Breast Implant Removal Under Local Anesthesia?

Typically, breast implant #removal or #explant surgery is done with the patient under #anesthesia. However, many patients report the recovery and healing is much more easier than the original breast augmentation procedure.  Often local #anesthetic is also injected into the original scar which provides further comfort throughout the procedure and following. They also report little to no pain and the post-op recovery is about 2 hours before being released. It is also crucial that you work with a board certified plastic surgeon highly trained in #cosmetic breast surgery for your procedure and to discuss any concerns you have at length. 

If the implant needs to be removed because it is infected, there is obvious much more that can be done at the time of surgery if the patient is asleep. 

It may be possible to have this done under local anesthesia.  Depending on the signs,it may require at least sedation or even general anesthesia.  Discuss the options with your surgeon.  Best wishes!

Thank you for your question.  It is possible to remove your implant under local if your plastic surgeon has the setup to do so in the office or if you go back to the surgical facility.  In general, if you have an infection, you may have increased tenderness on the affected side, so I would discuss with your surgeon how comfortable you will be with straight local versus the risks of general anesthesia or IV sedation.

Patients occasionally require
removal of their breast implants for a variety of reasons.  When this situation arises the
procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia.  It’s important to realize that under
the appropriate circumstances explantation can be easily performed under local
anesthesia.  In most cases, local
anesthesia is supplemented with I.V. sedation.

                  Local
anesthesia is an excellent option in patients who are anxious about general
anesthesia or whose health prohibits the use of general anesthesia.  Under these circumstances, the area
beneath the inframmary fold is numbed and a small incision is made to remove
the breast implants.

                  Breast
implants can easily be removed under local anesthesia, but when extensive
capsular work is anticipated, general anesthesia is still the best option.

                  If
you’re considering removal of implants under local anesthesia, it’s important
to discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon.  Your surgeon should be able to help you formulate an
appropriate treatment plan.  

Implant removal can easily be performed under local but the problem is that lacal anesthetics do not work well in INFECTED tissues. Furthermore I am confused if you are talking about implant replacement in an infected field which is highly controversial

Immediate breast implant removal can be performed under local anesthesia if there is a contraindication to anesthesia.  There are options for infected implant salvage with intravenous antibiotics that are worth discussing. 

While it may be possible to remove the implant under local anesthesia, the main question is why is the implant being removed? (i.e.; infection, wound breakdown, etc)  It all depends on what is being done.  Most patients are more comfortable under sedation or general anesthesia.

Talk to your board certified plastic surgeon and discuss your treatment options, including anesthesia options. 

If you have an infection, you situation is a bit complicated.  Although removal of an implant is easy under local anesthesia, you might need a little more than just removal for treatment.  Nevertheless, my guess is that you can have the implant removed and the infection treated with local anesthesia alone.

In great majority of patients that require simple breast implant removal, there is no need for general anesthesia.  Local anesthesia with light sedation, too make the patient comfortable, can be readily used to achieve the desired results.  Make sure your surgeon does not skimp on performing all the necessary steps during your surgery, just because you are having local anesthesia.  In many patients at least partial capsule removal is needed, as well as placement of some tacking sutures to obtain the desired result.  In my hands that can readily be done with proper technique and local anesthesia.