Breast Implant Removal (Explant Surgery) | Melbourne | Explantation

• An incision is made, usually in the under-breast crease or IMF
• Your surgeon carefully removes your existing implants (if under warranty, these may need to get sent back to the manufacturer)
• Cleans out and sterilises your breast pocket and/or may remove the breast capsule (capsulectomy)
• Sutures the skin again (see OTHER OPTIONS, below).

Best Options for Removing Implants: This varies from patient to patient

• It’s your personal decision as to what happens after your breast implants are removed.
• Your skin strength or skin health – and existing breast tissues – need time to adjust, and may determine what’s best for you after removing your implants.
• If you already decided you want to replace your breast implants with newer types of implants, this is usually done after explantation of your original implants and before you are re-sutured.
• If you are having implants removed due to a complication such as capsular contracture, your Surgeon will guide you as to best-practice methods or alternatives and how long you might want to wait before your re-operation.

If you are not having new breast implants put in, then:

• You should ideally wait 12 months to assess how your skin heals and what your breasts look like.
• Factors to consider after breast implant removal include your skin sagging (ptosis), skin condition, breast size preferences, lifestyle, and other factors.

Once you assess how your breast area looks after recovery from having your implants removed, then you can make a decision about what to do next – such as having a breast uplift or new breast implants inserted (or both).

• Some Surgeons perform what’s called an internal bra lift vs a full breast lift – ask your Surgeon about these options during a consultation.
• If you have a complication, you may be restricted on what your best options are OR how long you may need to wait for re-operation.
• Otherwise, if you’re just having implants removed, or replaced, your Surgeon will advise you on choosing between some of the best available protocols for reshaping your breasts, including if FAT GRAFTING or an “internal bra” or FULL BREAST LIFT surgery may be a good option or your skin and breast shape.

• Explantation – the removal of a breast implant (also known as EXPLANTING or to EXPLANT a breast prosthesis)
• Implant Removal – complete removal of breast implants WITHOUT replacement
• Breast Implant Replacement – removing existing breast implant(s) and inserting NEW implants into the chest area pocket, either above or under the muscle or both (dual-plane)
• Breast Prosthesis – a type of implant that is external to your own tissues, e.g. saline or silicone breast implants, that are inserted into the body under the skin, muscles and/or other tissues.
• Capsulectomy – surgical removal of the capsule that forms around a breast implant once in place; especially if capsular contracture has occurred (hardening/tightening of the capsule or scar tissue)
• Manufacturer’s Warranty – usually a 10 year period in which the implant’s durability is guaranteed to remain intact and – if fails – the period of time the manufacturer will EXCHANGE your implants for a new pair / new set (this varies from supplier to supplier and there are terms and conditions; e.g. any faults or failures have to be implant-related and the original pair or set needs to be returned to the supplier in order to get the new set covered; surgery costs are still external (warranties ONLY apply to implants, not to surgery costs).
• Breast Lift (Mastectomy) – a lifting and rearranging of the breast mound and nipples to an uplifted and more centralised location on the chest wall/breast area.
• Reduction Mammoplasty – breast reduction, usually of natural tissues and repositioning of the Reduction Mammoplasty nipple areolar complex (NAC)
• Suture – stitches or staples used to connect skin that has had an incision or surgical cut
• Scar – a mark where the skin was cut with a surgical blade or laser
• Hybrid Breast Augmentation – a method that uses breast implants for volume and breast projection, PLUS fat grafting (fat transfer) via liposuction, for extra cleavage shaping and/or implant edge covering in thin patients. It’s a COMBINATION procedure of fat grafting with breast implants.
• Recovery – the healing period or time frame and protocols for AFTER you have surgery
• Plastic Surgeon – a Specialist for cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive procedures, who has studied for at least 12 years and undergone substantial training and examination
• Cosmetic Surgeon – usually a GP, skin doctor or dentist who has NOT had specialist qualifications in plastic surgery and does NOT have operating rights in accredited private Hospitals; may have taken a year-long course as opposed to the extensive training of a Plastic Surgeon, who is FRACS (Plas)
• FRACS – Royal Australasian College of Surgeons – a body that oversees surgical recognition and testing for Specialists in Australia who pass extensive exams
• ISAPS, ASAPS, ASPS – groups that only Plastic Surgeons can belong to.
• Surgery Risk – a potential unwanted outcome or complication that may be of concern
• Keller Funnel – a device and insertion method for inserting silicone breast implants with minimal handling
• Mentor or Motiva – Australian approved quality breast prosthesis for augmentation surgery (breast enlargement)
• Risks – health concerns or potential risks of having surgery or of having a complication

Common reasons for removing or replacing breast implants with new ones include:

• lifestyle changes that leave you wanting a DIFFERENT bra cup size or appearance change
• a desire to go smaller or larger than your original breast implants
• ‘Boob envy’ – wanting to exchange your implants for a larger size
• losing weight or having skin ptosis (drooping skin) and needing an uplift or “internal bra lift” breast uplift
• life events such as pregnancy, weight changes, silicone sensitivity
• breastfeeding or ageing related considerations
  • sagging skin AFTER having babies or menopause
  • having large-sized breast implants and finding they interfere with breastfeeding comfort
• a scenario where you have a complication or health concern with original breast augmentation surgery such as:
  • double bubble
  • bottoming out
  • uni-boob or mono-boob (breasts too close in the middle)
  • capsular contracture
  • sensitivity to silicone
  • uneven breasts in size or shape
  • movement of the implant in the chest area/pocket
  • other (see below)
• personal reasons such as:
  • changing professions
  • taking up competitive sports
  • wanting to do more vigorous activities where a flatter or lower-projecting chest will feel more comfortable, such as exercising or running
  • when having larger implants has impacted your competitive sporting edge
  • other changes to your size ideals or aesthetic preferences

Other factors that may lead to breast implant removal or replacement surgery:

• Implant Wrinkling
• Skin sagging or skin concerns
• Excessive Movement of your implant(s) 
• An unusual Allergic Reaction to a specific type or brand of implant (we use high-quality Mentor implants)
• Breast Asymmetry(the two are not identical in either shape or position) 
• Breast implant surgical complications such as infections or bleeding
• Lifestyle ideal changes or size preference changes

Ageing Breast implants: Should you take OLD implants OUT?

Implants do have a suggested lifespan or warranty period of about 10 years according to most quality breast implant manufacturers.

But every woman ages differently, and there are many types of implants used over the past several decades – so there’s not necessarily a right or wrong answer.

It’s a personal decision as to how long you have implants and whether or not your replace them or remove them and at what time in life you do so.

However, our TOP breast Surgeons in Melbourne have best-practice protocols for Checking your Breast Implant status every year after surgery and conducting more comprehensive tests or images, if required, at or around the 10 year post-op mark.

Recommended reading: WHAT TO CONSIDER during a REMOVAL or REPLACEMENT Breast Implant Operation including Manufacturer Warranty information.

Surgery TIP: Visit your Plastic Surgeon every year to assess your breast implant results and to monitor your implants over time PLUS make a note about when your 10-year Surgical Review or extensive medical assessments are due.

KEEP your medical files up to date! If you’ve moved, changed your phone number and/or changed your address or other contact info – or if you experience any unusual symptoms or failed to attend your regular checkups – please call us today for a REVIEW.  Ph: 0388491444

Best ways to reduce complication risks with Breast Augmentation or replacement of existing implants:

• Choose a Surgeon who prioritises patient safety and sanitation at all levels of your surgery
• Be sure your Surgeon is an experienced expert in Breast Augmentation (ask how many they have performed this year and over their lifetime)
• Have surgery in a reputable facility (an accredited hospital rather than a back room) and be sure you choose a QUALITY implant manufacturer such as Mentor or Motiva (not a cheap unknown brand or less reputable brand)
• Don’t smoke (not before and not after)
• Don’t do too much too soon
• Follow your surgeon’s advice
• Don’t go overseas for cheaper offers because you could end up disfigured, as many overseas patients who had botched results discovered
• Know the difference between a cosmetic doctor and a bonafide Plastic Surgeon (a Specialist Plastic Surgeon)

Recognise that some complications may occur randomly and may not be predictable.

• So notify and see your Surgeon immediately if you have any concerns or symptoms of a potential complication.
• If you suspect a serious complication or experience a sudden change to your breast implant results, and you cannot get in to see your original Surgeon, seek urgent medical attention if required.

• Choosing a less trained surgeon or cheap breast implant brand that doesn’t have a quality reputation
• Smoking – greatly increases your risks of health complications including problems with your augmentation surgery;
  • If you smoke, tell your SURGEON and
  • DO NOT HAVE SURGERY until you are firmly a non-smoker.
• Insist on Surgeons who value the 14 Step Methods – our team takes special steps such as the best-practice method of 14 steps to reduce complication RISKS for getting breast implants – ask us how we do this.
• Use a HOSPITAL not a clinic back room – We also perform revision breast surgery procedures at Melbourne Hospitals – ask your Surgeon for details.

Melbourne | Top Breast Explantation and Breast Lift Plastic Surgeons

• Always choose a Specialist Plastic Surgeon who has expertise in Breast procedures (look for FRACS qualifications and ISAPS, ASAPS or ASPS).
• Our TOP Breast Surgeons operate in HOSPITALS (not back rooms) because hospital sterilisation and patient safety protocols are better monitored in these facilities.
• Remember,  doctors calling themselves “cosmetic surgeons” DO NOT HOLD the same qualifications or hospital operating rights as genuine Plastic Surgeon.

Our Surgeons offer breast augmentation, explantation and breast implant replacement procedures with best-practice methods including using high-quality Mentor and Motiva implants with 10 year warranties, inframammary incision methods using the Keller Funnel, fat grafting to breasts after liposuction, Hybrid Breast Augmentation (fat transfer and breast implants) and more!

Choosing the Best Surgeons for a Breast Implant Removal Operation (or Size Replacement)

Our Surgeon’s affiliations include:

Read the Breast Augmentation Surgeon BIOS of some of the best Plastic Surgeons in Melbourne for your procedure.

For more information on our Breast Augmentation Surgeons, click on individual surgeon links below.

Dr Craig Rubinstein, Dr Geoff Barnett, Dr Rebecca Wyten, Dr Richard Sackelariou and Dr Richard Maxwell are all FRACS qualified Plastic Surgeons.

Depending on your choice of Surgeon for breast augmentation, you may have your surgery in ONE of the following Hospital locations in Melbourne or Berwick:

St Vincent’s Private Hospital – KEW

Masada Private Hospital – St KILDA

Epworth Hospital – HAWTHORN

Epworth Hospital – RICHMOND

Epworth Hospital – CLIVEDEN

St John Of God Hospital – BERWICK

Sydney surgery – 1800 033 333 

Our Surgeons are experts at Breast Augmentation, Implant Removal and implant replacement, sizing estimations, surgery planning and scar minimisation.

If you have a BOTCHED breast job, find out if we can help by asking for an assessment of removal of your implants.

• Not all surgeries go to plan, such as if you choose a less experienced doctor for your procedure
• You may want a revision if your first surgery didn’t address your concerns or ended up problematic
• Some women want implant removal due to an earlier botched cosmetic surgery procedure that resulted from a less trained doctor or from cheap overseas surgery options (read the dangers of medical tourism)- or if you had surgery by a GP or Dermatologist skin doctor instead of a qualified Specialist Surgeon with FRACS
• Or perhaps you’re on this page because you experienced problems with an inferior implant or the wrong type of implant (e.g., a cheap implant option or one that is found to potentially need replacement).
• You may seek to remove your breast implants completely and/or replace your breast implants with a more reputable brand or reliable type.

Cancer screening may also be a reason to seek removal of your breast implants.

• Recently diagnosis or suspicion of Breast Cancer
• Family members experiencing breast surgery meaning you may be at higher risk and need to screen more frequently
• Interference with Breast Screening Mammograms (if you have a personally high risk factor or genetic risk factors)