En bloc Capsulectomy Breast Implant Removal
To understand en bloc capsulectomy or total capsulectomy surgery, the patient should first be familiar with a capsule, which is the scar tissue that develops around the breast implant. Scar tissue development is a normal reaction of the body when the implant is placed into the breast tissue.
In the majority of the cases, scar tissue will not cause any change in the way your implants appear or feel. But when it is time to remove the breast implants, the capsule should always be taken into account. If implant replacement is not an option, a total capsulectomy can ease the tissue recovery and healing.
In an en bloc capsulectomy surgery, the full capsule is withdrawn along with the breast implant in one single piece. The implant will stay intact inside the capsule throughout. The surgeon will remove the old capsule through en bloc capsulectomy only when they think it is appropriate and safe for the patient.
When Should En Bloc Capsulectomy be Avoided?
There are some cases where an en bloc capsulectomy surgery cannot be undertaken or is not the most appropriate option. If the capsule is too thin and delicate to be taken out as one single unit, your surgeon will take out as much of the capsular tissue as possible along with the breast implant, and later remove the rest of the scar tissue as far as possible.
Another condition that could prevent en bloc with total capsulectomy is when the capsule adheres to some vital body tissues. For instance, if scar tissue is attached tightly to the rib cage, taking out the tissue could cause injury to the lungs. This at times implies that portions of the capsule will remain in place.
The surgeon will take all required steps to facilitate good healing including sterilizing the left over capsular tissue. In majority of the cases, the remaining capsule does not cause any complication to the patient.
The Implant Removal Process
Breast explantation surgery can be performed in an outpatient setting at a recognized surgical facility. Most patients do not need to stay overnight at the hospital. This surgical procedure may be performed under general anesthesia and lasts for about two hours. Usually, this surgery can be done using the incision sites made at the time of your primary breast enhancement.
In some situations, your surgeon may need to make an additional incision to ensure total withdrawal of the capsule. The surgeon will focus on the entire capsule that has developed around the implant and take it out it as one unit. Once both the capsule and the implant have been removed, the incision sites will be closed, and wrapped with bandages.
Taking out breast implants helps to restore the natural aesthetics of the patient, but the procedure may cause some changes to soft tissue. Sagging or drooping is common after the breast explant procedure because the skin stretches itself to accommodate the implant.
In case the patient does not want implant replacement, the surgeon may suggest other alternatives to address the issue of sagging breasts. The first choice is a breast lift, which involves excision of loose breast skin and repositioning the nipple and areola to build a perkier breast. The second option is fat grafting to add more volume to the breast, and partly replace the mound that was created by the implant, but with a natural and more subtle effect.
Recovering from Implant Removal
If the patient is in good overall health, is not overweight, and does not smoke, she is likely to heal faster and may require less than a week of downtime. Some postoperative swelling can be noticed after the surgery, and it usually resolves within the first four weeks after the procedure.
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Robert Colgrove receives patients from Atlanta, Marietta, Georgia, and nearby areas for breast implant removal surgery.
Contact Us
For more information about treatments and procedures by Board Certified Atlanta Plastic Surgeon, Robert A. Colgrove, Jr., M.D. at Vinings Surgery Center please visit us at www.colgrove.com
Vinings Surgery Center is taking patients from Greater Atlanta Georgia, Buckhead, Marietta, Roswell, Dunwoody and surrounding areas.
