Can Breast Implants Be Removed Through the Belly Button?

The periareolar incision can minimize scarring in most patients. I would not recommend breast implant removal through the belly button. 

HI,

It would be very difficult to remove the breast implants through the belly button (impossible if they are silicone). Why not go through the same peri-areolar scar that you already have? Also please be aware that after the implants are removed, you will have some droop to the breasts (since they were stretched out by the implants).

Regards,

Daniel A. Medalie, MD

It is recommended that you have your implants removed through your periareolar scar as this will not leave you with a new scar. It would be very difficult to remove them through the belly button. If you have silicone implants removing them the belly button is not an option. Few surgeons, if any, would even remove saline implants through the belly button.

I would suggest that you have the breast implants removed through the same incision line used to initially place the breast implants. I would not remove the implants through the trans-umbilical approach.

 Best wishes.

Going through the navel will give you a new scar. Using a scar you already have for access will not. If the implants are saline it is possible to remove them, but the trade-off as I see it is poor. If you are slender there is a small risk of having visible or palpable ridges along the abdomen. If the implant breaks (and it must to drain the fluid) it may not be possible to know if the entire shell has been removed. (If the implants are silicone it is completely out of the question because the silicone will spill within the breast and abdominal wall.)

If the same incision is used, the scar should wind up like it is now. Thanks and best wishes.