What is it, and who is a good candidate?
Breast implant removal surgery, also known as explant surgery, is a procedure that is gaining traction for women with breast implants who are reassessing their health, comfort, and aesthetic goals. Whether their decision is driven by physical changes, lifestyle changes, or a desire for a more natural look, explant surgery is a highly personal decision that deserves a thoughtful and individualized approach.
For explant patients in the Denver Metro area, the LaVie Institute offers an opportunity to gain insight and move forward with clarity, confidence, and expert surgical care when you are ready.
What Exactly Is Breast Implant Removal (Explant Surgery)?
Explant surgery is a procedure that removes breast implants placed during a prior breast augmentation or reconstruction surgery. Depending on your anatomy, implant history, and desired outcome, the surgery may include:
- Removal of the breast implants only
- Removal of implants and surrounding scar tissue (capsulectomy)
- Implant removal combined with a breast lift (mastopexy) to restore shape
At LaVie Institute, our double board-certified plastic surgeons will design a surgical plan that is fully tailored to your body, your goals, and your long-term well-being. We never use a one-size-fits-all approach.
Why Do Women Choose to Remove Their Breast Implants?
Women choose to remove their breast implants for a variety of reasons. These decisions are most often not about regret, but more about alignment with changes in their lifestyle or physical comfort.
Capsular Contracture
Over time, implants and surrounding tissues can change. When an implant is placed, your body is going to react by developing scar tissue around the implant. This scar tissue is called the capsule. Some women may experience firmness, tightness, or aesthetic issues related to the scar tissue formation. This is called capsular contracture. Capsular contracture can cause pain, discomfort, and can alter the shape of the breasts. While the cause of capsular contracture is not always clear, it is most often linked to an anti-inflammatory response or infection from exposure to bacteria. The best solution for capsular contracture is to remove the implant along with the capsule. Some women choose to replace the implants, while others opt for a full explant.
Lifestyle and Aesthetic Changes
Many women choose to remove their implants because their lifestyles have changed over time. Maybe they have become more physically active, and the implants feel like they are just in the way. Many women also feel like the look of larger breasts no longer aligns with how they see themselves.
Implant Rupture
Breast implants are not lifetime devices. There is always the possibility of rupture. The average rupture rate for modern silicone breast implants in the U.S. is generally less than 1% per year, so the risk is fairly low. The longer the implant is in place, the higher the risk of rupture becomes. If your implant does rupture, you will want to get it removed as soon as possible. Most women will choose to replace both implants if one ruptures, and some women will choose to remove the implants entirely to avoid the possible risk of another rupture.
Changes to the Body
As we age, our tissues begin to loosen, especially if we experience pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight gain and weight loss. These changes can cause the breasts to sag or droop, and many women will elect to do a breast lift to get the breasts back into a more youthful, perky position. If you choose to do a breast lift when you already have implants placed, you will need to remove the current implants and replace them with new ones. Some women will choose to do an explant rather than replacement to avoid the potential need for additional surgery down the road.
Health and Wellness Peace of Mind
In some rare cases, patients report systemic symptoms they believe may be associated with their implants and choose explant surgery as a proactive step toward overall health and wellness. Breast Implant Illness (BII) is most commonly associated with symptoms such as chronic fatigue, brain fog, joint/muscle pain, hair loss, and anxiety. Although BII is not a formally recognized medical diagnosis, many patients have reported an improvement in these symptoms after explant surgery. While research continues to evolve, many women feel more empowered by listening to their bodies and making a very informed decision to remove their implants.
What Happens to the Breasts After Implant Removal?
Every explant journey is unique. Outcomes depend on factors such as implant size, skin elasticity, and the length of time the implants have been in place. Some women find that their natural breast tissue adapts beautifully, and the skin can retract on its own. Others choose to have a breast lift after explant to restore breast shape, firmness, and proportion.
At LaVie Institute, our experienced surgeons will guide you through realistic expectations and surgical options during your consultation.
Making a Confident, Informed Decision with Expert Guidance
Choosing breast implant removal is about honoring where you are now. It’s a decision rooted in clarity, personal preference, and long-term well-being.
If you’re exploring explant surgery, we invite you to schedule a one-on-one consultation with our double board-certified plastic surgery team at the LaVie Institute in Lone Tree, Colorado. This is an opportunity to ask questions, understand your options, and receive a personalized surgical plan, without pressure.
Book your explant consultation today and take your next steps with confidence.
