“Regain your natural beauty and feel more comfortable with breasts”
While breast implants are engineered to be highly resilient, they are not meant to last a lifetime. . Typically, modern implants exhibit a lifespan ranging from 10 to 15 years before necessitating replacement. Nonetheless, various factors may prompt individuals with implanted breasts to consider removal or replacement over time although no signs of medical complication have been revealed.
One prevalent factor is the natural aging process, which can escalate the likelihood of complications. Some women may have a concern about BIA-ALCL or Breast Implant Ilness BII, or a personal preferences may also evolve, prompting individuals to opt out of living with foreign prosthetics or desiring changes to achieve a more natural and healthy appearance by replace the implant with fat.
Removal of Breast Implant (Explantation)
Patients may require breast implant removal surgery for various reasons, such as recurrent complications like malrotation, capsular contracture, or implant rupture. Some patients may experience discomfort, have concerns or fears of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare cancer of immune cells associated with specific types of breast implants, most of which are no longer in circulation or wish to have them removed due to lifestyle changes. Additionally, some women may experience symptoms of Breast Implant Illness (BII), such as fatigue, joint pain, and other unexplained symptoms, leading them to seek breast implant explantation.
Various approaches can be utilized to address the capsule or fibrous tissue that forms around it. Some surgeons choose to leave it in place, perform a partial capsulectomy, or a full capsulectomy. Dr. Kazzaz often prefers an en bloc removal technique to remove the implant and capsule intact as one piece, ensuring nothing is left behind that could concern the patient or surgeon regarding BIA-ALCL in the future.
Following the removal of breast implants, breasts may appear deflated or sagging, with changes in size or tightness over time. Therefore, many patients choose to undergo implant removal surgery along with a breast lift procedure (mastopexy) or fat transfer with or without adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells enrichment to restore the desired perky and round look of their breasts. Before the surgery a radiological investigation need to be done to exclude any pathological lesion. Any serous fluid in the implant pocket and capsule tissue must be send to histopathological investigation.
Important to Remember
It is crucial to select a surgeon who possesses a deep understanding of breast anatomy, the nature of breast implant encapsulation, and potential future implications if any tissue is left behind after explantation. The surgeon should also be knowledgeable about various techniques and options available for managing breast tissue post breast implant removal.
Breast Implant Replacement
It is part of breast implant revision surgery that is performed in patient who have previously had breast augmentation by removal of breast implant, followed by replacement it with new implant. The decision to replace the implants may be prompted by complications such as implant rupture, malrotation, or capsular contracture, as well as the desire to change the size or shape of the implant or upgrade to newer, updated generation of breast implant that assure more safety
This procedure, also known as secondary breast augmentation or implant exchange surgery, is typically a personal choice unless there is a medical necessity. Factors influencing this decision may include aesthetic preferences, physical health , lifestyle changes, and personal preferences.
During the procedure, the surgeon may remove the old implant with or without the capsulectomy, which is the removal of the capsule that forms around the implants. While capsule formation around breast implants is a normal physiological response to foreign bodies, in some cases the capsules can contract and cause breast shape deformity, a condition known as capsule contracture.
In such cases the surgeon has to perform full capsulectomy with the breast implant replacement. Dr. Kazzaz often favors an enbloc removal technique, which involves removing the implant and capsule intact as a single unit to ensure complete removal and facilitate the acceptance of the new implant by the body, which may differ in composition and manufacturing quality and that allow to have a new, healthier capsule.
Typical Lifespan of Breast Implants
The lifespan of breast implants can vary, but they are generally expected to last between 10 to 15 years. This timeframe is not fixed, as the durability and longevity of implants can be influenced by several factors, including the type of implant, the surgical technique employed, and the individual’s body response to the implants.