The goal of breast implant removal surgery (explant surgery) is to remove breast implants from breast augmentation or breast reconstruction patients. During these procedures, the surgeon may also remove silicone material from implant leaks and the breast capsule, which is the scar tissue that forms after the placement of a breast implant.
Often, the scar tissue that forms after the placement of an implant is soft and does not need to be removed, but it may harden, causing pain and discomfort. This is often a reason to have the implants and scar tissue removed.
Breast implants are not lifelong devices and it is important to have them exchanged or removed approximately every 10-15 years. This decision is typically based on the individual and the patient’s needs and desires.
In some cases, the outside shell of the implant breaks down causing silicone to leak and the scar tissue around the implant to harden. It is important to understand that your implants should be removed for this reason.
Recently, there have been media reports about a rare type of cancer linked to breast implants: anaplastic large cell carcinoma (ALCL). Breast-implant associated ALCL is not the same as breast cancer; it is a rare type of lymphoma that develops in the fluid surrounding breast implants, not in the breast tissue itself.
Current expert opinion is that the risk of contracting breast-implant associated ALCL is about one in 5,000 women with implants. By comparison, the risk of breast cancer is one in eight.
The majority of cases are cured with breast implant removal and the fibrous capsule around them from both breasts.
If there are changes in your breasts associated with breast implants, and especially if there is general swelling or a lump, contact your practitioner for further investigation.
