Even though today’s breast implants are safe and can create beautiful, natural-looking results, some women choose to have their implants removed. Board-certified Northbrook plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Sisco performs breast implant removal surgery for women from Arlington Heights, Mt. Prospect, and North Shore towns like Highland Park and Glenview. When considering doctors for these complex procedures that may include en bloc capsulectomy, it’s important to choose a top surgeon like Dr. Sisco, who is highly trained and experienced.
Breast Implant Removal Before & After Photos
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Breast Implant Removal with Lift
A woman in her 40s decided she no longer wanted her breast implants. Over time, her preferences and goals had changed, and she desired a more natural look and feel to her breasts. However, she was concerned about sagging and loss of shape after implant removal and wanted to achieve a lifted, youthful contour.
Dr. Sisco expertly perf... Read More
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Implant Removal with Breast Lift
This woman in her 40s had prior breast implants that she wanted removed. She was concerned about sagging and loss of shape after the removal. To address her concerns, Dr. Sisco performed a concurrent breast lift, restoring a youthful, lifted contour and improving the overall shape of her breasts. The patient is delighted with the results, enj... Read More
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Breast Implant Removal
This woman in her 50s elected to have her breast implants removed. She no longer wanted to have breast implants and opted to have natural breasts again. Dr. Sisco performed a breast implant removal surgery to remove the implants and restore her natural breasts to their previous shape. Read More
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Breast Implant Removal
This patient came to Dr. Mark Sisco after two failed breast augmentation attempts left her with significant symmastia, a condition where the implants touch in the center of the chest. Feeling deformed and wanting to return to a natural appearance, she sought expert revision surgery.Dr. Sisco removed the implants and performed an intern... Read More
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Breast Implant Removal with Oncoplastic Reconstruction
This patient in her 60s with a history of prior breast augmentation and lift developed breast cancer and required a lumpectomy and radiation. As part of her reconstruction, Dr. Sisco removed her implants and revised her breast left to optimize her appearance and facilitate her cancer care. Read More
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Breast Implant Removal with Nipple Lift
Dr. Sisco performed a capsulectomy breast implant removal and breast lift on this 70-year-old woman, addressing both her desire to remove her implants and improve the overall appearance of her breasts. The procedure involved carefully removing the implants and surrounding capsule tissue, followed by a periareolar lift to enhance the natural s... Read More
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Breast Implant Removal
This woman in her 70s presented to Dr. Sisco 50 years after having a silicone breast augmentation. She noted that her implants had become firm and misshapen. She simply desired removal. Dr. Sisco proceeded with removal of the implants and all of the surrounding scar tissue. The patient was much more comfortable and pleased w... Read More
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Breast Implant Removal with Lift
This woman in her 30s had experienced a capsular contracture in both breasts. Dr. Sisco performed an en bloc capsulectomy breast implant removal procedure, removing both the implants and the scar tissue capsule with a breast lift to give her the smaller, softer breast shape she wanted. Read More
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Why Do Women Choose Breast Implant Removal?
Most saline and silicone implants need to be either replaced or removed at some point. Some women feel that they no longer need the enhancement that implants provide. If their preferences and lifestyles have changed over time, a revision breast surgery may also be an appropriate option.
In some cases, however, the choice to remove breast implants is the result of complications or concerns about potential side effects associated with breast augmentation or breast reconstruction.
Breast Implant Illness
Breast implant illness (BII) is an unusual and poorly defined constellation of symptoms that some women attribute to their breast implants. There is currently no scientific explanation for breast implant illness. However, Dr. Sisco understands the limitations of medical knowledge and respects those women who perceive that their implants are making them ill. For these women, Dr. Sisco offers en bloc capsulectomy, a specialized procedure that involves removing both the implant and the capsule of scar tissue surrounding it in order to leave the body as close as possible to how it was before the implant was placed. Some patients choose to combine the implant removal procedure with breast lift surgery because implants can stretch breast skin.
BIA-ALCL
In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified a possible link between textured breast implants and a rare form of lymphoma known as breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). This extremely rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer of the cells of the immune system. BIA-ALCL can occur in different parts of the body, including the lymph nodes and skin. Even though BIA-ALCL is found in the breasts of some individuals with breast implants, it is not breast cancer.
BIA-ALCL is very rare and the subject of continuing research. Dr. Sisco does not recommend routinely removing textured implants due to the associated risk. However, some women with textured implants are choosing to remove them or replace them with smooth implants.
Dr. Sisco’s expertise on this subject has been included in various media outlets, including the Washington Post.
How Much Does Breast Implant Removal Surgery Cost?
In Chicago’s North Shore area, the cost of breast implant removal surgery varies with the specifics of the procedure. During your consultation, we provide you with a document that details the estimated cost of your breast implant removal surgery. We encourage you to take it home, look it over, consider your options, and make an informed decision.
Implant Removal Procedure
As a breast surgery specialist and Chief of Plastic Surgery at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Dr. Sisco offers his expertise in breast implant removal procedures to women who come to our practice from Arlington Heights and throughout the North Shore.
Removing breast implants often requires a level of technical skill that not all plastic surgeons possess. Capsulectomy, or scar tissue removal, requires finesse to prevent injury to the surrounding tissue, especially when the implant and scar tissue capsule are removed as a single unit. This procedure, known as an en bloc capsulectomy, needs additional care to preserve the implant’s integrity and prevent rupture.
In many cases, implant removal can be combined with a breast lift to re-contour stretched skin. This procedure requires artistry as well as an intimate knowledge of breast anatomy to ensure a good outcome. When performed by an experienced surgeon such as Dr. Sisco, it is a safe surgery that involves less recovery time than even breast augmentation surgery.
Breast Sagging After Implant Removal
For some women who’ve had large breast implants or whose skin has lost significant elasticity, breast implant removal can cause breasts to look saggy or deflated. As mentioned above, combining a breast lift with breast implant removal will reshape the remaining breast tissue, giving the breasts a more appealing position on the chest. It is safe to combine a breast lift with breast implant removal, but some women choose to have their implants removed first so they can determine whether a breast lift is necessary.
Recovery After Breast Implant Removal Surgery
In part, the length and intensity of your recovery will depend on the type of breast implant removal surgery performed and whether a breast lift was included. Recovery for most explant procedures is fairly quick, usually requiring just a few days to a week of downtime.
En bloc implant removals require a longer recovery period and may need drains in place for a few days after to prevent serous (wound) fluid from pooling around the surgical site. Some patients may need to wear a compression or support bra during their recovery to minimize swelling and encourage healing.
In general, patients should expect some soreness, bruising, and post-surgical swelling. Any discomfort is usually well-managed with pain relievers and typically dissipates within a week. Dr. Sisco will advise how long you should refrain from strenuous activity after your procedure and any limits on lifting or movements.
Most of the swelling will subside after the first two months, though just as with your initial augmentation procedure, it may take time for your results to finalize. The scars, too, will continue to mature and fade, becoming much less noticeable within a few months.
Common Breast Implant Removal Questions
Yes, although we most often replace old implants with new implants during the same procedure, you can usually have implants inserted at a later time. This will depend, however, on your breasts’ condition, your specific needs, and the recommendation of your surgeon. You’ll likely need to wait at least 3 months after your breast implant removal procedure to have new implants placed so your body has time to heal fully before the second surgery.
Most women have some discomfort and soreness after their breast implants are removed, although some say the pain is less than when their implants were initially placed. Recovery pain is usually managed well with pain relievers or medication and diminishes significantly within the first week or so. Soreness may continue for a few weeks, however.
The appearance of each patient’s breasts depends on a variety of factors, including how extensively breast tissue was displaced by the implants and how much the implants stretched the skin and for how long.
Although breast implants are not meant to last a lifetime, they often can last 20 years or more. They are safe to keep in place as long as they aren’t exhibiting any problems, such as swelling, pain, misshapen appearance, or a feeling of tightness.
Preparing for explant surgery is much like preparing for any other procedure. If you’re a smoker, stop smoking several weeks before the surgery. Follow Dr. Sisco’s instructions for taking or stopping any medication and fill any necessary prescriptions before surgery. Have someone drive you home from surgery and stay with you overnight and enlist friends or family to help you with household chores and child care while you are healing.
If you are thinking of removing your implants and want to discuss your options with Dr. Sisco, request a consultation using the online form or call our office at (847) 504-2333 to schedule an appointment.
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A Reputation Built on Results
Mark Sisco M.D. is rated 5 out of 5.0 based on 112 ratings.
Dr. Sisco is an excellent surgeon and a really nice doctor to work with. I came to him with a difficult breast reconstruction case, and although it required two surgeries, ...
Dr. Cisco did a great job with my top surgery. He did a good job making everything clear and helping recovery be smooth.
I am 1 month post-op from a breast reduction/lift with liposuction with Dr. Sisco. From the very beginning, Dr. Sisco was kind, straightforward and supportive. As someone who has not ...
