Westport, New Canaan, Ridgefield & All of Fairfield County
Removing breast implants is a personal choice for many women – and we’ll help you make the choice.
Breast implant removal is a surgical procedure that removes breast implants from a previous breast augmentation or breast reconstruction surgery.
Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, a woman desires breast implant removal without placing a new implant – this is known as “explantation.”
The appearance of the breast following explantation will depend upon how much natural breast tissue a woman has as well as the nature of her skin envelope and the shape of the breast with the implant in position. There are many options available to lift and reshape the breast following explantation including immediate and delayed mastopexy; in many cases, the aesthetic result is acceptable with simply implant removal. Removal of breast implants can usually be performed in our office-based outpatient surgical facility without the need for general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. We will work with your insurance carrier, as many plans provide reimbursement for explantation.
Sometimes, depending upon the clinical situation, the decision making is more complex and procedures like capsulectomy are considered. We’ll help you understand the various options so you can make a thoughtful, informed choice for your Westport breast implant removal needs.
Total Aesthetics in Westport and Fairfield County
The appearance of your breasts following implant removal will depend upon your residual breast volume, your shape and the elasticity of your soft tissue envelope. Following a thorough history and examination, plastic surgeons are usually able to provide patients with an approximate indication of how their breasts might look.
Some patients are candidates for a breast lift (mastopexy) following implant removal and others are satisfied with the appearance of their breasts with no additional surgery.
In some cases, mastopexy is performed at the time of implant removal and, in others, it can be performed on a delayed basis after a close evaluation of breast size and shape.
In some cases, removal of the tissue around the implant (capsulectomy) is recommended and this will be reviewed with you at the time of Westport breast implant removal consultation.
When it comes to breast implant removal Westport patients should check their policy carefully. In many cases, removal of breast implants is covered by health insurance. Our office will work with you to determine whether your insurance plan will consider this a covered service.
Breast implant removal is generally safe and has been performed by Dr. O'Connell for many years. As with all surgery there are risks and potential complications. Capsulectomies are more complex procedures and carry additional risks.
When possible we try to utilize existing inframammary scars for explantation. When capsulectomy is performed the scars are usually longer.
Recovery following removal of breast implants depends upon whether capsulectomy and/or mastopexy is performed. Having been under local anesthesia following a simple explantation Westport patients can usually return to sedentary work in a few days.
Textured breast implants have been associated with a rare form of lymphoma known as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). The decision to remove textured implants is one that should be carefully considered based upon the most current information and perhaps tempered by the recommendations of the FDA. If you have a history of a textured device we would recommend that you visit us for a consultation so that this issue can be discussed in detail.
While a complete copy of all your medical records is usually not necessary, we would recommend that you bring as much information as possible with regard to breast implants and breast expanders that you currently have or have had in the past. This would include the “wallet card” containing the manufacturer’s model and lot numbers. If this is not available the surgeon’s Operative Report and operative nursing notes often contain implant information.
Dr. O’Connell recommends that when textured implant removal is performed, it be accompanied by capsulectomy.
The decision to remove, or remove and replace, breast implants can be a difficult one both medically and emotionally. Age and type of implant as well as history of a textured implant can enter into the decision making.
We’ll help you understand the issues so you can make the best decision with regard to your overall health and breast aesthetics. If you are considering breast implant removal please bring as much information as possible about your prior breast procedures, especially information about your current and all prior breast implants, to your consultation.
When considering the important and intensely personal decision of breast implant removal you’ll want an experienced plastic surgeon that you can trust.
With over 30 years in the practice of plastic surgery, Dr. O’Connell has had hands-on experience with almost every type and generation of breast implant. He’s a published author on the removal of polyurethane covered implants. Dr. O’Connell will help you understand the issues with your implants and your options going forward.
It’s important to note that Dr. O’Connell currently does not utilize or recommend silicone gel breast implants.
The first step towards a new, beautiful you is to schedule a personal consultation.
Along with providing the highest level of care, no effort is spared to create an environment where each patient is nurtured and cared for as an individual. Use our form to contact Dr. O’Connell with questions about any of our aesthetic or plastic surgery procedures.
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(203) 454-0044
208 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06880
Total Aesthetics proudly serves patients from Westport, New Canaan, Bridgeport, Greenwich and all of Fairfield County Connecticut.
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