Can I have a general surgeon remove my saline breast implants? No capsule removal or lift.

I would let a general surgeon take out my gallbladder.  I would not let my plastic surgeon take out my gallbladder.  What would make you think that a general surgeon should be operating on your implants.  I think the fact that they offered to perform this operation is worse than the fact that you are considering it.

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

Yes, technically, a general surgeon could make an incision and remove the implant.  But they would not have the training to help you with capsulectomy, lift, pocket revision, or perform other related procedures.Now that there are plenty of specialist surgeons available - it's not like the old days, where one doctor in town did everything, from surgery to delivering babies. Go see a specialist.

Thank you for your question. The short answer is that you can do anything you want, but that does not mean it is the right thing to do. Sure, a general surgeon can make an incision, pull out an implant, and close an incision back, but they do not have the same level of experience of expertise in these types of procedures.My question to you is: What are you saving or gaining by having a general surgeon do it? If your insurance is covering the removal procedure, they would cover a plastic surgeon doing it just as likely as a general surgeon. If you are paying for the procedure out of pocket, there are many plastic surgeons who have their own procedure or operating room suites and could likely provide you with a very competitive price quote for having the procedure done.I would advise you to look at all your available options before making a decision. Best of luck!

Can you or should you? Yes it is possible but it is a better choice to have a board certified plastic surgeon remove your implants. They have the training and experience to understand what issues to look for and how best to resolve them. So for the optimal outcome a board certified plastic surgeon is recommended.

Hi,

Thanks for posting your question. I am happy to try and help you. It is
important to remember that a board certified plastic surgeon will be your best
resource when it comes to an accurate assessment of your situation, and
concerns.

Having said that, if you want them to they can. It is not what I recommend but they have the skills to do it.

Best wishes,

Dr. Michael J. Brown
Northern Virginia Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question. Although a general surgeon may be able to perform your implant removal, my best advice is to have a board-certified plastic surgeon perform the removal. Board-certified plastic surgeons have the specialized training involved with implant removal and capsulectomy procedures. Best of luck to you.

Yes, technically, a general surgeon is quite familiar with the anatomy and could remove your implants. However, he/she may only do just that. Don't expect the general surgeon to remove or close the capsule, do an internal lift or an external lift, reshape your areolae, or even perform a fat transfer. I would suggest letting a plastic surgeon do your removal so you get the best results possible.

There really aren't laws about what a surgeon (of any specialty) can and cannot do. It is really up to the individual doctor's code of ethics. I can do a hysterectomy, but I won't because I don't do them regularly and I wasn't properly trained to do it. I used to have a gal who worked in my office. Before she started working for me, she had a general surgeon take out her breast implants. Once a week for about 2-3 months, she would show up to work late in the morning. She finally confessed to me that it was because she had developed seromas in both breast pockets and the general surgeon was meeting her once a week to drain and deal with it. Unless you live in a developing area without resources, my advice would be to have someone properly credentialed operate on you. 

Yes, but this is not the best way to proceed; in my opinion, you will be best off under the care of a board-certified plastic surgeon. Best wishes.