Can saline implants be drained weeks prior to explant surgery to help determine if a breast lift is necessary?

Question

I have saline implants under the muscle and would like my implants and capsules removed. The 12 year old implants look to be in great condition, and there is no sign of contracture. Although I do not want a breast lift, I’m concerned I might need one. My hope is to have my saline implants drained in-office to see if I need/want a lift on the day of my explant. Can saline implants be drained in-office a week or two Before explant? Can capsules still be removed if implants are drained prior?

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Yes, the implants can be drained prior to removal of the capsules.  If your purpose in draining the implants is to determine if a lift is desired, you will want to wait approximately 6 weeks after draining to give time for the skin to retract.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

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.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Yes you can drain saline implants with a quick in-office procedure, and still have a capsulectomy. By doing this (called a percutaneous deflation) you will be able to see what the breasts look like without the volume. You didn't mention the size of your implants, but most often a lift is needed. You also didn't mention why you want to remove implants that are in great condition.

Rodney A. Green, MD · Answer

The implants can certainly be drained with a needle with local anesthesia in advance of the surgery, and I have done this several times. This should not affect the capsule removal, and should make complete capsule removal easier.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  Yes it is possible to deflate the implants prior to explant to assess the need for a lift.  That said if you are removing them for BII, piercing the capsule would not be recommended.  If only interested in removing the implant, and capsules are thin, then capsule removal is not necessary and deflation would be fine.  Hope this helps.

Can saline implants be drained weeks prior to explant surgery to help determine if a breast lift is necessary?

Answers (9)

Answer: I think that is a great idea.

Answer: I think that is a great idea.

Answer: Can saline implants be drained weeks prior to explant surgery to help determine if a breast lift is necessary

Answer: Can saline implants be drained weeks prior to explant surgery to help determine if a breast lift is necessary

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implant Removal

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Can saline implants be drained weeks prior to explant surgery to help determine if a breast lift is necessary?

Answers (9)

Answer: I think that is a great idea.

Answer: I think that is a great idea.

Answer: Can saline implants be drained weeks prior to explant surgery to help determine if a breast lift is necessary

Answer: Can saline implants be drained weeks prior to explant surgery to help determine if a breast lift is necessary

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implant Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.