There are many reasons why women may consider breast implant removal or replacement surgery. Some women simply tire of their implants and wish to return to their natural breast size while others experience device failure, capsular contracture, asymmetry, or dissatisfaction with size or position and require replacement. For most patients, breast implant removal or replacement surgery is a minimally invasive procedure with limited downtime and little discomfort.

Ideal Candidates

Patients who are unsatisfied or feel discomfort with their breast implants are ideal candidates. Patients who want to switch their current breast implants with newer and/or better implants are excellent candidates for breast implant removal and replacement. Candidates are in good overall health with no post-surgery healing issues and are non-smokers.

Initial Consultation

During your initial consultation, you will meet with one of our board certified plastic surgeons to discuss your goals and expectations. Your surgeon will provide you with a detailed explanation of the procedure, answer your questions, and determine a surgical plan of care based on your expected outcome. After performing an exam and reviewing pertinent health history, your surgeon may order lab work, a mammogram, and other pre-operative tests as deemed necessary. Lastly, you will meet with a surgery coordinator to discuss fees, surgery scheduling options, and make a pre-operative appointment to meet with the nurse for final preparation prior to surgery.

Surgery

Your procedure will be performed in our AAAASF accredited office surgical suite with a qualified anesthesia provider. Operative time in most cases is approximately 1-2 hours. Most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, and patients are discharged home the same day.

Once the anesthesia has taken full effect, incisions will be made; typically, the incisions used during the previous breast implant surgery will be used, avoiding the need for new incisions.

Next, the breast implants will be carefully removed, making sure nothing is left behind and the breast tissues are healthy. The scar-tissue capsule may also be removed or altered. Finally, the replacement breast implants will be inserted.

The incisions will be closed using sutures before being bandaged. Tiny tubes may be inserted to drain fluids during the recovery process. In addition, a protective surgical bra will be worn to support the breasts and maintain the ideal shape of the breasts.

Recovery

The patient can go home after their condition stabilizes, which could be a few hours or a day after the breast implant removal and replacement surgery. The patient will be driven home by a friend or family member or a hired healthcare professional.

The patient will experience a degree of post-surgical bruising, swelling, and pain for the first few days. Physical activities will be temporarily limited. Activities that could cause trauma to the breast area are strictly prohibited.

Your nurse will provide you with detailed post-operative instructions at your pre-operative visit and will review them again prior to your discharge home. Recovery time is about 3-5 days, and most patients take pain medication for a few days. Patients can typically return to work within 3-5 days, but heavy lifting, pushing or pulling should be avoided for the first 8-12 weeks following your surgery.

A follow-up appointment will be scheduled to assess the recovery process of the patient and check on the results. This will involve removal of sutures.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding breast implant removal and replacement in Baton Rouge, visit Bourgeois Freel Plastic Surgery. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Your Breast Implant Removal and Replacement procedure will be performed in Bourgeois Freel Plastic Surgery‘s surgery center located in Baton Rouge, LA.

By Dr. Freel