What options are open to me with implant removal?

There are three main options opens to patients who chose to have their implant removed.

Option 1: To have them removed and not replaced
This is medically the best option especially if the implants are removed for rupture or capsular contracture, but cosmetically, it may not give the most satisfactory result. This option allows the best mammogram breast screening for the future. It also removes the possibility of you needing another implant revision procedure sometime in the future. It does not carry any of the implant surgery risks such as implant infection, implant rupture, capsular contracture, malpositioning etc. However, by not replacing your implant, you must accept smaller breasts, which may be associated with some loose skin. The amount of loose skin can be heavily dependent on the elasticity or retractile ability of your skin, the size of the implant that was in place and amount of natural breast tissue present.

Option 2: To have them removed and replaced
There are several factors to consider when implants are being replaced: the type and size of implant and the plane in which they are to be placed. Both of these factors are determined by the reason for your implant revision and the desired cosmetic result you are after. This is the most complex of the three options and carried surgical risks associated with any implant surgery, including the possibility of requiring revision surgery within 10-15 years. The new implants may also interfere with future mammograms.

Option 3: To have them removed and the breast tissue lifted (mastopexy)
This option is only suitable for a very limited number of patients. This is often performed if one has an adequate volume of natural breast tissue which has sagged over small to moderate sized implants. Unfortunately, as with all breast lifts, this procedure will require removal of loose skin, thus extensive scarring over the breast. Like the first option, this is a good choice medically as the lift does not affect mammograms and not replacing the implant makes breast screening a much safer and accurate process.

To read about Breast Implant Surgery,click here.