I am going to have my smooth, saline implants removed. I've had the implants for 16 years. My plastic surgeon has recommended to have the implants drained (in the office), and then wait 6 weeks to do the explant surgery without a capsulectomy. All the women I have talked to have said, "NO!" to the draining. Is draining the implants before explant routine?
January 15, 2019
Answer: Draining saline implants before removal, is this routine? Recommend that you should ask your PS his/her reason for draining and then waiting six weeks to explant. Removal of breast implants under local is reasonable and can be done in about 10 minutes. This is not an unreasonable plan, but I would have to examine you to determine if it would be a recommendation I would make. I would just take the implants out rather than deflate and wait. I am not sure that either approach can be faulted. When they are deflated, the pockets will contract. Once implants are removed, there will likely be flattening and drooping that can be corrected in large part with a breast lift. In general, the smaller the implant and the less the amount of time it has been since placement, the greater the chance the breasts will return to their preoperative state. No one can truly predict this as each soft tissue envelope will respond differently, but you may do well with just removal. Give yourself six months for the breasts to heal and then reevaluate.
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January 15, 2019
Answer: Draining saline implants before removal, is this routine? Recommend that you should ask your PS his/her reason for draining and then waiting six weeks to explant. Removal of breast implants under local is reasonable and can be done in about 10 minutes. This is not an unreasonable plan, but I would have to examine you to determine if it would be a recommendation I would make. I would just take the implants out rather than deflate and wait. I am not sure that either approach can be faulted. When they are deflated, the pockets will contract. Once implants are removed, there will likely be flattening and drooping that can be corrected in large part with a breast lift. In general, the smaller the implant and the less the amount of time it has been since placement, the greater the chance the breasts will return to their preoperative state. No one can truly predict this as each soft tissue envelope will respond differently, but you may do well with just removal. Give yourself six months for the breasts to heal and then reevaluate.
Helpful
January 15, 2019
Answer: Draining saline implants Draining the implants before removal is an option. It is helpful in that it allows the skin to begin to contract prior to removal of the implant shell. Some surgeons drain the implant immediately prior to removal while others do it in advance of the surgery. It is safe to proceed either way.
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January 15, 2019
Answer: Draining saline implants Draining the implants before removal is an option. It is helpful in that it allows the skin to begin to contract prior to removal of the implant shell. Some surgeons drain the implant immediately prior to removal while others do it in advance of the surgery. It is safe to proceed either way.
Helpful
