Should I consider having my capsules removed?

Question

Hey, I had my saline implants removed in office and have healed very well…. I have been researching fat transfer and really looking into it. On one of the comments I saw where a women said she had bia-clal (her capsules tested pos) I had a very light scapular contracture on my right side, which the doctor thought was fine to leave as well as my left side which was very thin tissue… Do any of you think I should have them removed? I wasn’t aware that cancer could be a concern with capsules?

Matthew S. Kilgo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. In most cases, removal of the implant capsule is unnecessary. BIA-ALCL is a very rate form of lymphoma , particularly if you’ve had only smooth breast implants. Removal of the capsule (capsulectomy) can be associated with complications, including bleeding. The risk of surgery most likely outweighs the benefit but I would recommend you discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon. I hope this helps.

Shaher W. Khan, MD · Answer

Anytime you remove your breast implants, the capsule must be removed as well in it's entirety. The proper method is 100% total capsulectomy or also known as en bloc. Breast implants are associated with different cancers and gel bleed. The capsule holds these toxins therefore they need to be removed as well. If you have had your implants removed already, you would then need a residual capsulectomy to remove those capsules.

Carl de los Reyes, MD · Answer

If you are developing symptoms such as fluid collection, redness, or pain, you should see physician. Textured implants have been associated with breast implant related cancer. The BSCC consensus statement points out that it is currently unknown whether the removal of breast implants with or without a capsulectomy will prevent the future development of a breast implant-associated cancer. It also says there is a rare subset of patients who have still developed breast implant-associated cancer after capsulectomy.

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

If there is capsular contracture, I recommend capsulectomies to remove them. BIA-ALCL is a very rare periprosthetic malignancy that requires capsulectomies en bloc. Capsular contracture is NOT a malignancy. It is just excessive scar contracture of the capsule related to low grade bacterial biofilm contamination of the implant in the pocket.

Jordan Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi mc931119, thank you for this great question. BI-ALCL has only been found in patients with textured breast implants and the overall risk for patients with textured breast implants is approximately 1 in 30,000. Therefore I do not recommend undergoing capsule removal for the purposes of preventing BI-ALCL . If you had textured implants and you were to develop swelling in one breast I would have it evaluated.

As for fat transfer, this is a great procedure I commonly perform in patients at the time of their explant surgery. If you choose to have a delayed fat transfer the capsules do not need to be removed.

Should I consider having my capsules removed?

Answers (10)

Answer: Capsule

Answer: Capsule

Answer: BI-ALCL

Answer: BI-ALCL

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implant Removal

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Should I consider having my capsules removed?

Answers (10)

Answer: Capsule

Answer: Capsule

Answer: BI-ALCL

Answer: BI-ALCL

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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.