Deciding to Remove your Breast Implants – Yes or No?

Dr Scott Turner - FRACS (Plas)

Should you remove your Breast Implants? – The Pros and Cons of Breast Implant Removal

There are many reasons for wanting to remove your breast implants and seek Breast implant removal surgery in Sydney including

  • Wanting to exchange for a more modern, low or non-textured implant
  • Change of lifestyle – No longer wanting the implants
  • Suffering from Breast implant complications like capsular contraction or rupture or breast pain
  • Post Weight loss or Post-pregnancy Breast changes – implanted breasts have sagged or changed shape
  • Following Social Trends – Influencers and celebrities have recently been promoting the removal of their breast implants.
  • Fear of Breast Implant Associated ALCL (BIA-ALCL) – a type of lymphoma affecting 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,000,000 implanted patients depending on type of implant,
  • Women have also reported suffering from a range of symptoms related to their breast implants – called BII or Breast Implant Illness.

At different life stages, some women really want breast implants and later in life they find they you longer need them. Here are the pros and cons about deciding to remove your breast implants.

Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Scott Turner can help you decide whether to remove or replace your breast implants and whether a capsulectomy or en-bloc removal may be helpful.

SIX Reasons to remove your breast implants – Breast Implant Removal PROS: Benefits of Breast Implant Removal

1. Be able to get clear mammograms.

  • Removing the implants will help you get clear mammogram results, which is essential especially if you have a family history of breast cancer. The placement of breast implants can make your mammograms more difficult to interpret. Also, the type of breast implants whether silicone or saline will affect the results of your mammogram. Removing the implants means your mammogram results are clearer, which is important especially if you have a family history of breast cancer.

2. Reduced Breast pain

  • If you are suffering from Breast pain – removing your implants may help. Capsular contracture around the implants can cause breast pain. Overly large size implants can lead to shoulder, back, and neck pain because of the weight your chest supports. You may also be suffering from BII – Breast Implant Illness. Once you get your breast implants removed and fully recover, you’ll probably notice a lot less pain. 

3. Get back your self-confidence

  • If you are not satisfied with the results of your breast implant surgery anymore or if your breast implants have become asymmetrical, then your choice to remove your breast implants will help you get back confidence in yourself and your body. 

4. No need to worry about implant ruptures

  • Breast implants are not lifetime devices, and the shell will weaken over the years. No matter the type of breast implant, there is always a possibility of rupturing. The most common reasons a breast implant ruptures are intense physical pressure, defective implants, aged implants that have weakened, and capsular contracture. Once you remove your breast implants you’ll no longer need to worry about ruptures.

5. No Need for Implant Replacements in future

  • Since breast implants age over time, it has been recommended to replace your implants every 10-15 years. Besides the need for a surgical procedure, the cost expenses are not usually covered by your insurance. Choosing to remove your breast implants means you don’t have to worry about replacing your implants every time they get old.

6. A Short recovery time

  • The post-surgery recovery time after breast implant removal surgery is 2 weeks, during this time there are things you won’t be allowed to do such as lifting heavy objects, driving, and so on.

SIX Reasons NOT to remove your implants – Breast Implant Removal CONS:

1. You may have Sagging breasts and extra loose skin after removal

  • Removing the implants can make your breasts saggy as they were before or may even be more saggy than before. The size of your implants and the length of time you had them will contribute to extra loose skin.  The elasticity of your skin (or laxity) can affect the amount of loose skin you will have. 

2. Breasts may look deflated from losing too much breast tissue

  • When removing your silicone implant because of a rupture and leakage, Dr Turner may need to remove some breast tissue when performing a capsulectomy or ‘en bloc surgery’. If you have a ruptured implant which has leaked significantly , then more tissue may need to be removed along with the ruptured implant. Losing too much breast tissue will give your breasts a deflated look that needs rectifying surgically. You may need a Breast Lift or Fat Grafting as a seperate or combined procedure.

3. Risk of infection post-surgery

  • Having Breast Implant Removal surgery, there is always a risk of infection around the post-surgery incision site, or in the cavity, the implant was located. Infections will slow down recovery, and depending on the infection severity you may require drain tubes or antibiotics.

4. More visible scarring after Removal Surgery

  • The breast implant removal surgery will always use the same incision sites used for implant placement, however, you may notice more scarring than before depending on how your body heals. The scar will be visible and will take time to lessen.

5. You May Lose some feeling in the nipples

  • The breast implant removal surgery may cause some loss of sensation nipples area. The periareolar incision can cause a loss of sensation as the tiny nerves that send signals to your nipple can get severed during surgery.

6. Loss of self-confidence

  • Sometimes the results after implants removal don’t meet your expectations which may adversely affect your self-confidence. It’s possible that breast implant removal surgery would also lower your self-confidence. Sometimes the results are not the same as your expectations. When you see yourself for the first time in a mirror after fully recovering from the surgery, you might not like what you see.

Next Steps

Always Do Your Research

  • Enquire to find out more about your surgery
  • Please read our website to learn more about your intended procedure

Do you need a Medical Referral to see Dr Turner?

  • A GP Referral is required to Consult with Dr Turner (under new AHPRA Regulations)
  • Please obtain a referral from your GP or Specialist if you want a consultation for an MBS item number surgery.
  • Please note that your Medicare Rebates will NOT be claimable without a valid recent Medical Referral

Making The Most Of Your Consultation

  • Please arrive slightly early for your in-person consultation
  • You are welcome to bring a friend or relative to help consider the information and discuss your options
  • Please be aware you may need to undress for a physical exam so wear simple clothes
  • Ensure you also take a lot of notes during the consultation and thoroughly examine all the documents provided

Want more information before scheduling your consultation?

How to Book Your Consultation

  • You can book your initial consultation by paying the $350 cosmetic consultation fee in advance – when you make your appointment

BOOK A PHONE CALL FOR MORE INFO

  • To find out more information about surgery you can book a FREE 15-minute phone conversation with our Friendly Patient Care team via Calendly- Book Consultant 1 or Book Consultant 2

Contact us or call on  1300 437 758  to arrange your surgeon consultation in Sydney.

Email us for more information:  enquiries@drturner.com.au