Breast Implant Removal in San Diego, CA

Unhappiness With Breast Implants

Your initial surgery may not have realized the vision you had in mind for breast implants, leaving you dissatisfied and disappointed with the size, shape, material, or overall results. At Del Mar Plastic Surgery, we cooperatively create detailed-oriented plans for breast implant removal and revision with our patients.

Breast Implant Positioning

At some point, physical activity, exercise, or unexpected interactions may cause the breast implant to shift out of proper positioning. Misplacement of the implant from the breast pocket may cause asymmetry, abnormal appearances, and possibly discomfort.

Capsular Contracture

Capsular contracture occurs when the tissue shell that naturally forms around your implants tightens and causes hardness, discomfort, and aesthetic distortion. Deformities occur due to scar tissue formation and require the removal of the implant and the responsible scar tissue.

Breast Implant Rupture

Breast implant rupture occurs when the implant shell weakens and tears, allowing the inner contents to escape into the breast pocket and body. While the inner material of saline implants will be absorbed by the body, the inner gel of silicone implants will not. Patients with silicone implants should undergo routine MRIs or ultrasounds to verify the health of their implant since silicone ruptures are not always easy to identify.

Breast Implant Illness (BII)

Breast implant illness (BII) is a self-diagnosed condition that some women have claimed resulted from their breast implants. Commonly associated symptoms include joint pain, headaches, brain fog, muscle weakness, and feelings of anxiety. While these symptoms are worrisome, there is no scientific evidence linking these to breast implants, and BII is not an official medical diagnosis.

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare form of lymphatic cancer that may develop in the scar tissue that surrounds the implant. Very few cases have been reported in relation to the number of women with augmented breasts, and this condition is only associated with Allergan™ BIOCELL® textured implants. It is important to note that this is not breast cancer, and breast implants have no correlation with a heightened risk of breast cancer.

Capsulectomy

Capsulectomy is the surgical removal of a scar tissue capsule that has hardened around a breast implant. This occurs due to the body’s immune response to foreign objects in the body, and formations of capsules are normal.

En bloc capsulectomy

En bloc capsulectomy is a variation of capsulectomy that delicately removes the entire scar tissue capsule and implant simultaneously in one piece. This technique is beneficial for patients who are experiencing complications such as capsular contracture or implant rupture because it ensures that nothing is left behind in the breast pocket. En bloc capsulectomy often requires a longer incision than other implant removal techniques since the capsule and implant are removed together.  This technique is not new by any means, and is usually the method performed by board-certified plastic surgeons.

Removal With Lift

After the removal of an implant, some women may develop sagging due to the breast tissue or muscle having been stretched from a smaller to a larger size. With the addition of a breast lift after removal, strength is restored to the breast tissue to reverse premature sagging and restore a higher-sitting, perkier bust.

Removal With Lift and Fat Grafting

Fat grafting can be utilized to more accurately sculpt and contour the breasts in an elegant and flattering fashion. This procedure can lift, reshape, and add volume to your breasts once the implants are removed. This technique can also be done with fat grafting only.

Removal With Breast Implant Replacement

Replacement implants may be inserted after implant removal to obtain your ideal breast size, shape, material, proportions, and functionality. This is used for women who wish to keep their augmented size following a complication or change in aesthetic preference. Dr. Pollack provides replacements that meet exceptionally high standards in quality.