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Are You Able to Remove Saline from an Implant Six Months Post-op?

asked 1 year ago by maine in maine
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 268 times
Tags: saline implants, removal

four months ago I had breast augmentation.Going into surgery my doctor advised she was going to fill the left breast with 30 cc more than my right breast because of the way my breast bone sits.For unknown reasons, she filled the right side with more. Needless to say the right breast four months post surgery is noticeable larger.I met with her 2 weeks ago and she said I could have saline removed in another surgery from the right side.Question;will this at all affect the integrity of the implant?

14 answers to Are You Able to Remove Saline from an Implant Six Months Post-op?

Adjusting the Amount of Saline in Breast Implants

Hi Maine, I'm sorry for the problems you're having. In my opinion, one of the most important things with saline implants is to make sure that each implant is filled to the same percentage of the recommended size for that implant. If you take two identical implants and fill one with significantly more saline than the other, the fuller one will typically be firmer, rounder and more prominent - which makes sense. Breasts are almost never perfectly symmetrical so... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant fill volumes

Breast implants are designed to be filled to a certain volume. For example, a 300 cc implant can be filled to 330 cc. If you fill it to just 290 cc then the implant can wrinkle and the integrity of the implant can be compromised. This can lead to earlier deflation of the implant. Discuss this in detail with your surgeon, you may need to downsize the entire implant. It depends on how much saline is already in the device and what size the implant is. Best wishes, Dr. Bruno more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Adjusting saline implant volume is usually possible

Typically we like to wait 6 months for all healing to occur but it is possible to remove some saline if the fill volume is above the minimum without damaging the implant.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant revision surgery

It is not desirable, but possible to undergo breast revision surgery after six months following the initial operation. Six months is the usual minimum waiting period required before going back for a revision. Although this must be assessed based on the patients physical examination. Removing saline from an implant may damage the port at the time of tubing insertion into the hub, but this is a rare event. Nevertheless is should be discussed before surgery. Also under-filling and over-filling... more

S. Daniel Golshani, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

You can have saline removed from the implant.

Removing saline from the implant will not affect the integrity of the implant but anytime you have surgery on a breast implant you have a risk of infection and capsular contracture. 30 cc's is less than a tablespoon of water, so it is hard to tell a difference with this amount. Good luck!

Bivik Rajnikant Shah, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Removing saline from an implant 6 months after surgery: Is it OK?

Adjusting the amount of saline in the implant can be performed 6 months following your surgery. This should typically be performed under strict sterility as in an operating room and not in an office exam room. There also is a risk of damage to the implant as well as to the valve of the implant. Your plastic surgeon should have a backup available just in case this does occur.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

Reducing saline implant volume after breast augmentation

It is possible to reduce volume from a saline breast implant six months after breast augmentation, provided that the implant had been filled to the top of the fill range, and will be reduced only to the minimum fill range. For a large breast implant the range may be 50cc, for a smaller implant just 30cc. You should be certain that the 30cc will may a difference to you, as reducing the volume will require opening the pocket the exposing the implant. If done carefully the implant will not be... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Removing Saline

Saline could be removed with a secondary surgery. Anything is possible, as your question poses. It is possible that the integrity of the implant will be fine. This is the most likely scenario. It is also possible that the valve will be damaged, the implant accidently ruptured or you could develop a complication following surgery.

Marc Schneider, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Adjusting saline implant volume is possible but you may want to wait.

With additional minor surgery the volume of any saline filled implant can be changed - up or down. Exposing the implant, inserting a filling tube and removing some volume is a straight forward surgical procedure but poses a small but some risk to the implant integrity as well as a minor risk of infection, altered scar formation at the incision site, etc. Your breast shape and contours will evolve slowly over the first year after surgery and many small differences become less problematic... more

Mathew C. Mosher, MD
Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

Revision of breast implant volume

Yes your implant volume may be reduced. However, it must be done carefully and in a sterile environment. Additionally, your implant should not be deflated to a point below the manufacturers minimal fill volume as this often leads to fold flaw that are more prone to make an implant fail.

Delio Ortegon, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

Adjusting implant volume after surgery

Implant volume adjustments can be performed at a second stage. The integrity of the implant is at risk of compromise at any procedure, but, when performed carefully, the implant should be safe. I have made adjustments like these under local anesthesia in the past, but it should be done in the operating room to maintain sterility. Good luck!!

Jason R. Hess, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Deflating an implant

To remove saline from an implant is usually straight forward but does require a surgical procedure. Post-op pain should be at a mnimal as compared to your first surgery.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Saline implant volume issue

The procedure to add or remove saline from a saline implant is pretty straightforward and generally won't compromise the implant. If the implant is damaged during the procedure it's usually obvious (the saline leaks out). Your plastic surgeon should have a back-up implant available just in case.

James W. Ward, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Remove Saline from Breast Implant?

Thank you for the question. Yes, saline can be removed from the breast implant with a high likelihood that the valve of the implant ( and the integrity of the implant) will not be affected. The film volume of the implant should be kept within the manufacturers' recommended range. Best wishes.