What is a Breast Implant Removal?
Breast implant removal is a surgical procedure that removes breast implants from a previous breast augmentation or breast reconstruction procedure.
Breast implant removal is necessary when the outside shell of an implant breaks down and causes silicone to leak resulting in scar tissue forming and hardening around the implant causing pain and discomfort.
What is the Procedure?
General anesthesia or intravenous sedation can be administered for your comfort during your Rancho Mirage breast implant removal.
The procedure takes between one to three hours with your surgeon making an incision along the lower fold of your breast or around/below the areola.
The breast implants and capsules are removed with one of the following three techniques:
- Breast implant removal surgery only with the incision done in the same location as the original breast implant surgery.
- Breast implant removal surgery with a breast lift because your breast skin is too stretched or sagged. This procedure removes excess skin and tightens your breast tissue for better support. Your areolas can also be resized to fit your new shape.
- Under local anesthesia, deflation is a non-surgical option if your breast implants are saline. However, a breast lift or breast implant replacement surgery may be necessary depending on the results of your Palm Desert breast implant removal surgery.
Once your procedure has been completed, your surgeon will use sutures, skin adhesives or clips to close the incisions. Your breast implant removal will result in a different shape for your breast profile, a flatter or droopier shape with some irregularities.
Fat Grafting
Fat grafting is a liposuction procedure that transfers fat from one part of your body and injects it into your breasts for enhancement and natural results. The fat can be taken from a number of areas like your arms, waist, buttocks or thighs using your own tissues to reconnect to your blood supply at the recipient site and work the same way it did in the donor site.
Fat grafting breast augmentation has been successfully done in our office when patients are looking to remove an existing implant and add fat grafting to their breast. There is a limitation to increased cup size but it can still add volume and thicken the soft tissue. Some of the benefits include correcting breast asymmetry and “lopsided” appearance.
What are the Non-Surgical Options?
Deflation is a non-surgical option if your breasts are saline. Ultrasound is a non-invasive and non-surgical procedure that softens the scar tissue through the use of sound waves and increases blood supply to the area.
Breast Implant Removal FAQs
Am I Candidate for a Breast Implant Removal?
Any woman in good overall physical health with a stable weight and a realistic expectation about the removal of her implants is a good candidate for breast implant removal in Rancho Mirage. Ideal candidates are women who are bothered by the appearance of her implants, has experienced discomfort or that her breasts have gotten harder and tighter.
What are the Benefits?
A Rancho Mirage breast implant removal can provide plenty of benefits for you because:
- You no longer are happy with the way your breast implants look after a pregnancy or weight gain/loss
- You want to go back to your breast’s natural size
- You have pain with the hardening of your implants
- You have discomfort like back pain
- One or both of your implants have leaked or ruptured
- One or both of your implants are saggy
- One or both of your implants and/or nipple have moved out of place
- You want an areola reduction
- You are looking for a new body image
- You are ready for a new change and regain self-confidence in your body
What are the Results?
The results from your breast implant removal will be permanent. At first, your breasts may look deflated as it can take up to three weeks for the breasts to regain their volume. Your scars will heal and fade over time but never fully disappear. There will be some swelling and healing that can take up to a year to completely heal and for the final results to be visible.
Is it Safe? What are the Risks?
There are some risks with this type of procedure, including bad reaction to anesthesia, bleeding, hematoma, infection, numbness, poor healing of incisions, scarring, seroma, skin loss or discoloration, swelling and thrombosis.
Will there be a Scar?
An implant removal scar typically heals very well and should be mostly inconspicuous. The scars heal in stages taking three to four months and will continue to fade over time, but never completely disappear.
How do I Prepare for Surgery?
A couple of weeks prior to your Rancho Mirage breast implant removal, you'll need to stop drinking and smoking because these activities increase the possibility of bruising and swelling. You'll also need to stop all of your medications and supplements. Have someone drive you to and from your surgery.
How is the Recovery?
What you can expect after your procedure is swelling and pain in the breast area. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medication to deal with discomfort. The swelling can take several weeks to go down. Gauze dressings or bandages may be placed around your breasts. You can also use a comfortable sports bra. You may also need to have drains that would be temporarily placed under the skin within the pocket to drain any excess blood or fluid.
Overall, you can expect less pain and a shorter recovery time than from your initial breast augmentation. Depending on how you feel, you may return to work within a few days. However, avoid strenuous exercises and activities for the first month after your surgery.
There is a longer recovery time if your breast implants are removed because of capsular contracture.
What is the Cost?
The cost of a Rancho Mirage breast implant removal surgery varies depending on the practice, its location and the experience of your surgeon. It is important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands what you need and provide the best service based on his education and experience.
The CareCredit program is an affordable healthcare financing program that some patients use for healthcare-related expenses. CareCredit offers an alternative line of credit that offers no interest if you pay the full payments. Call us for more details and discuss your options.
Finding the best Breast Implant Removal Surgeon
Your breast implant removal procedure is a personal choice and you want the best surgeon available to ensure a successful result. You need a board certified and experienced surgeon who will perform the procedure safely and restore your original look.
Dr. Villanueva and Dr. Chopra are breast implant removal surgeons with the education and experience to take care of you and successfully remove your implants.
Dr. Ordon is currently an associate professor of surgery at Keck/USC School of Medicine, and assistant professor of plastic surgery at Dartmouth School of Medicine and The University of Connecticut. Dr. Ordon is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the Double Boarded Society of Plastic Surgeons and the California Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Dr. Ordon is a diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the International College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
After graduating with an Engineering degree, Dr. Chopra received a Master in Medical Sciences followed by his Medical Degree from the prestigious Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Chopra received many accolades during his Medical School career, including the Alpha Omega Alpha award given to the top 10% of medical students followed by the award for top surgical student in 1999.
Dr. Chopra returned home to Los Angeles to complete a six-year general surgery residency at the world famous Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills where he excelled and was named Chief Administrative Resident for the 2005-2006 academic year followed by being named the most outstanding resident of 2006. Dr. Chopra continued his expertise in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York where a plastic surgery fellowship provided him with extensive experience in complex aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the entire body.
What is the mark of a good plastic surgeon?
“Experience and judgment are the attributes of the best surgeons. Most people will end up choosing someone they like, which makes sense. If you feel comfortable with your doctor, it’s easier to freely tell them what you want and how you want it. Make sure to go beyond that and carefully vet a surgeon by researching their credentials and experience.” Dr. Ordon
Consultation
During your breast implant removal consultation, you will have an opportunity to ask questions while he explores your medical history, any past surgeries, medical conditions and drug allergies.
It is also important to let us know what medications you are currently taking. We listen to your concerns to find the best course of treatment for you. Before and after photos can also be shown to you to see how we have successfully performed breast implant removal in Rancho Mirage for many years.
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