Is saline implant removal while pregnant with local anesthesia only safe?

I would have recommended the path you took:  confer with your PS and your OB.  Once clearance was received from them, removing the saline implants under local anesthesia would be a safe option.  When placed through an inframmary incision, the implant never really touches the breast tissue; it slides underneath it, so this approach has the least impact on the gland itself.  Removing the implants and the capsules through the inframmary incision should not cause issues with breastfeeding. 

Hello! I do this procedure under local, and do not place drain tubes. That is just removing the implants and not the scar tissue around the implant. This should not cause any issue to the baby.Best of luck!

Thank you for your question. Obviously this is a big concern otherwise you would not go through the trouble of wanting to do this while you’re pregnant. Yes, local anesthesia is very safe and you likely don’t even need drains after removal. Best of luck to you and the baby :-)

As long as you are only removing the implant shell and not the capsule the procedure is low risk to have done under local anesthesia.  In order to have the capsules removed as well it is recommended that you be under general anesthesia.  Best wishes with your pregnancy!

Thank you for your question.  I am sorry to hear about the poor timing of your breast implant deflation given the fact that you are 27 weeks pregnant.  Generally speaking, I typically advise patients to avoid any elective surgeries/procedures while pregnant.  With that said, the best advice for your particular situation would come from your board certified plastic surgeon and OB.  If both your surgeon and OB are comfortable with clearing you and performing this implant removal performed under a local anesthesia as you have mentioned they are, then you should be able to safely proceed if you so choose.  It is also possible that you might not even require drains, as drains are not always necessary in the case of uncomplicated implant removals.  I wish you the best of luck with your implant removal and baby!

 Thank you for your question. Implant removal under straight local while pregnant is safe As long as you have clearance from both your plastic surgeon in OB/GYN. The procedure takes about 30 minutes in office or hospital. Best of luck with your procedure. Congratulations on the new addition.

In thinking about surgical procedures you should also consider potential complications.  There is a low but real risk of infection, which may result in the need for antibiotics.  Consider the lower risk procedure: needle drainage of the inflated implant and address the implant removal/ at a later time.

Thank you for your question. As long as you have clearance from your doctors than I would agree with the plan. Another option would be to deflate the opposite side in the office percutaneously. As the saline leaks out of the implant your discomfort from the contracture should also diminish. That would allow more time to have the procedure and even possibly delay it till after the pregnancy.

Based on the symptoms you have described, the plan seems to be a good one.  I think that the physicians who know you best (and are in a much better position, than online consultants to answer questions regarding "safety" concerns)  have given you good advice.   Generally, I advise against any type of elective (in other words, aesthetically driven breast procedures done for asymptomatic patients) surgery during pregnancy. Best wishes.