Los Gatos 408-559-7177 Menlo Park Coming 2024 Marin 415-980-6414
Book Appointment
Los Gatos
Menlo Park (Coming 2024)
Marin

Breast Implant Removal at Aesthetx

Breast implant removal can also be the answer to medical issues with your implants, such as a rupture of silicone gel or the thickening and hardening of the implant capsule tissue (also known as capsular contracture). Some women experience back, neck, or shoulder pain that they’d like to resolve. In extremely rare cases, specific brands of textured implants have been found to heighten the risk of a form of cancer known as Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), and though there are no formal recommendations for these implants to be removed, it can give many patients extra peace of mind.

Whatever your reason for considering breast implant removal, it’s critical that you work with an expert surgeon. At Aesthetx, Dr. Zeidler, Dr. Hausauer, and the multi-specialty support team are here to help you through every step of the process. If you have any questions, read on or give our San Jose, CA, office a call at (408) 539-2791 today.

Why Consider Breast Implant Removal?

Many of our patients come to Aesthetx for breast implant removal for one of these main reasons:

  • Pain or discomfort caused by enlarged breasts, often during exercise
  • An urge to return to a slimmer, natural figure
  • A change in preference for a different size or shape
  • An implant shifting, creating an asymmetrical breast appearance

Additionally, other patients come to us looking to address medical or health concerns, including:

  • Chronic implant pain
  • Early signs of capsular contracture, such as hardening and thickening of the tissue
  • surrounding the implant
  • Rupture, leakage, or other issues with a silicone implant
  • Infection
  • Concern about implants causing other symptoms
Banner media
Woman posing in black bikini

What Happens During My Breast Implant Removal?

Your procedure will be performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will do their best to use the same incision site from your initial augmentation to minimize scarring. Then, the implant is removed, as well as any inflamed or damaged capsular tissue (or normal capsule, if this is your preference) if necessary.

If you choose to complete a breast lift during the same procedure, your surgeon will meticulously lift and reshape your breasts with an appropriate technique agreed upon in your consultation. Some patients also opt to resize their areolas to complement their new breast shape.

Breast Implant Removal Procedure Options

Depending on your reason for choosing implant removal, the procedure can vary. Some women may need to have the tissue surrounding the implant, a thin layer known as a “capsule,” removed in addition to the implant. The capsule is a normal bodily response to a foreign object and is not in itself harmful. Even pacemakers and hip replacements have capsules. By removing this tissue along with your implant, your surgeon creates a clean pocket that can heal and close. This is also ideal for women who want to consider implant replacement down the line.

Total Capsulectomy Breast Implant Removal

Problems such as implant rupture or the surrounding tissue reacting negatively to the implants (capsular contracture) are best addressed by total capsulectomy breast implant removal, in which all of the capsule is removed. During your consultation, we will determine how difficult this will be and how it will be completed. Some ask for “en bloc,” which sometimes is or is not possible, as this method is saved only for cancer treatment. When you visit us for a consultation, we will discuss how to safely ensure a total capsulectomy with complete removal of the implant capsule if that is your preference.

Simple Breast Implant Removal

For some patients, the surgeon only removes the implants, leaving the surrounding tissue intact. Generally, we perform these procedures for women whose implants have not caused a reaction in the breast tissue and are intact. If you want your implants gone solely for personal reasons, this technique could be right for you. Sometimes portions of the implant capsule are removed to help with the healing process.

Breast Implant Removal with Breast Lift

By itself, implant removal can lead to sagging for patients with less elastic skin. Combining breast implant removal with a breast lift allows the Aesthetx team to provide stunning results while reducing your breast volume, restoring a natural shape and youthful contour and position.

Dr. Zeidler has pioneered her very own signature breast lift procedure called the auto augmentation breast lift with the short scar, also known as the auto implant technique. This truly innovative method uses a patients’ own breast tissue to create more natural fullness in the breast without the use of implants. To achieve this, the surgeon takes a wedge of breast tissue from the lower breast, tucks it up beneath the tissue, and moves to the top of the breast. The auto implant technique reshapes the breast with greater projection, more lift, a nicely rounded shape, and minimal scarring.

Dr. Zeidler has further enhanced this procedure by being one of the first to incorporate a biological scaffold called a tissue matrix, which acts as a kind of hammock to support the redistributed tissue from below.

Breast Implant Removal with Fat Transfer

Additionally, many patients decide to include fat transfer to their procedure plan. Fat transfer:

  • Provides extra volume
  • Smooths out the breast mound
  • Adds fullness to the auto implant technique
  • Is ideal for women who want larger breasts without breast implants

As one of our specialties, fat transfer can be conducted at the time of removal or as a series of operations during and after removal. Our experts can discuss the intricacies of your unique situation and which options are most suitable for you when you meet with us in a consultation.

You can learn more about this and our other state-of-the-art techniques by visiting our breast lift and fat transfer to the breasts pages.

How Will My Breasts Look After Implant Removal?

During your consultation, we will examine you to determine if it’s possible for your breasts to return to their pre-implant size and shape. We will also see what can be done to ensure that you are not left feeling deformed and how we can maximize aesthetics with a breast lift and/or fat transfer, if indicated. For women whose skin has stretched, a breast lift may be necessary to return to a natural look. Our experts will review all of your options and recommend the procedures that indicate the best chance of achieving your desired appearance.

plants in glass vase

San Jose Breast Implant Removal FAQ

What is breast implant removal recovery like?

Can I get a breast lift during the same procedure as my implant removal?

What is breast implant removal recovery like?

Breast implant removal recovery does require you to set aside some time to rest and heal after your procedure. However, our patients sometimes say that the process is less difficult than their initial augmentation. If the capsule is removed and if implants are under the muscle, it can be more painful but managed with nerve blocks.

Your surgeon will provide specific information for you based on your procedure, though generally, we ask all patients to avoid driving for a few days (or longer if you are taking pain medication). You should also refrain from any strenuous physical activity for two to three weeks.

We’ll also provide a surgical bra that should be worn for several weeks post-op while your breasts fully heal.

Most women should be able to return to work within a week following surgery.

Can I get a breast lift during the same procedure as my implant removal?

Absolutely. We often recommend this combination to produce the best results. Breast lifts remove excess tissue and skin that may have stretched to accommodate implants, and the surgery can reposition and reshape sagging breasts. For women who received their implants some time ago, age, breastfeeding, or weight fluctuation may also have contributed to sagging–a breast lift can restore a youthful contour. Our signature auto implant technique is an industry innovation that allows for optimal results with minimal scarring, more fullness in the upper breast, more tissue stability, and more.

Why Should I Choose Aesthetx?

When you work with Aesthetx, you know you will be compassionately guided through your surgical process by the best of the best. We provide our patients with the absolute highest level of care, cutting-edge technology, and the most advanced surgical techniques.

Dr. Kamakshi Ziedler is a leading expert in special breast aesthetics and complex breast procedures. In addition to personally developing numerous innovative breast surgery techniques, Dr. Ziedler teaches these techniques worldwide and works with companies to help create new products to make procedures more predictable.

The decision to make a change and remove your breast implants is a big one, and we want to ensure your confidence and comfort from the outset. The best way to determine what approach is right for you is to schedule an in-person consultation at Aesthetx San Jose, CA, office.

If you think a breast implant removal could be right for you, give us a call at (408) 539-2791 or contact us online today.

Contact us media

Contact Us Today Schedule a Consultation

Unsure where to begin? Our experts can guide you.

Book Now
Contact us media

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at 408-559-7177.
Contact Us