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July 24, 2008
Welcome to Breast Implants Removal!
 Three
of the most common reasons for breast implant removal
are change of size and shape, capsular
contracture and implant rupture.
The breast implant removal process is fairly quick and can
take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to complete. If the
implant is saline, doctors may opt to deflate it first to
smooth the progress of the removal. The cost for breast implant
removal usually ranges between $1,000 and $4,000.
Recovery
Recovery time from breast implant removal surgery is usually
quick, with several patients returning to everyday activity
within a couple of days and full activity within a matter
of weeks. Following breast implant removal surgery, there
may be some mild discomfort, swelling and bruising. Some complications
if any may include: scarring; bleeding; loss of nipple sensation;
and loose skin.
The following information below was taken from www.fda.gov
Capsular Contracture
Capsular contracture occurs when the scar tissue or capsule
that normally forms around the implant tightens and squeezes
the implant. It can happen to one or both of the implants.
There are four grades of capsular contracture known as Baker
grades.
The Baker grading is as follows
Grade I breast is normally soft and looks
natural
Grade II breast is a little firm but looks
normal
Grade III breast is firm and looks abnormal
Grade IV breast is hard, painful, and looks
abnormal
Capsular contracture may require reoperation, usually for
Grades III and IV, and it may occur again.
Rupture/Deflation
Breast implants do not last a lifetime. Some breast implants
may rupture/deflate in the first few months after surgery
and some after several years. Others may take 10 or more years
to rupture/deflate.
The reasons for rupture are not well understood and are currently
being studied. Some possible causes of rupture/deflation include:
- normal aging of the implant
- damage by surgical instruments
- too much handling during surgery
- damage during procedures to the breast, such as biopsies and fluid drainage
- compression during a mammogram
- stresses such as trauma or intense physical pressure
- capsular contracture
- overfilling or underfilling of saline-filled breast implants
- placement through a belly button (umbilical) incision site because it involves too much handling of the implant.
When silicone gel-filled implants rupture, some women may notice decreased breast size, hard knots, uneven appearance of the breasts, pain or tenderness, tingling, swelling, numbness, burning, or changes in sensation. Other women may unknowingly experience a rupture without any symptoms (silent rupture).
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with equipment specifically designed for imaging the breast may be used for evaluating patients with suspected rupture or leakage of their silicone gel-filled implant. Silicone gel may
- escape from the scar tissue capsule around the implant
- migrate away from the breast
- cause lumps, called granulomas, to form in the breast, chest wall, armpit, arm, or abdomen
Plastic surgeons usually recommend removal of the implant if it has ruptured, even if the silicone is still enclosed within the scar tissue capsule, because the silicone gel may eventually leak into surrounding tissues.
When saline-filled breast implants deflate, the saline solution leaks either through an unsealed or damaged valve or through a break in the implant shell. Implant deflation can be immediate or progress over a period of days, months, or years and is noticed by loss of size or shape of the implant. Additional surgery is needed to remove deflated implants.
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