Whatever your reasons for wanting to have your breast implants removed, it’s important to have all your questions answered by a plastic surgeon with extensive experience performing breast implant removal surgery (also called explant surgery.) One of the most common questions patients ask is how long they should expect the recovery to take after the implant removal procedure.
The time it takes to recover after explant surgery depends on several factors, including the technique used to remove the implants, the reason you want to have the implants removed, your overall health, and your age. It also depends on whether you have a breast lift performed at the time your implants are removed. During your consultation, I’ll discuss these factors and explain things you can do after surgery to minimize the recovery time.
In most cases, patients should plan to take up to 2 weeks off from work after their procedure. Even after the initial swelling and bruising subside, though, the healing process continues for several more weeks.
What Should You Expect During Recovery After Implant Removal?
Breast implant removal is increasingly common—plastic surgeons performed more than 36,000 procedures in 2020, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Even though women getting breast implants removed have already experienced surgery and recovery when getting implants, it’s still normal to have questions about the recovery process.
Recovery from explant surgery can be more uncomfortable after breast augmentation. That’s because the scar tissue that encapsulates the implant can complicate the procedure. If the capsule of scar tissue remains relatively flexible, I may only remove the implant. This approach involves minimal tissue injury, and the recovery is faster than other techniques.
In most cases, however, scar tissue is hard and inflexible, and the capsule is removed along with the implant. During a total capsulectomy, I remove both the implant and the capsule separately. In some cases, the capsule needs to be removed in pieces.
The most common implant removal technique I use is a procedure called en bloc capsulectomy combined with a breast lift. During this procedure, I remove the implant and intact scar tissue capsule using incisions made along the base of the breast (inframammary fold). After removing the implant and capsule, I make a vertical incision from the base to the areola and around the areola (a “lollipop” incision pattern) for a breast lift. A lift removes excess skin and elevates the breast to a more youthful position.
In some cases, patients return after recovering from the implant removal surgery to have fat transferred from another part of their body to the breasts to restore volume.
Post-Explant Surgery
You’ll return home following breast implant removal with gauze dressings or bandages, and you may have surgical drains to avoid fluid accumulating below the skin. You’ll need to wear a support bra and, in some cases, a compression garment to minimize swelling following surgery. During the first 2 weeks after surgery, it’s important to get plenty of rest and avoid overexertion. Short walks around the house are encouraged to ensure good circulation.
You should plan on refraining from strenuous exercise for at least 6 weeks, especially for your upper body.
Tips for Your Recovery
Following our post-op instructions is the most important thing you can do to minimize your recovery time. Here are some other tips that can help:
- Sleep on your back: You’ll need to sleep on your back during the first 3 to 4 weeks of recovery. Avoid sleeping on your sides or stomach, as this can lead to more swelling and can stretch the incisions.
- Use ice packs: Periodically applying ice packs or cold compresses helps reduce swelling and bruising after surgery.
- Listen to your body: Even after you feel like you’re back to normal, resist the urge to push too hard when exercising. It can take several months for a body to heal after surgery, even after swelling or bruising is gone.
Your Choice of Surgeon Matters
Explant surgery requires a plastic surgeon with unique skills because of the complicated nature of the procedure. Dr. Masters specializes in breast implant removal surgery at his Oklahoma City practice and has years of experience performing complex breast surgeries. If you’re considering removing your breast implants, request a consultation with Dr. Masters using the online form or by calling us at (405) 849-6354.
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