Breast implant removal · Explant surgery
Breast implant removal: Compare practices from our network
Breast implant removal takes out implants without replacing them, with or without the scar capsule around them. Your reasons are your own; the plan should fit them.
Our network
Breast implant removal providers from Adoreal's partner network.
Malmö · Sweden
Reformkliniken
Implant removal or exchange, with capsule treatment where needed and 3D visualisation of the result without implants.
Malmö · Sweden
Reformkliniken
Implant removal or exchange, with capsule treatment where needed and 3D visualisation of the result without implants.
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How to choose a breast implant removal surgeon
Board certification is the starting point. The details below are worth weighing carefully when you're choosing the surgeon who's right for your goals.
Here's what to look for before you decide:
A good surgeon respects your reason, and still examines you properly.
Whether you are removing implants because of a complication, a change in how you live, or symptoms you are worried about, the decision is yours. A surgeon worth trusting takes it seriously, checks the implants and the capsule, and explains what they find.
The capsule plan should be explained, not sold.
The implant can be removed alone, or with part or all of the capsule. A total capsulectomy has clear reasons, such as capsular contracture, a ruptured silicone implant, or a suspected implant-related lymphoma, but it is a bigger operation with its own risks. Ask what your surgeon recommends for your capsule, and why.
The best surgeons show you the likely shape afterwards.
Without implants, breasts often look flatter or looser at first, depending on your own tissue, your skin, and the size of the implants. A good surgeon talks you through that honestly, and explains whether a lift or fat transfer would help, or whether waiting is reasonable.
Transparency about your plan and expectations is non-negotiable.
Your surgeon should be comfortable documenting what will be removed, where the incisions will be, whether drains, a lift, or fat transfer are planned, and what recovery looks like week by week, and sharing that with you in writing.
Before your consultation, prepare this question
“What do you recommend for my capsule, and what will my breasts look like without implants?”
A surgeon who answers directly, rather than deflecting, is one who puts your outcome above the booking.
Find a Breast Implant Removal ProviderAbout the treatment
About breast implant removal
Breast implant removal, often called explant surgery, takes out breast implants without putting new ones in. During the same operation, the surgeon may also remove the capsule, the layer of scar tissue the body naturally forms around every implant, either in part or in full.
People choose removal for many reasons: a complication such as capsular contracture or rupture, discomfort, a change in lifestyle or taste, or concern about symptoms they associate with their implants. Removal can be a stand-alone operation, or combined with a breast lift or fat transfer to reshape the breasts.
Removal can be more involved than the original augmentation, so it should be planned by an experienced plastic surgeon.
What is breast implant removal?
Breast implant removal, or explant surgery, takes out breast implants without replacing them. The capsule of scar tissue around the implant can be left in place, or removed in part or in full.
It can be a stand-alone operation, or combined with a breast lift or fat transfer to reshape the breasts.
Why people choose removal
There is no single reason, and no reason needs justifying.
Breast implant removal might be an option for you if:
- The capsule around your implant has hardened or become painful
- An implant has ruptured or is leaking
- Your lifestyle, body, or preferences have changed
- Your implants feel too large or heavy
- You can see rippling, or your breasts have become uneven
- You have symptoms or concerns you associate with your implants
The capsule: leave it, or remove it?
Scar tissue forms around every implant. What happens to it is a key part of the plan:
- Implant only. The capsule is left in place. This means less surgery and a lower risk of bleeding.
- Partial capsulectomy. Part of the capsule is removed.
- Total capsulectomy. The whole capsule is removed, sometimes with the implant still inside it. Usually recommended for capsular contracture or a ruptured silicone implant.
En bloc removal is essential when there is a cancer in the capsule, such as BIA-ALCL. Capsulectomy has not been shown to be necessary for symptoms to improve, and it is a bigger operation with its own risks.
The treatment, step by step
Consultation. Your surgeon discusses your reasons, reviews your original surgery, and examines you. Ultrasound or MRI may be used to check the implants.
Anesthesia. Usually general anesthesia or intravenous sedation; some saline implants can be removed under local anesthesia.
Incisions. Where possible, the scar from your augmentation is reused.
Removal. The implant is taken out, alone or with part or all of the capsule.
Reshaping, if planned. A lift or fat transfer can be added.
Closing. Incisions are closed, drains placed if needed, and a support bra fitted.
Recovery and aftercare
Swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort are common in the first days. Many people return to non-physical work within about a week.
- Wear the recommended support bra during early healing
- Avoid chest workouts and heavy lifting until your surgeon clears you
- Attend follow-ups so healing and the new shape can be checked
The breasts settle into their new shape over about two to three months.
Risks and side effects
Implant removal carries the general risks of surgery, and removing the capsule is more extensive than removing the implant alone:
- Bleeding, including a collection of blood (hematoma)
- Fluid collection (seroma)
- Infection
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation
- Asymmetry, indentations, or loose skin
- Scarring or poor wound healing
- Persistent pain
- Blood clots and the general risks of anesthesia
- The need for further surgery
Common questions
Breast implant removal questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, ask us directly. A real person answers, and we won't push you toward anything.
Talk to us →Do I have to have the capsule removed too?
Not always. The capsule is often soft and can be left in place, which means less surgery and a lower risk of bleeding. Removing part or all of it is usually recommended for capsular contracture, a ruptured silicone implant, and sometimes when textured implants are removed. Your surgeon should explain what they recommend for you, and why.
What is an en bloc capsulectomy?
It means removing the implant and its whole capsule in one piece, without opening the capsule. Plastic surgery societies note that it is essential when there is a cancer in the capsule, such as BIA-ALCL. For other situations, the term total capsulectomy is more accurate, and it is a bigger operation that may carry higher risks.
Will removal help with breast implant illness?
Some people with implants report symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, or "brain fog", often called breast implant illness. These symptoms are poorly understood, and their cause is still being researched. Some people report that their symptoms improve after removal, but this cannot be guaranteed, and other causes should be checked first. Capsulectomy has not been shown to be necessary for symptoms to improve.
What will my breasts look like afterwards?
Usually closer to how they were before augmentation, but often flatter or looser at first. Your own breast tissue, skin elasticity, implant size, and how long the implants were in place all make a difference. Ask your surgeon to show you what to expect.
Will I need a breast lift?
Not always. If your skin has stretched, a lift can raise and reshape the breasts, either at the same time as removal or later, once the breasts have settled. Some people prefer to wait and see how their skin retracts.
Can I use fat transfer instead of new implants?
Yes. Fat taken from another area of your body by liposuction can be added to the breasts for a modest increase in volume and a softer shape. It is often combined with removal or a lift.
Will I have new scars?
Often not. Where possible, surgeons reuse the incision from your augmentation. A lift adds incisions, and implants placed through the armpit usually need a new incision on the breast.
How long is recovery?
Many people return to non-physical work within about a week, and most reach full recovery within four to six weeks. Recovery is usually longer after a capsulectomy or a lift.
Should textured implants be removed?
BIA-ALCL, a rare lymphoma of the immune system, is seen more often with textured implants. The FDA does not recommend routine removal of implants in people without symptoms, but some people choose it. If you notice persistent swelling, a lump, pain, or other changes around an implant, ask your surgeon or doctor for an evaluation.
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