptoms subside or disappear altogether.
Common Side Effects After Breast Implant Removal Recovery
During breast implant removal recovery, your breast tissue will be inflamed, and you’ll have some swelling, bruising, and soreness. When you remove breast implants, it’s also common to appear flatter and to have more sagging. Breast augmentation surgery can stretch out the breast skin, and it may not retract (shrink back to its original size) after surgery.
In addition to dealing with bruising and swelling, you’ll need to wear a compression bra after surgery and take it easy. You’ll have incisions with surgery, so there will be wounds to properly care for. Follow your surgeon’s directions, especially concerning bathing, optimal sleeping positions, eating, and exercise. Do not lift anything heavy or exert yourself too much physically.
FAQ: Breast Explant Surgery Side Effects
What are some breast implant illness after breast implant removal?
If you have your breast implants removed because of breast implant illness, after your surgery, you will ideally feel much better. In a best case scenario, your symptoms (such as fatigue, trouble sleeping, joint and muscle pain, etc.) will subside and you will feel better than you did before your surgery.
Can breast implants develop mold?
In 2022, a patient had her breast implants removed due to suspected breast implant illness, and after removal, she says mold was found on her implants. According to this patient, if you find mold after breast implant removal prior to surgery may have included inflammation, depression, and muscle and joint pain. That was her experience.
Whether mold can actually develop on normal breast implants after successful breast implant surgery remains to be confirmed. Many experienced board certified plastic surgeons have not seen this issue before.
Will I be flat after breast implant removal?
In terms of the most worrisome post-surgery side effects flat after breast implant removal appears to be at the top of the list. Many patients are concerned about this.
The truth is your breast procedures appearance may indeed be flatter after your breast implant removal procedure. It only makes sense that once you’ve had your breast implants removed, your chest will look and feel smaller. The breast skin may have stretched to accommodate the implants after breast augmentation as well, so after removal, you may have excess skin.
To combat this, many patients talk to their plastic surgeon about getting a breast lift or fat grafting.
Will I feel better after my breast implants are removed?
It really depends on why you’re having your implants removed in the first place. If the reason is aesthetic and you feel you’ll look nicer after breast explant surgery, then yes, you should look and feel better. If you need to have your implants removed for medical reasons, you will also likely feel better after surgery.
However, remember that not everything is cut and dry. Breast implants can bring about difficult feelings as they often influence the way you feel about and see yourself. Some patients will need their implants removed for medical reasons, but it will be a bittersweet surgery as they might miss their implants.
Don’t be embarrassed or get upset at yourself for either not feeling better after breast explant surgery or for feeling better and wishing you’d never had implants in the first place. This can happen sometimes, but remember that hindsight is always 20/20, and we can’t change the past — only the future.
Set Up an Implant Removal Consultation Appointment
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raja Mohan performs breast implant removal and other surgical procedure at his Dallas practice. If you’ve been considering implant removal for yourself, please contact our office to schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Mohan.
We would be happy to show you breast implant removal before and after photos and discuss your options for surgery. Whether you decide to replace your implants, undergo a breast lift, or do nothing after implant removal, we can help. Call today to book your implant removal appointment.