I have a friend who has been showing signs of Breast Implant Illness and is need of an explant asap. I know something that extensive isn't going to be cheap but is there an alternative to help her get them removed?
Dear Kitty,
Hello and thank you for your excellent question. The extent and cost of the surgery really depends on the level of difficulty. For simple implant removal without capsulectomy, this can be performed in the office under local anesthesia. If the implant is ruptured, or if the capsule needs to be removed, this must be performed in under general anesthesia. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. If you have any questions, call our office for assistance. Good luck!
If a person is going to remove her silicone or saline breast implants, she should consider an en bloc capsulectomy. Please visit my website for more detailed information(www.enbloccapsulectomy.com). You may not need an uplift and it depends on how much sagging you have. I try to minimize the outside scars and use same that you have already.
Hi Kitty!
Breast implant illness has not been well-defined, meaning there aren't symptoms or abnormal lab exams consistent among patients. Since we have not yet defined the disease, we also don't know the most effective treatment. If she has thickened capsules, removing these along with the implants may help. If her capsules are very thin, removing them is technically difficult (and carries increased risk) and medically not necessary. I would recommend she schedule several consultations with board-certified plastic surgeons, some who are experts in BII, and some who are not. She will get a wide range of advice that way, and many treatment options. Best of luck to you!
If convinced that the implants may be the source, removal is the first step if saline or if not concerned about leaving the capsule behind. With the newer cohesive gel implants, the capsules should not have any silicone in them and in that scenario, should be able to be left behind without compromise. But if she believes she needs an 'en-bloc' (which is a misnomer since its nearly impossible to remove 100% of the capsule when under the muscle) capsulectomy, then she will have to go to the OR and the procedure takes a lot longer. Explant in the office through an inframammary incision can be done for a very reasonable fee... so shop around if costs are important too. If its known that gel implants are compromised, that would require going to the OR too unless accepting of office surgery limitations.