Breast Implant Removal
Vancouver, BC
Your lifestyle, body, and aesthetic goals naturally evolve over time. While the results of a past breast augmentation may have served to boost your confidence for years, many women reach a stage where they decide to remove breast implants entirely. Others wish to remove and replace their implants to match their current preferences or resolve complications. At Dr. Jennifer Prince Plastic Surgery in Surrey, BC, we treat explant surgery as a deeply personal choice. Dr. Prince combines highly refined surgical skills with an honest, patient-centered approach to help you navigate your breast implant removal options, ensuring you safely achieve your desired outcome for a naturally beautiful silhouette.
Removes breast implants and any scar tissue formation, restoring your natural contours or replacing them with new implants
1 to 2 weeks for routine daily activities; 6 weeks for heavy lifting and strenuous exercise
Immediate elimination of implant volume; natural tissue settles over 3 to 6 months
Outpatient surgical procedure completed in less than 1 hour under local or general anesthesia
Breast implant removal surgery, also referred to as explant surgery, is a specialized surgical procedure performed to safely remove silicone or saline implants. Some patients choose this procedure to return to their natural breast size, while others wish to exchange their implants to address changing preferences or manage implant complications.
Whether your body fat distribution has changed, your implants feel too heavy for your current frame, you are experiencing implant complications, or your preferences have evolved, Dr. Prince adapts your procedure to your current needs. During your initial evaluation, Dr. Prince sits down with you to review your medical history, analyze the integrity of your current breast tissue and breast skin envelope, and design a highly customized surgical plan.
Your procedure takes place in our modern private surgery center. The operation is generally performed under general anesthesia, though in some cases, such as simple implant removal, local anesthesia may be sufficient. To minimize new scar lines, Dr. Prince typically makes the surgical incisions directly at the site of your pre-existing breast augmentation scar.
A central component of implant removal surgery involves managing the scar tissue capsule. Whenever a medical device, such as a breast implant, is placed, the body naturally forms a protective wall of scar tissue around it. Depending on the condition of this capsule, Dr. Prince will carefully execute one of three advanced capsule techniques:
If necessary, small surgical drains may be placed temporarily to drain excess fluid and prevent fluid collections from building up in the empty pocket. The incision locations are closed with deep, layered internal sutures and covered with medical surgical tape.
Explant surgery can be performed to address a spectrum of physical complications and shifting lifestyle preferences, helping you move forward with comfort:
Breast implant removal can be a meaningful step toward feeling more comfortable and confident in your body, whether your goal is to return to a more natural breast appearance or replace older implants with new ones that better align with your preferences. Over time, changes in lifestyle, aging, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or personal aesthetic goals may lead you to reconsider your implants. Removing or exchanging implants can help address concerns such as implant aging, changes in breast shape, discomfort, or simply a desire for a different look. Patients appreciate the opportunity to create results that feel more in harmony with their current lifestyle and self-image.
Depending on your needs, breast implant removal can be combined with procedures such as a breast lift or implant replacement to help maintain youthful contours and balanced proportions. Ultimately, the goal is to help you feel comfortable, confident, and empowered in your decision, with results tailored to your unique anatomy and long-term goals.
If you are experiencing implant complications or if your implants simply no longer align with your personal lifestyle changes, you are likely an excellent candidate for this transformation. Ideal patients are healthy individuals who maintain a stable weight, do not smoke, and possess realistic expectations regarding how their breasts will look once the volume is removed.
Many women who wish to return to their natural breast size worry about what their breasts will look like post-explant. Because the breast skin has been stretched by the implants for years, removing the added volume often leaves the breasts looking deflated, flat, or droopy. During your one-on-one consultation, Dr. Prince will honestly evaluate your skin elasticity. To achieve your desired outcome, she will help you choose between a standalone implant removal, a removal with replacement, or an implant removal with breast lift. Combining your explant with a tailored breast lift allows Dr. Prince to remove the extra skin and elevate your natural tissue, reshaping your breasts into a gorgeous, perky, bra-free profile during the same surgery.
When you wake up from surgery, you will be fitted with a supportive surgical bra or specialized sports bra to compress the empty tissue pocket, control swelling, and support your new breast shape. Most patients experience mild to moderate soreness, bruising, and tightness across the chest for the first few days, which is effectively managed with rest and medication.
If surgical drains were placed to clear excess fluid, they are typically removed in the office within 3 to 7 days. Most patients feel energetic enough to return to light desk work and daily walking within a week. However, you must protect your internal healing by avoiding heavy lifting, vigorous workouts, or strenuous exercise for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
For patients choosing to remove their implants without replacement, the outcome is a return to a more natural breast shape and feel, often with improved comfort and peace of mind. In some cases, a breast lift may be recommended to address stretched skin and create a firmer, more youthful contour after implant removal. For those opting to replace older implants, surgery can refresh the appearance of the breasts, improve symmetry, adjust size or projection, and address concerns related to aging implants. As swelling subsides and healing progresses, the breasts gradually settle into their new shape over the following weeks and months. Whether your goal is a natural look or updated implants, the focus is on achieving balanced, attractive results that complement your body and help you feel confident in your appearance.
Removing encapsulated tissue and reconstructing a deflated breast mound requires an intricate understanding of tissue planes. Dr. Prince brings keen surgical judgment and decades of reconstructive plastic surgery experience to her private practice in Surrey. Her background in complex trauma and breast reconstruction allows her to perform highly advanced total and en bloc capsulectomies with masterful anatomical precision, protecting your vital chest muscles and preserving natural nipple sensation.
As a female plastic surgeon, Dr. Prince offers a supportive, non-judgmental space where your personal health motivations and aesthetic preferences are truly heard. She never utilizes routine formulas, dedicating substantial time to analyzing your anatomy and building a transparent surgical plan that honors your long-term physical wellness and self-confidence.
The appearance of your breasts post-removal depends entirely on the amount of natural breast tissue you had prior to your augmentation, your current body fat percentage, and your skin elasticity. If you have experienced significant stretching, your breasts may appear deflated. To counteract this, Dr. Prince can expertly perform an immediate breast lift to remove excess skin and bundle your remaining tissue into a beautifully rounded, youthful contour.
Not necessarily. A total capsulectomy is generally recommended if you are dealing with a severe capsular contracture, an implant rupture, or if you have older textured implants. En bloc capsulectomy isIf your scar tissue capsule is perfectly soft, thin, and healthy, leaving it intact is often the safest path forward, as it shortens your recovery time and minimizes trauma to the surrounding tissues.
For many patients who want to completely remove their medical devices but still desire a subtle boost in fullness, fat transfer can be an addition to your surgical plan. Dr. Prince can harvest active fat cells from your abdomen or thighs via liposuction, purify the material, and strategically inject it into the breast area to gently enhance volume and smooth out contour irregularities naturally.
While a saline implant deflates immediately when it leaks, silicone gel implant ruptures are often "silent," meaning they cause no obvious changes in breast size. Signs of a silent silicone rupture can include a subtle shifting of the breast shape, unexplained localized firmness, mild burning sensations, or the development of a late-onset capsular contracture. Dr. Prince can confirm an internal rupture utilizing a targeted physical exam or an ultrasound/MRI referral.
Most patients who work desk-based or remote office jobs feel completely comfortable returning to their computers within 5 to 7 days. If your daily occupation involves manual labor, stretching, or heavy lifting, you will need to arrange light duties or take 3 to 4 weeks off to protect your incisions as they heal.
For most women, en bloc capsulectomy is not recommended. This oncologic technique is generally reserved for cases of suspected or confirmed cancer, such as BIA-ALCL. Research shows it offers no greater symptom relief than a total or partial capsulectomy in patients without cancer, while carrying meaningfully higher surgical risk, including injury to the lungs or chest wall. Dr. Prince will assess your individual case and recommend the safest, most appropriate technique rather than defaulting to the most invasive option.
