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Unilateral or Bilateral Explantation?

asked 2 years ago by imadvice in New York
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 819 times
Tags: explant

Hello Doctors - What are the pros and cons of unilateral vs bilatral explantation of breast implants when one side of the breast is fine? If I have the implant removed from the problematic breast, I may not be able to have the same size inserted again but a smaller implant, right?

Right now I am seeing rippling with the same size implant (275cc after multiple surgeries on the same breast even with silicone under the muscle). Would I achieve better results if I leave it out for a year and let things heal up?

8 answers to Unilateral or Bilateral Explantation?

Breast implant rippling

Dear Imadvice The rippling may be a result of thin breast tissue or capsular contracture. The best solution i have seen is doing micro fat grafting to the breast to increase the soft tissue coverage. If you have a capsular contracture then other remedies are indicated- open caapsulotony or oral singulair to release/soften the capsule. With Warm Regards, Trevor M Born MD

Trevor M. Born, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Rippling and implants

If you are concerned about rippling, you may need the implants removed and exchanged to a different pocket plane. If they are already under the muscle you may need another layer of coverage like Alloderm. Yes, it may be a good idea to have both implants exchanged.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Implant Exchange

I would not say that is the solution to your problem. It sounds like you are having problems with inadequacy of soft tissue coverage of your implants. What you need is better coverage and adjustment of your implants, in size perhaps. Alloderm or other such products are helpful in that they add soft tissue coverage to persons like your self to help with rippling affect. Make sure you see a board certified plastic surgeon that does breast revision work. Good luck. more

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

I would recommend replacing both implants

Replacing both implants is probably your best bet, as you will have a better chance at achieving symmetry. In terms of the rippling, another option to help hide the rippling would be to use a product like Alloderm. Alloderm is human skin which has been treated-- what is left is a collagen matrix, and it comes in sheets of different thickness and sizes. At the time that the implants are replaced, I would suture the Alloderm in the pocket, between the implant and the skin in the area of... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

It all depends...

If your implants are older, or if the correction on the affected side requires a differently sized or shaped implant then a bilateral exchange makes sense. Rippling can be a tough problem, especialy in thin individuals, and you already have gel implants under the muscle. Hard to go beyond that, except perhaps total muscular coverage which has it's own set of problems. Leaving the implants out for a year is good if the pocket and or skin has been stretched and you want to let things return... more

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.DrLoMonaco.com

Breast implant removal (explantation) of the problematic breast implant or both: unilateral or bilateral

The main issue appears to be the relative lack of tissue. You could consider higher profile implants with lower tendency for rippling, lipoinjection to cove r and disguise the ripples, Alloderm to diminish tendency for capsular contracture and enhance thickening of the tissues, complete implant removal with downsizing and replacement wtih smaller implants or volume restoration with autologous fat grafts.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Fixing a deformed breast implant

Correction of the problematic breast implant should be performed with possible explantation and correction of the deformity. Explantation and delay is reserved for rare cases of infection.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Varies...

Hello, The answers to your questions depend upon the cause of your problems. If it is mainly contracture, then a one stage operation might work out well. If your tissues have become thin, it is harder to fix. Multiple operations are more likely in this case. See what your surgeon says and go from there. Best Regards, John Di Saia MD

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

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