Top Reasons for Breast Explant Surgery Today
When people decide to get breast implants, they often think they’ll have them for around 10 years. That’s how long the warranty is, after all. Still, it is not uncommon for women who get breast implants to choose later to have them taken out when their lives and priorities change, or another type of augmentation seems appealing. In these situations, women tend to seek breast explant surgery or breast implant removal.
In the U.S., almost 300,000 women a year choose to get breast implants. Interestingly, there is a steady increase in the number of women wanting to have their implants removed. Last year almost 25,000 women opted for breast explant surgery.
This decision might occur for several reasons, but are commonly either from personal preference or medical complications. If, for any reason, you are considering having your implants removed in the Dallas region, know that you are not alone in this consideration. The following will outline common reasons for breast explant surgery.
Why have Breast Explant Surgery?
As previously mentioned, the reasons for women wanting breast explant surgery generally fall into two categories, either from personal preference or medical complications.
If you are considering a breast explant surgery for any reason in Dallas TX, or the surrounding areas, consider reaching out to Dr. Armijo’s office over the phone at (214) 540 1434 to get some quick advice. We’re happy to answer questions specific to your situation.
Personal Preference
If for some reason, implants from an initial breast augmentation did not yield the desired results, patients will consider having the implants removed. The shape of the breast can also change over time, according to hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, and changes in weight. These changes to the appearance of the breast may lead to the desire to have the implant removed or repositioned to obtain the desired aesthetic once again.
A change in lifestyle or finding work in a different environment might also inspire the desire to have breast explant surgery. Whatever the reason, patients who have undergone breast implant surgery must remind themselves that being happy with their appearance and confident in oneself is probably one of the reasons that contributed to getting the initial surgery, so it can be just as essential to have explant surgery performed if there has been a change of heart.
Medical Complications
In some cases, it can be possible that the initial breast implant procedure may have been done poorly or incorrectly. This is most common when the procedure was done outside of the United States, which is why it is so important to strongly consider the qualifications, affiliations, and experience of the surgeon whom you choose to do your breast implants.
If so, it is possible for implants to become infected, rupture, or change position over time, all of which will necessitate the removal of the initial implant. If you are experiencing discomfort associated with your breast implants, consult an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Bryan Armijo. Dr. Armijo started on his path to becoming a plastic surgeon after growing up in a family with several breast cancer survivors. He knows well both the heartache and elation involved in breast surgery.
Disproportionately large breasts, both medically enhanced and natural, can also cause several problems for women. Neck, shoulder, and back problems can be an unexpected side effect of getting large implants, and some women may not have been adequately informed of this before their initial implant surgery (again, always consult a respected and experienced doctor about any procedure you are considering; ethical doctors will apprise you of all risks and steer you away from extreme procedures).
Some women may also experience a phenomenom called capsular contracture, wherein the body’s natural ability to form scar tissue around a foregin object, for whatever reason, does too good a job of forming scar tissue around one or both of the implants. Capsular contracture can cause the skin to “shrink wrap” the breast mound, often causing the breast mound to rise on the chest wall, which leads to quite a bit of discomfort for the patient. Unfortunately, this is one of the known risks when having any breast implant surgery. In these cases, the patient will forever be at a higher risk for recurrence of capsular contracture, so they may decide to just have the implants removed instead of replaced.
Lastly, the FDA recently became aware of an association between anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and certain textured implants. As I am sure you can imagine, many women who have these type of implants are very concerned and opt to have their implants removed, even if they are not showing any signs of ALCL. While the FDA does not recommend having the implants removed if the patient is not experiencing any symptoms, many women proceed with breast explant simply for the peace of mind. For more information on ALCL and the associated implants, please visit:
https://www.allergan.com/products/key-products/product-prescribing/voluntary-recall-of-biocell-textured-breast-imp
Culture Shift
A final reason breast explant surgeries are on the rise is the shifting of what our society perceives as beautiful. Cultural ideals of beauty change over time. While the sensuous, hourglass figure has been gaining in popularity, many still strive for the super fit and trim physique.
Breast explant surgery can address any number of medical or preferential requirements. More women are choosing to have their breast implants removed, and, if a breast lift is not requied, the procedure is relatively straight forward and generally takes approximately the same amount of time as the initial breast augmentation surgery.
View Our Gallery
View the gallery to see before and after photos of breast augmentations performed by Dr. Armijo.
If you would like to discuss the options available to you in Dallas, Texas or surrounding areas, call Dr. Armijo at (214) 540 1434, or to book a more in-depth consultation, fill in his online form.