I am interested in having my over 20-year-old saline implants removed. Is it easier to remove the capsule if the implant has been previously deflated? I like the idea of seeing the breast without the implant before deciding on having a lift. But am concerned about the removal of the capsule and want to do what is best. Thank you.
It is reasonable to deflate saline implants before deciding on a lift. There is no reason to remove thin capsules. Breast tissue would have to be removed as well increasing the risk for bleeding.
Deflating a saline implant ahead of time does not make the removal of the capsule easier. Deflating the saline implant does not guarantee what the shape of the breast would be after removal of the implant with or without removal of the capsule.
With saline implant and no problems with the implant or the capsule, such as calcification, is not necessary.
Putting a needle in the implant to deflate the implant carries a certain risk of infection.
Once the implant is removed with a capsulectomy or without the capsulectomy, does not guarantee how the breast shape is going to be. With healing there is scars and how the scars are going to effect the shape of the breast is not guarantees.
Removal of the capsule is not needed if there is no other problems. There is no guarantee that the entire capsule can be safely removed specially if the implant is under the muscle, because the posterior leaf of the capsule can be well stuck to the ribs and periostium of the ribs and the intercostal muscles.
Dear Evamarie,
Removing your 20 year old saline breast implants is certainly not a medical necessity. So, if the age of the implants is the primary reason for removal you might consider keeping them, potentially forever. Deflating saline implants is an option that I give to my patients if they are concerned about requiring a breast lift after removal. It is, of course, not a foolproof, nor completely benign procedure in making that determination. If anything it would likely make capsule removal more difficult. However, if there is no capsular issue, e.g. contracture, calcification, there is no indication to remove your capsules anyway. Seek consultation with an American Board of Plastic Surgery board certified plastic surgeon for an examination and further discussion of your options. Good luck!
The first question is, "What is the reason for having the implants removed. Is there a problem? Do you just want them removed or removed and replaced? Do you want a lift? Are you a candidate for lift? Just because they have been in for 20 years is no reason to remove if there are no other problems. Some surgeons may want to deflate prior to remove. Risk of infection from this should be minimal. Would you require a capsulectomy or not? This would be determined at the time of surgery. Is the capsulectomy going to be simple or complicated? Likewise determined at the time of surgery. It could be easier to remove after deflation or may make it harder. Most likely it will not make any difference. You need a consultation with a local ABPS certified or eligible plastic surgeon to have all these questions answered.
Deflate your saline implants is a good idea if you want to see how this will look like . After you can see if you will need a breast lifting or not ! In relation about the capsule probably will not have so difficult to remove.
in general, if there is no capsule contracture around the implant, the capsule will be gradually absorbed after the implant is removed. In contrast, if there is a contracture, the anterior part of the capsule can be simply removed with or without implant. In most cases, the breasts will sagge to varying degrees after the implant is removed.
In case of implant removal , some casees easy but some cases difficult but most of cases are easy. About capsule , it might not nessessary to remove depend on its codition , if it is only thin capsule can keep it inside because it is only scar tissue and removing it might be cause of bleeding. When remove previous implant , most of patients need to replace with the new one .If not , patient breast will flat and saggy.