Breast Implant Removal

Breast implant removal, or explantation, takes out breast implants and, when indicated, the surrounding capsule (capsulectomy). Reasons include capsular contracture, rupture, malposition, breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), systemic symptoms some patients attribute to implants, and personal preference. Capsule removal ranges from partial to total to en bloc; the surgery can be paired with a lift or fat transfer to restore shape.

What it does

Removal takes the implants out, and then addresses the space and shape they leave behind.

• Removes the implants. Permanently, for a complication or simply because you want to be implant-free.
• Handles the capsule. Depending on the situation, the scar capsule may be left, partly removed, or fully removed.
• Restores shape. A lift can firm loose skin, and fat transfer can restore modest volume, if you want them, sometimes staged for safety.

The honest part is that removal reliably takes the implants out; what it will do for symptoms some people attribute to implants is less certain, and a good surgeon says so.

How it works

Removal is performed under anesthesia, usually through the original incision. The surgeon takes out the implant and, based on the clinical situation, removes the capsule partially, totally, or en bloc (in one piece with the implant). If you want the breast reshaped, a lift or fat transfer can sometimes be done at the same time, though a lift and a full capsulectomy are occasionally staged to protect the breast’s blood supply. Recovery is often straightforward, with many people back to exercise within a couple of weeks.

How much capsule to remove is a medical decision, not a default. Evidence guides it, and it is discussed openly with you.

How much capsule, and why the evidence matters

The capsule question is where honest, evidence-based counsel matters most, because online advice often overstates it.

Professional societies note that the one absolute indication for en bloc removal is a capsule malignancy (BIA-ALCL); for symptoms attributed to implants, studies show improvement can occur regardless of how much capsule is removed, so a more extensive operation is not automatically better. A board-certified surgeon matches the capsule approach to the evidence, not to a marketing promise.

Reasons people choose removal

This is what the consultation clarifies, because the reason shapes the plan and the honesty required.

The value is not the list. It is that a board-certified surgeon takes your reasons seriously, including symptoms that are real to you, while being straight about what the evidence does and does not show.

Why Santa Barbara Face & Body

Implant removal is an area thick with online certainty and marketing, and what most patients need is a surgeon who will tell them the truth. Dr. Polynice is a Mayo-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon focused on breast and body surgery, and he takes reported symptoms seriously while practicing evidence-based medicine, matching the capsule approach to the clinical situation rather than to a promise, and restoring shape with a lift or fat transfer when you want it. Honesty, not a guarantee, is the standard here.

What to expect

Dr. Polynice listens to your reasons, examines the breasts, and reviews imaging when it helps. He explains the capsule approach the evidence supports for your situation, whether a lift or fat transfer would restore shape, and is candid that while removal takes the implants out reliably, symptom improvement varies and cannot be guaranteed. You leave with a plan grounded in evidence and your goals, not a sales pitch.

What it costs

Removal is quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because it depends on how much capsule work is involved and whether you add a lift or fat transfer. You will have that number in writing at your consultation, before anything is scheduled.