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A Reconstructive Surgeon's Approach to Explant Surgery

Removing implants well takes more than taking them out. Dr. Antony built her career in advanced breast reconstruction, completing a reconstructive microsurgery fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. That background helps her plan for what your breasts will look like afterward, not just the removal itself. At the Antony Institute of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery, women choose explant surgery for many reasons, from implant complications to simply feeling ready for a change. Dr. Antony respects every one of those reasons and builds each plan around your health, your anatomy, and your goals.

What Is Breast Implant Removal Surgery?

Breast implant removal surgery is a procedure that removes saline or silicone implants placed during a prior augmentation or reconstruction. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the goal is to remove the implants and any scar tissue that formed around them.

That scar tissue is called the capsule. Your body naturally forms a capsule around every implant. Often it stays soft, but it can thicken or harden over time. Depending on your situation, Dr. Antony may remove part of the capsule, all of it, or leave it in place.

Explant surgery can be performed on its own or combined with procedures that restore shape, such as a breast lift or breast fat grafting. Many women choose a combined approach so they finish with one recovery instead of two.

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Common Reasons for Breast Implant Removal

Women choose breast implant removal for medical, aesthetic, and personal reasons. Some of the most common include:

  • Capsular contracture, when the scar tissue around an implant tightens and causes firmness, distortion, or discomfort
  • Implant rupture or leakage, including silent silicone ruptures found on imaging
  • Aging implants, since the ASPS notes that implants are not lifelong devices
  • Lifestyle or body changes after pregnancy, weight changes, or a shift in personal style
  • Physical discomfort such as back, neck, or chest pain
  • Health concerns, including textured implant recalls or systemic symptoms a patient attributes to her implants

A Note on Breast Implant Illness

Some patients seek explant surgery because of fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, or other symptoms they connect to their implants. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that some patients report improvement after removal. The FDA also notes that the cause of these symptoms is still unclear, and "breast implant illness" is not a formal diagnosis.

Dr. Antony takes these concerns seriously. She listens carefully, reviews your history, and gives you honest information so you can decide what feels right for you.

Benefits of Breast Implant Removal

Explant surgery can offer both physical and emotional benefits, including:

  • Relief from implant-related problems such as capsular contracture, rupture, or discomfort
  • No future implant maintenance, exchanges, or rupture screening
  • A lighter, more natural feel that matches your body today
  • Peace of mind for women with concerns about their implants
  • The option to restore shape in the same surgery with a lift or fat grafting
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Are You a Candidate for Breast Implant Removal?

Most healthy women with breast implants can be candidates for explant surgery. Dr. Antony confirms candidacy during a private consultation. You may be a good fit if you:

  • Have saline or silicone implants from augmentation or reconstruction
  • Are experiencing implant complications or discomfort
  • No longer want implants, for any reason
  • Are in good overall health and do not smoke, or are willing to quit before surgery
  • Have realistic expectations about how your breasts may look after removal

If you want to keep some volume, Dr. Antony may suggest a smaller implant instead. Our breast implant exchange page covers that option.

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Why Choose Dr. Antony for Breast Implant Removal in Raleigh?

Explant surgery calls for a surgeon who understands both reconstruction and aesthetics. Dr. Anu Antony brings more than 20 years of experience and training from some of the country's leading institutions:

  • Board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, plus Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons
  • Plastic surgery training at Stanford, with fellowships at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
  • Academic leadership, including her former role as Professor and Vice Chair of Surgery at Rush University Medical Center and her current role as Associate Consulting Professor at Duke University Medical Center
  • Fat grafting expertise, with thousands of fat grafting procedures performed and national and international lectures on advanced techniques
  • Fine arts training at the Lorenzo de' Medici Institute in Florence, which shapes her eye for balance and proportion

Many patients also tell us that working with a female plastic surgeon made them feel more comfortable discussing their concerns. Dr. Antony treats women from Cary, Raleigh, and across the Triangle.

Capsulectomy Options During Explant Surgery

Capsulectomy is the removal of the scar tissue capsule around an implant. Dr. Antony recommends the approach that fits your diagnosis, rather than a one-size-fits-all technique. Options include:

  • Implant removal only, leaving a soft, healthy capsule in place
  • Partial capsulectomy, removing only the portion of the capsule that needs to come out
  • Total capsulectomy, removing the entire capsule, often recommended for capsular contracture or a ruptured silicone implant
  • Total intact capsulectomy, removing the implant and capsule together in one piece when medically indicated

Many patients ask about "en bloc" removal. According to a joint safety advisory from The Aesthetic Society and ISAPS, true en bloc removal is reserved for cases involving capsular cancer. The same advisory reports that symptom improvement in studied patients did not depend on how much of the capsule was removed.

More extensive capsule removal is a larger operation with added risk and cost. Dr. Antony explains the pros and cons of each option so you can make an informed choice together.

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Restoring Shape After Breast Implant Removal

Your breasts will likely look different after explant surgery. The ASPS notes that breasts may appear flatter or droopier, with some irregularities, once implants are removed. How much depends on your implant size, skin quality, and how long you have had implants.

Dr. Antony can combine explant surgery with procedures that restore a natural, lifted shape:

  • Breast lift to remove excess skin and raise the breasts
  • Auto-augmentation breast lift to reshape your own breast tissue for more upper fullness
  • Breast fat grafting to add soft volume using your own fat

Some women prefer to wait and see how their breasts settle before deciding on a second procedure. Dr. Antony will help you weigh both options.

What to Expect Before, During, and After Explant Surgery

Consultation and Cost

  • Dr. Antony reviews your implant history, any imaging, and your goals.
  • She examines your breasts and discusses capsulectomy and shape-restoring options.
  • Your quote reflects the capsulectomy type, anesthesia, facility, and any combined procedures.
  • Our team reviews financing options before you schedule.

The Procedure

  • Explant surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia.
  • Dr. Antony usually works through an incision in the lower breast fold or around the areola, often using your existing scar.
  • She removes the implants and any planned capsule tissue, then performs any combined lift or fat grafting.
  • Most patients go home the same day.

Recovery and Results Timeline

  • Plan on rest and light activity for the first several days.
  • Many patients return to desk work within one to two weeks.
  • Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise until Dr. Antony clears you.
  • Swelling fades over several weeks, and your breasts continue to settle for about three to six months.
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Alternatives and Related Breast Procedures

Breast implant removal is one of several ways to address concerns with existing implants. Depending on your goals, Dr. Antony may also discuss:

  • Breast implant exchange: Replaces older implants with new ones, often in a smaller size.
  • Breast revision: Corrects capsular contracture, malposition, or asymmetry while keeping implants.
  • Breast lift: Raises and reshapes the breasts, alone or with explant surgery.
  • Breast fat grafting: Restores modest volume with your own fat after implants come out.

Breast Implant Removal FAQs

Will my breasts sag after implant removal?

Does insurance cover explant surgery?

Do I need to remove the entire capsule?

Will removing my implants improve my symptoms?

What are the risks of breast implant removal?

How long is recovery after explant surgery?

Will my breasts sag after implant removal?

Some sagging or loss of fullness is common after implant removal, especially with larger implants or thinner skin. Dr. Antony can often address this in the same surgery with a breast lift, auto-augmentation, or fat grafting.

Does insurance cover explant surgery?

Insurance may cover breast implant removal when it is medically necessary, such as for rupture or severe capsular contracture. Coverage varies by plan. Our team can provide documentation to help you check with your insurer.

Do I need to remove the entire capsule?

Not always. Total capsulectomy is often recommended for capsular contracture or a ruptured silicone implant. For other patients, partial or no capsule removal may be appropriate. Dr. Antony will recommend what fits your situation.

Will removing my implants improve my symptoms?

Some patients report feeling better after explant surgery, but results vary and cannot be guaranteed. The FDA notes that the cause of these symptoms is not yet understood. Dr. Antony also encourages patients to see their primary care physician to rule out other causes.

What are the risks of breast implant removal?

Breast implant removal is a safe, routine procedure when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Like any surgery, it carries some risks. The ASPS lists bleeding, infection, fluid buildup, changes in nipple sensation, asymmetry, and scarring among them. Dr. Antony reviews every risk with you and takes careful steps to minimize them.

How long is recovery after explant surgery?

Most patients return to desk work within one to two weeks and resume exercise after about four to six weeks. Recovery may take longer if you also have a lift or total capsulectomy.

Schedule Your Breast Implant Removal Consultation in Cary

If you are ready to talk about removing your implants, Dr. Anu Antony is here to help. She offers breast implant removal in Raleigh and Cary with thoughtful planning for how you will look and feel afterward. Schedule your consultation at the Antony Institute today.

This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Outcomes, risks, and suitability vary from patient to patient.

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