Breast Explant
Women may need or want breast implant removal surgery (breast explant) for many reasons. Breast implants are not designed to last a lifetime and must be replaced every 10 to 15 years. Breast explant addresses capsular contracture, implant ruptures, unsatisfactory results, and other issues. The procedure removes saline or silicone breast implants after augmentation or reconstruction. Dr. Georgina Nichols offers breast explant in Sacramento for women with a medical need or personal reason to remove or replace breast implants.
Your Breast Explant with Dr. Nichols
Breast implant removal typically uses an inframammary incision (the fold or crease under the breast) or an incision around or below the areola. Dr. Nichols may remove the implant and the scar capsule around it, depending on the reason for the procedure. If you choose not to replace your breast implants, your breast shape will droop and appear flatter, and Dr. Nichols may recommend fat grafting breast augmentation to improve the breast shape.
En bloc capsulectomy is a surgical technique that removes the breast implant and scar tissue capsule in one piece without opening the scar tissue.
Is Breast Explant with Dr. Nichols Right for You?
Breast implant removal is necessary if you experience capsular contracture. Capsular contracture occurs when the scar tissue around the breast implant hardens and tightens around the implant shell, causing discomfort and a distorted breast appearance. If an existing implant ruptures or leaks, breast explant is required to remove and replace it. A leak is noticeable in saline breast implants because the body absorbs the saltwater solution. Silicone implant leaks are “silent” and require an MRI to diagnose because the silicone gel stays within the scar capsule.
Women may wish for breast implant removal if they have asymmetrical results, are unhappy with their results, experience breast implant illness symptoms, or no longer want breast implants. Candidates must be physically healthy, nonsmokers, and at a stable weight to avoid breast changes.
Reasons for Breast Explant
In some circumstances, including capsular contracture and implant rupture, breast explant is necessary for a woman’s health. Breast implant illness is a rare phenomenon consisting of symptoms that may be linked to breast implants. Even though there isn’t a test or procedure to diagnose or identify breast implant illness, some women choose to remove their breast implants in hopes of alleviating symptoms.
Symptoms of breast implant illness may be musculoskeletal, such as joint and muscle pain and muscle weakness. Women can also experience cognitive changes, such as anxiety, brain fog, fatigue, and memory loss. Systemic symptoms may involve chronic pain, dry eyes, hair loss, and skin problems. While it’s difficult to know if breast implants cause these symptoms, breast explant is the only treatment for suspected breast implant illness.
Other reasons women seek breast explant may be cosmetic, including exchanging old implants with a new type, shape, or texture or removing implants because the patient is no longer happy with her results.
Why Choose Dr. Nichols at The Plastic Surgery Center
Dr. Georgina Nichols earned her medical degree from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles School of Medicine in Belgium and completed a residency and fellowship in the United States. She is fluent in Spanish, French, and English and has extensive experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Nichols prides herself on providing excellent results and taking time to get to know a patient’s desires. She tailors each procedure to the patient’s unique needs, and her feminine touch and aesthetic eye make her the ideal plastic surgeon for breast surgery.
Schedule a Breast Explant Consultation with Dr. Nichols
If you’re interested in breast implant removal, contact The Plastic Surgery Center in Sacramento, California. Schedule a breast explant consultation with Dr. Nichols today by calling (916) 929-1833.
