Explantation of Breast Implants
It's not often, however, it does occur several times throughout each year that Dr. Linder is asked by patients to have their implants removed and explanted. Explantation of implants is a relatively simple operation. It should be performed under general anesthesia with a Board Certified Anesthesiologist in an Accredited Medicare State Licensed Surgery Center, usually through a periareolar approach, the implants can be removed, a small portion of capsule can be taken if necessary and a 7 mm JP drain is placed for seven days. This allows the pocket to close without fluid formation and a seroma which may occur. Women, however, often ask for mastopexies or breast lifts concurrently with the explantation of the implants because of the concern that there will be increased skin laxity. Certainly, the skin does not completely tighten, especially when larger implants are removed. However, in general, with a significant number of cases, Dr. Linder recommends explantation of the implants and waiting six months before considering a breast lift in order to see how much tightening will occur and this may help to avoid increased scarring on the breasts. When a woman has the implants explanted, we recommend an athletic brassiere and compressive garment for at least four weeks. This will help to tighten up the tissue and allow for hopefully the nipple areolar complex to elevate slightly superiorly.
When a woman decides to do explantation of the implants, it is important to understand her desire for it. If a patient desires to have them explanted because of a relationship reason, then we ask the patient to come back in one to two weeks, once again, thinking about their true reasons and making somewhat of a psychological analysis for their desire to have the implants removed completely. In other words, we do not want a patient to have a quick, rash decision to have the implants removed and then to have regrets soon after surgery. Therefore, a woman should be given at least two weeks of time to think about the decision for complete explantation without a reimplantation.
Stuart Linder, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a Beverly Hills and Las Vegas Breast Revision Surgeon who enjoys performing breast augmentations, breast revisions, breast lifts, breast reductions and breast reconstructive surgery. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
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Contributing Writer: Dr. Stuart A. Linder
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
January 2006
"Rippling” Visibility of the Implant Edge
Stuart A. Linder, M.D., F.A.C.S. Las Vegas Breast Revision Specialist
4180 South Grand Canyon Drive Las Vegas, Nevada 89147
Phone: (702) 434-7205
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