How Long Does Implant Removal Healing Take?

Question

Removing implants 2-3 months post op, they're not for me. How long until my muscles and everything are healed and I no longer feel pain in my breasts due to this surgery?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Removal of breast implants, intact or ruptured, may have positive implications if patients are symptomatic. A constellation of symptoms associated with breast implant illness, and autoimmune disease are considered when treating patients who have breast implants and are concerned about foreign body reaction. In our office, we begin this journey with a consideration of symptoms and exclusion of obvious autoimmune problems. In many of our patients, en bloc removal of breast implants with capsulectomy is important and beneficial. Further clinical evidence about breast implant illness is evolving and will continue to guide treatment. I would suggest removal if there is a possibility of foreign body reaction.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Many patients report the recovery and healing is much more easier than the original breast augmentation procedure. The #incisions should take approximately a week or two to heal up. You may experience some #discomfort at the incision locations for a few days and a pain reliever may be prescribed to you. Since the breast pockets where the implants were formerly located are now empty and less affected as they were in during the original augmentation, pain within the breast pocket may further be decreased. Side effects of the procedure are possible and each patiemt differs as they recover. At any time during your post-op #healing you have any concerns, do not hesitate to contact your doctors to further inquire.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

If you only require implant removal, this should be relatively painless.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Recovery from implant removal will be influenced by the complexity of your surgery.  Generally speaking patients can stop wearing compression after two weeks, resume strenuous activities after six weeks, and see final results in six to nine months.  I encourage you to speak with your surgeon about what is expected for you based on your unique circumstance.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

Removing the implants is a simpler procedure that inserting them in almost all patients (leaking gels excluded). Most patients are back to work the next day, and require few or no pain meds. 

	Best wishes for an uneventful recovery.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Implant removal as long as no capsule has to be removed is fairly painless and usually patients feel pretty good within a few days.

Kevin Tehrani, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear Tina,

Breast implant removal is typically a simple procedure that may even be done under local anesthesia with minimal downtime. Seems you are recently post op and would wait at least three months and discuss your reasons for removal with you surgeon as that may not be the best course of action.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

It is very likely that you will find the “healing time” associated with removal breast implants to be much less than that associated with initial breast augmentation surgery. Most patients require pain medication for one to two days at most and are able to return to most activities very quickly,  comparatively speaking. Of course, your plastic surgeon will be your best resource when it comes to returning to specific activities, given that he/she knows exactly what was done and how you are progressing.

	 Best wishes; hopefully, you will be pleased with the outcome of the procedure performed.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

Healing after breast implant explantation would depend on the amount of surgery. If the capsule needs to be removed then the healing is longer. Also depends on your pain tolerance, whether the implant is above or below the muscle. Your surgeon would be able to give you a better idea of the healing process.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

Once the implants are removed I would expect you to have very little pain.  More than likely you may take pain medication for a day or two and get back to normal activities in 110 to 14 days.

How Long Does Implant Removal Healing Take?

Answers (10)

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