Breast Implant Removal

Conveniently located to serve the areas of San Antonio, Boerne and McAllen, TX

Breast Implant Removal Dr. Daniel Lee New Life Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa

Breast implant removal is a surgical procedure that removes existing implants and reshapes the breasts to address cosmetic or medical concerns. If you no longer wish to have implants, removal can restore your natural proportions, often with minimal downtime.

Dr. Daniel Lee, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, takes an artistic approach to help patients enhance their natural proportions with consistently exceptional results. At New Life Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa, Dr. Lee can reshape the breasts for a lifted, more youthful appearance. He will customize a treatment plan based on your goals and anatomy..

Contact our office to learn more about how we can enhance the appearance of your breasts with long-lasting results:

About Breast Implant Removal

Breast implants increase the volume of the breasts for a curvier appearance, but over time, various factors can affect the appearance of the breasts or how a patient feels about their implants. Many women find that they feel more comfortable after removing implants, and their self-esteem improves. While many women choose implant removal for cosmetic reasons, the procedure can also address certain medical or functional issues, such as:

  • Capsular contracture: When scar tissue develops around an implant and hardens, it can cause discomfort and aesthetic changes. During implant removal, we can remove both the scar tissue and the implant to restore comfort and address any aesthetic changes.
  • Breast implant illness: Some patients report symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, or nausea, which may be linked to implants, though research is ongoing. If you’re experiencing these issues, Dr. Lee can assess your condition and discuss implant removal as a possible option.
  • Implant displacement: Breast implants can shift inside the breast pocket, resulting in asymmetry or unnatural contours. To correct this, we can remove the implant, revise the pocket, and place a new implant in the optimal position.
  • Ruptured implants: If your implant ruptures or tears, we can remove it and replace it with a new one.

Breast Explant and Lift

Sagging skin can occur due to aging, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or other factors. This can affect the way your bras fit and lead to rashes along the lower breast crease. A breast explant and lift can improve the way bras fit and rebalance your proportions. We can make incisions along the natural curves of your skin to lift the nipple areola and tighten the loose skin.

Implant Exchange

Implant exchange replaces your current breast implants with new ones. If your implant ruptures or shifts, we can place a new implant to help you enhance your appearance. Most patients replace their implants every 10-15 years. We offer several different types of implants, and the profile and shape of the implants will depend on your aesthetic goals:

  • Saline: These saltwater-filled implants are inserted deflated and filled after placement, allowing for smaller incisions.
  • Silicone: Silicone gel mimics the movement of natural breast tissue. They are less likely to cause “rippling” that can be seen with saline implants.
  • Gummy bear: With a cohesive silicone gel-filled implant that is slightly firmer than other types of silicone, we can improve your breast volume and projection. These are Dr. Lee’s favorite implants and what is used on most breasts.

The most common implant profiles used are moderate-plus implants and high-profile implants. Dr. Lee will review with you what implant best fits your body and gives you the results you desire. (1)

Benefits

Removing your breast implants comes with several benefits, which include:

  • Reduce pain: If you have capsular contracture, then removing the implant and doing a capsulectomy can improve pain.
  • Breast implant illness syndrome symptom reduction: Although rare, some women have symptoms of hair loss, joint pain, skin rashes, fatigue and other symptoms. If these symptoms are from the implant then, removing the implant can give symptom relief.

Candidates

Ideal candidates for breast implant removal are those who wish to address concerns related to their implants. If you are in good overall health, you are likely a good candidate for this treatment. It’s important that you take good care of your body and that you have realistic expectations about what you can achieve with the procedure.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, we recommend that you wait to undergo breast implant procedures because pregnancy can affect your results. If you need to lose weight, we will also recommend that you wait to undergo breast enhancement procedures. Patients will need to be able to maintain a stable weight to prevent changes to their appearance that could affect their results.

Consultation

During your consultation, we will ask about your aesthetic goals and perform a physical examination to determine the most effective treatment plan for your goals. We encourage you to bring questions and reference photos to help communicate your goals.

We can also discuss incision types during your treatment. If you want to address additional aesthetic concerns, we can also recommend other body contouring treatments to help you achieve them.

Preparation

To prepare for implant removal, you must take time off work and attend follow-up appointments. You should also stop drinking alcohol for a few weeks before and after your procedure. If you smoke or use nicotine products, you must stop temporarily for optimal results.

We will provide you with specific instructions about how to best prepare for your treatment as well. We typically recommend that you run errands ahead of time and that you create a comfortable place to recover. You should also ask an adult whom you trust to drive you home and care for you after the procedure.

Procedure

During a breast implant removal procedure, we will cleanse your skin and place you under anesthesia. Dr. Lee will make precise incisions along the breast crease (inframammary fold) to remove the implants. If you would like to address excess skin with a breast lift during the procedure, Dr. Lee can remove loose skin from this area and reposition the areolas for natural-looking results. He will close the incisions with sutures, and our team will monitor you in our recovery room.

Implant Exchange

If you choose to remove your implants and receive new ones, Dr. Lee will place the new implants either below the chest muscle (submuscular) or below the mammary glands (subglandular) for your desired appearance: (2)

  • Submuscular: He can place the implants behind the chest muscle to reduce the implant’s visibility. This is especially beneficial for slimmer patients with less natural breast tissue. There is also less chance of developing capsular contracture versus subglandular.
  • Subglandular: He can position the implant in front of the chest muscle for a fuller breast shape. For women who don’t want to see the implant move when they are flexing their chest, bodybuilders, then subglandular is a good option.

After Breast Implant Removal

You can return home after your monitoring period, and you must rest to allow your body to heal. You should take a few days off work to recover fully, and Dr. Lee will let you know when you can return to work. When you are recovering, you will need to follow your recovery instructions carefully for optimal results.

Most patients who have implants removed have very little pain afterwards. You should avoid intense exercise until you are fully healed. Dr. Lee will let you know when you can return to physical exercise during your follow-up appointment.

Results

Breast Implant Removal Dr. Daniel Lee New Life Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa

After your procedure, you can enjoy natural-looking results. Implant removal reshapes the breasts for smaller, more proportional breast mounds. Since Dr. Lee makes thin, discrete incisions, they fade into your skin and are easy to conceal beneath clothing.

Cost of Breast Implant Removal in San Antonio

The cost of breast implant removal will depend on your personalized treatment plan and whether you need corresponding procedures, such as a breast lift, to achieve your desired look. We can discuss your goals during your consultation and provide an all-inclusive quote.

Contact our office to learn more about how we can enhance the appearance of your breasts with long-lasting results:

FAQ

Is breast implant removal painful?

We administer anesthesia for your comfort during the procedure, and we can prescribe medication to help you recover comfortably. There is no pain involved during the procedure, and the recovery pain is minimal.

Can I have breast implant removal if I am planning to become pregnant?

Yes, you can have implant removal at any time. It doesn’t matter if you plan on a future pregnancy.

Will my breasts sag after implant removal?

Yes, there is a good chance your breast will sag, however if you haven’t had any children then it’s possible you won’t have much saggy skin. If you would like to address excess skin, we can perform a breast lift during your treatment. During your consultation, we will perform a physical examination to determine whether a breast lift is necessary for your desired look.

References

  1. Wan D, Rohrich RJ. Making Sense of Implant “Profile” in Breast Augmentation. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2017;5(5):e1343. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000001343
  2. Pelc Z, Skórzewska M, Kurylcio A, et al. Current Challenges in Breast Implantation. Medicina. 2021;57(11):1214. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57111214