Breast Implant Removal / En Bloc
Though it rarely happens, when a patient wants to remove her breast implants, it’s critical to find a board-certified surgeon with expertise in breast anatomy and the skills to offer patients aesthetically pleasing, and above all, safe results.
Dr. Yegiyants is an expert on one of the most cutting-edge implant removal techniques known as En Bloc breast implant removal—renowned across the globe for its effectiveness and high safety margins.
In a majority of breast augmentations, some tissue will form around your implant, creating what is commonly referred to as a “capsule.” This is a normal bodily response to the insertion of a foreign object into the body and happens regularly with pacemakers and hip replacements too.
However, for a small number of patients, the capsule may cause complications with the breast implant. If this is the case, en bloc breast implant removal can successfully remove the entire capsule and implant; allowing Dr. Yegiyants to create a healthier pocket for a new implant or prepare you for a breast lift. Either way, you will love the results and avoid any of the possible discomfort caused by your body’s reaction to the previous augmentation.
As en bloc breast removal is a highly specialized technique, not every surgeon has the skills to perform it. Dr. Yegiyants specializes in breast surgery and offers patients en bloc removal because she believes in guaranteeing her patients safety and positive outcomes.
With her background in the arts, and commitment to making each patient feel fabulous, Dr.Yegiyants will ensure you feel and look your best.
If you would like to learn more about en bloc breast implant removal, please read on. Or, if you would like personalized answers, please feel free to call out Santa Barbara, CA, office at 805-682-1731 today.
What Happens During an En Bloc Breast Implant Removal or Capsulectomy?
If you experience the breasts changing in size, implants changing positions, implant rupture, or simply want to exchange implants, en bloc breast implant removal may be the solution to your concerns.
En bloc, meaning “as a whole,” implant removal utilizes a technique to remove both the implant and tissue capsule as a whole. This ensures no residue will be left behind and your breasts will heal and recover without any contamination.
Materials from the capsule, bacteria, or slight leakage from the implant have a small chance of causing symptoms like pain or size distortion.
When your surgeon performs an en bloc removal, Dr. Yegiyants will remove the whole implant and capsule so as to avoid leaving behind any biofilm material. “Biofilm” is a complex mixture of proteins, skin cells, and bacteria which can lead to an excessive inflammatory response. In some cases, the development of biofilm is a risk factor for capsular contracture (which we will discuss in-depth below).
By ensuring the removal of all biofilm residue, Dr. Yegiyants significantly lowers your chances of developing complications if you choose to have another breast augmentation in the future.
Generally, en bloc breast implant removal requires the creation of an inframammary incision, but these are easily hidden from view. If you already have an inframammary scar, Dr. Yegiyants will do her best to use your original incision whenever possible, to minimize any additional scarring.
Once your implant is removed, the breasts’ muscle, tissue, or both will be able to return to the original chest position. In many cases, Dr. Yegiyants will place a drain in the breast to prevent fluid from accumulating.
If you are concerned about sagging after an en bloc implant removal, Dr. Yegiyants can stage your procedures and combine the removal with new implants and/or a breast lift.
What is Capsular Contracture?
Capsular contracture is the medical name for when the capsule surrounding an implant begins to get thicker and thicker, eventually causing the breasts to harden, become misshapen, or squeeze and change the position of the implant.
Doctors are unsure of what exactly causes capsular contracture, but studies have shown the capsules may contain silicone gel fragments, calcified tissue, bacteria, and/or inflammatory cells—all of which have been shown to cause further complications.
This is why surgeons regularly choose en bloc breast implant removal for patients facing capsular contracture—only by removing the implant and capsule as a unit, can Dr. Yegiyants ensure contaminants are self-contained and less likely to be left behind causing later complications.
FAQ
Am I a candidate for en bloc breast implant removal?
If you:
- Experience pain from your previous breast implants
- Show symptoms due to a silicone breast implant rupture
- Want to remove your implants because of asymmetry, hardening, or malposition
- Are concerned that your implants could be causing other symptoms in your body
- Received certain textured implants, and may be concerned about rare risks of ALCL cancer
En bloc removal could be right for you. The best way to determine the ideal treatment plan is to discuss your options with a board-certified plastic surgeon, like Dr. Yegiyants.
What’s the recovery process like?
Whether or not you choose to receive a new implant or breast lift significantly affects your recovery process. However, if you undergo just the en bloc breast implant removal, it is normal to see some shrinkage in overall volume as the swelling dissipates.
The combination of no longer having your implants alongside the changes in the breast due to stretching from your implants and aging may lead to further change in shape or sagging—however, this largely depends on your age, tissue elasticity, and other environmental factors.
Some patients experience a slightly longer recovery period (usually an additional one week) compared to the two weeks of avoiding strenuous activity we recommend for normal breast augmentation.
After this innitial period, you can return to light activity. We advise patients to take off about a week from social activity and to prepare to abstain from driving for ten days while completing your course of prescription medication.
Patients are also asked to wear a surgical bra for a few weeks to aid healing.
Can I get a breast lift at the same time as my en bloc implant removal?
Yes, we commonly recommend this combination.
After having your implants removed, you may have extra loose skin that could be reduced. A breast lift is a great option to improve the contour, any sagging, and overall aesthetic appearance of the breasts.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Yegiyants
En bloc breast augmentation offers safe, dependable results for the small number of patients facing breast augmentation complications.
As this technique is quite specialized, it is crucial to find a board-certified surgeon with considerable knowledge of breast anatomy and experience completing this procedure. Dr. Yegiyants is a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon and is proud to be the only woman surgeon in the Santa Barbara area.
At our boutique and newly renovated, light, bright office, you will enjoy high quality results in the safest, spa-like environment.
At your consultation, Dr. Yegiyants listen to what you desire and guide you carefully through the process of achieving your aesthetic and reconstructive goals.
Please feel free to contact us here, or call us today to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Yegiyants.