Making the choice to have breast implants removed can be a difficult decision. Understanding the process of how are breast implants removed will likely help with your decision. More importantly, talking to a highly skilled plastic surgeon like Dr. Greg Liebscher in Colorado Springs allows you to get answers to all your questions. Likewise, you might learn other things you didn’t consider before.
The Breast Implant Removal Process
The process of having implants removed isn’t that difficult for your plastic surgeon. The procedure only takes about 30 minutes. And recovery time is usually pretty short. Unlike augmentation, you will not have the down time that comes after surgery for enhancement. You may be sent how with drains that will be removed when your visit your doctor for a follow up appointment. Many doctors request that you wear a bandage for support during the healing process.
The pain after breast implant removal can be very minimal. You will likely be able to resume your normal activities right after your procedure. This is a procedure that is not as invasive as an actual enhancement. This will help you to recover much faster with a very small amount of pain accompanied during the procedure and the recovery time. This is often a concern for many women that are considering removal of implants. Understanding what to expect after the removal can help to relieve these fears.
Sometimes a woman may want breast implants removed due to an implant integrity problem. Implants can rupture and also implants can have capsular contracture. When this happens, many women simply have the breast implants replaced. But you can opt to have them removed entirely if you wish. If you have the implant removed, there can be a lot of hanging tissue. You can work with Dr. Liebscher to come up with a plan to repair the tissue, perhaps with a breast lift.
About Mastopexy
A Mastopexy removes loose skin you may have after an implant is removed. The scar that remains from this type of surgery is often very minimal as healing continues. You can talk to your doctor about things you can do to eliminate scarring.
When you decide that breast removal is the preferred choice for your needs, you will need to begin preparing for the process. You will meet with a plastic surgeon and this initial appointment is a great time to ask any questions that you may have. You will want to know the risks of any surgery you plan on proceeding forward with. Your surgeon will often look at your case personally and give you answers on how long the surgery will take, and also any instructions for before and after surgery.
After surgery you will want to take it easy for the first couple of days after surgery is completed. Many surgeons will recommend that you wear a surgical bra for a while after surgery is complete. You can also take pain medication during this time. After the first few days after surgery you will be able to resume all of your normal activities. You will not need pain medication any longer and you can simply move forward with your life.
Breast Implants Removal Statistics
According to the site FDA.gov, “As many as 20 percent of women who receive breast implants for augmentation have to have their implants removed within 8 to 10 years.” This is a very high incidence and there are many reasons for this removal. No matter what your reasons are for wanting implants removed, you can find a knowledgeable plastic surgeon to help you through the entire process.
What Does It Cost?
Finally, removal of implants is considered a cosmetic procedure and not covered by insurance. However, it may be covered in situations where complications, such as infection, warrant emergency surgery. Always talk to your surgeon about the costs and complications regarding any medical or cosmetic procedure.