Can silicone breast implant removal be done under local anaesthesia? (Photo)

Every surgeon has his or her own comfort level.   I recommend an in-office examination as well as a detailed discussion with a surgeon who you are comfortable with.   Finally, make sure your surgeon is a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).Best,Dr. DesaiBeverly Hills Institute for Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryHarvard Educated, Beverly Hills & Miami Beach TrainedDouble Board-Certified, Double Fellowship-Trained Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Removing silicone implants under local anesthesia is appropriate only in the simplest case of pure removal.  If your PS thinks that a capsulectomy is not needed to remove your two year old implants, you should be OK.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Los Angeles, CA

It
is possible to remove implants under local anesthesia.  However, you will most likely be dissatisfied
with the results.  After explant, the
skin will hang, wrinkle and will look unattractive.  For this reason, I recommend explantation
using The Bellesoma Method under general anesthesia.  This will reshape your breast tissue creating
upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and
more medial to increase your cleavage. 
Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation and the ability to breast
feed are maintained, if not injured during your previous surgery.  At the same or later, fat transfers can be
performed if additional volume is desired. 
Capsulectomy does necessarily have to be done unless there are
abnormalities with the capsule such as calcification or infection.  Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Breast Implant removal is certainly a bit easier than the placement and much less discomfort results from the surgery.  If the capsule is very thin and soft then removing it is not necessary and can at times cause more trauma trying to remove very thin capsule.  When the capsule is on the thicker side, then removing it would allow the surfaces to heal together faster with less issues with seroma (fluid collection).If your implants move freely and feel soft, then a capsulectomy is unnecessary.Hope that helps.

Dear raechel85,yes, implants can be removed under local anesthesia. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The silicone implants themselves can be removed under local anesthesia but capsule removal would be best with IV or general anesthesia.   The full capsule doesn't always need to be removed if it is thin and soft, but if it is thickened it is nice to remove most if not all of it.  It is difficult to tell until the time of surgery which is why full anesthesia is nice to have on board.    A drain will also be placed afterward.  Your symptoms are unlikely to be related to the implants but removing them will take it out of the list of concerns.  Good luck to you.

Your implants can be removed under local anesthesia, but it's best to have it performed under general if you are having the capsules removed.  Often if patients are concerned that their implants are causing symptoms they will elect to have both the capsules and implants removed for peace of mind. 

I am sorry to hear about the problems you are experiencing.Yes, implants can be removed under local anesthesia but more  involved operations (capsulectomy for example) are best done under general anesthesia, in my opinion.  Generally speaking (in my opinion), unless the breast implant capsules have thickened (and/or are otherwise symptomatic), are associated with the ruptured silicone gel breast implants, or if the patient has concerns about "medical conditions" related to the breast implants, capsulectomy is not universally necessary. For these patients, en bloc removal of breast implants is a good procedure.
On the contrary, capsulectomy can expose patients to additional risks, such as bleeding, size loss, contour irregularities and other serious complications. In other words, any maneuver performed during surgery exposes patients to additional risk (morbidity). For example, attempting to remove very thin capsule densely adherent to the patient's rib cage may expose the patient to significant bleeding and/or entrance into the thoracic cavity.
 I hope this helps. Best wishes.

We usually recommend implant removal and capsulectomies when removing silicone implants. However, if the implants are in for a relatively short time, it may be ok to not do the capsulectomies.   Would recommend getting a second opinion then making a decision. Good luck! 

If there are any signs of infection or thickening of the capsule, the capsule needs to be removed with the implant. For those who are concerned about possible health issues from the implants, the capsule should be removed as well as the implant. If you just want the implants out because they are uncomfortable or too big, the implant itself can be removed under local anesthesia. I would suggest that you be tested for food allergies which could be the source of many of your complaints.