Reasons for Implant Removal & Revision

Many people choose to remove or revise their breast implants for a range of personal or medical reasons. Whether it’s discomfort, lifestyle changes, or safety concerns, understanding common issues can help you decide if it’s the right step.

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Choosing to remove or revise breast implants isn’t always about dissatisfaction. Many women face physical changes, health concerns, or lifestyle shifts that make them reconsider their original decision.

At San Antonio Breast Implant Removal, we help you navigate this process with care, expertise, and honesty, so you can move forward with confidence.

10 Common Reasons for Breast Implant Removal or Revision

When it comes to breast implant removal and revision, we see all different types of reasons for surgery. Some of the most common ones include:

  • Capsular Contracture: Thick scar tissue forms around the implant and causes hardness, pain, or distortion.
  • Lifestyle Changes or Personal Choice: Some patients simply no longer feel implants match their lifestyle.
  • Breast Implant Illness (BII): A range of symptoms, like fatigue and joint pain, that some patients associate with their implants.
  • Ruptured Implant: Silicone or saline implants can leak, leading to visible or silent complications.
  • Aging Implants: Older implants may shift, harden, or no longer match your preferences.
  • Asymmetry: Uneven breasts can develop over time or after a previous procedure.
  • Rippling or Wrinkling: Visible implant edges can affect breast appearance, especially in thin patients.
  • Desire for New Size: Your goals may change, and implants may no longer feel like the right fit.
  • Switching Saline or Silicone: Some women want to switch implant type for feel, look, or confidence.
  • Surgical Complications: Infection or healing problems may call for implant removal or correction.

No matter the reason, recognizing your concerns is the first step toward making an informed, confident decision.

Causes Breast Implant Removal

1) Capsular Contracture

Scar tissue naturally forms around every breast implant. In some cases, that tissue tightens or hardens, which can distort the breast or cause pain.

What We Look For

  • Tight, hard breast tissue: Often feels firm or stiff to the touch.
  • Misshapen or raised breast: One side may appear unnaturally high or round.
  • Ongoing discomfort: Patients may feel pain, pressure, or restricted movement.

Treatment Options

  • Capsulectomy techniques: We remove part or all of the capsule depending on severity.
  • Implant removal or replacement: This is tailored based on your goals and symptoms.
  • Breast lift or fat transfer: Optional choices to improve shape after removal.

2) Personal Choice

Not all removals are medical. Some women simply feel their implants no longer reflect who they are or how they want to feel in their bodies.

What Prompts Removal

  • Active lifestyle: Smaller breasts may feel more comfortable or freeing.
  • Aesthetic shift: You may now prefer a natural or smaller look.
  • Personal reasons: There’s no wrong reason to want change.

Your Options

  • Removal alone: Leaves a softer, natural result.
  • Add a lift or fat transfer: Restores contour without volume.
  • Exchange for a new shape: If you still want implants but with a different style.

3) Breast Implant Illness

BII refers to a range of systemic symptoms some patients believe are linked to their implants. While not officially recognized as a medical diagnosis, many women report symptom improvement after removal.

Common Symptoms

  • Fatigue and brain fog: Daily exhaustion or mental cloudiness.
  • Joint or muscle pain: Generalized aches not linked to other diagnoses.
  • Hair loss, anxiety, or rashes: These symptoms may appear gradually.

Our Approach

  • We listen first: Your symptoms matter, and we treat them with care.
  • Capsule removal if appropriate: We often recommend total capsulectomy in BII cases.
  • Personalized care: We’ll help you decide if removal is the right step for your health.

4) Ruptured Implant

Implants can break down over time, leading to leakage or deflation. Removal or replacement may be necessary to avoid discomfort or further complications.

Saline Rupture

  • Quick deflation: The breast loses volume within 24 to 48 hours.
  • Obvious asymmetry: One side appears much smaller than the other.
  • Fluid absorption: The saline is safely absorbed by your body.

Silicone Rupture

  • Subtle changes: The shape may feel different or firmer.
  • No symptoms: Often discovered during imaging like MRI or ultrasound.
  • Silicone presence: May require more detailed removal of leaked material.

Treatment

  • Safe, clean removal: We remove the implant usually with a capsulectomy technique to address the issue.
  • Next steps based on your goals: You can stay implant-free, choose fat transfer, or exchange your implants.

5) Aging Implants

Implants are not lifetime devices. Over time, they can change in shape, position, or structural integrity, prompting many women to consider removal or revision.

What Happens

  • Weakened implant shell: The outer shell of the implant can break down, increasing the risk of rupture or leakage.
  • Position Shifts: Aging implants may drop, shift, or rotate within the breast pocket, leading visible changes.
  • Changes in tissue support: Breast tissue may sag, making implants look less natural or well-positioned.

When Removal Helps

  • Update your look: Choose a new size or shape if your goals have changed.
  • Improve breast support: A lift can correct sagging after implant removal.
  • Avoid future issues: Removal may reduce complications tied to aging implants.
Breast Implant Removal Causes

6) Asymmetry

Even after augmentation, it’s not uncommon for patients to notice asymmetry in breast size or shape that becomes more noticeable over time.

Asymmetry Reasons

  • Healing differences: The body may respond differently on each side.
  • Implant shift or rotation: One implant may move or settle differently.
  • Natural body changes: Weight changes or aging can make differences more noticeable.

How to Address

  • Precise correction: We revise the implant or remove it and reshape the tissue.
  • Fat grafting or lift: Adds balance and improves contour.
  • Tailored revision plan: Every case is customized to restore symmetry.

7) Rippling or Wrinkling

Some patients begin to see visible ripples or feel folds beneath the skin, particularly with saline implants or those placed over the muscle.

What Causes It

  • Thin tissue coverage: Not enough natural breast tissue to hide the implant.
  • Saline implant folds: More prone to noticeable rippling.
  • Implant placement: Over the muscle placement can increase visibility.

Solutions We Offer

  • Implant exchange: Switching to silicone or a different placement can help.
  • Fat grafting: Adds volume over the implant for smoother contour.
  • Removal and lift: Offers a natural result without added volume.

8) Desire for New Size

Your goals may shift as your lifestyle evolves. Many women later decide to go smaller, larger, or remove their implants altogether to return to a natural shape.

What Prompts Change

  • Lifestyle updates: Preferences change with age, career, or fitness habits.
  • Body changes: Weight gain or loss may affect how implants look or feel.
  • Fashion and comfort: Some want less volume for better proportions.

What We Do

  • Removal or replacement: Based on your updated vision and current lifestyle preferences.
  • Combine with lift if needed: Ensures the best shape, support, and natural-looking results.
  • Your input leads the plan: We align your look with how you want to feel.

9) Switching Saline or Silicone

Both saline and silicone implants come with unique benefits. Switching may provide a better match for your current preferences, appearance, or comfort level.

Saline to Silicone

  • More natural feel: Silicone often looks and feels more like natural breast tissue.
  • Less rippling: Silicone reduces visible ripples, especially in thinner patients.

Silicone to Saline

  • Easier to detect rupture: Saline deflates noticeably if a leak occurs.
  • Saline preference: Some prefer saline for its simple, saltwater composition.

How We Help

  • Personalized consult: We review your reasons and help choose the best implant type.
  • Tailored approach: Dr. B designs the procedure around your goals and anatomy.

10) Surgical Complications

In some cases, the original surgery may lead to outcomes that require correction, whether for cosmetic concerns or functional complications.

What Complications

  • Implant displacement: The implant moves too far to the side or bottom.
  • Double bubble or bottoming out: Tissue drops or folds abnormally.
  • Poor healing or scarring: This can distort the result or cause discomfort.

How We Treat

  • Precise surgical correction: We address the root cause, not just the symptoms.
  • Removal and reshaping: During surgery we will remove the implants and reshape for your desired look.
  • Realistic guidance: We’ll tell you what’s possible and what to expect.

Ready to Talk?

At San Antonio Breast Implant Removal, we know that considering implant removal or revision is never just a cosmetic decision. It often comes after years of personal reflection, physical changes, or evolving goals. That’s why our approach is rooted in listening first and recommending only what supports your body, comfort, and confidence.

Whether you’re experiencing a complication, thinking about switching your implant type, or simply ready for a change, we’re here to help you understand your options clearly. Our breast explant specialist brings both surgical expertise and honest guidance to every consultation.

Schedule a consultation at our breast removal center in San Antonio to take the next step.

Why Choose San Antonio Breast Implant Removal?

At San Antonio Breast Implant Removal, we provide expert, personalized care from your first consultation through recovery. Whether you’re local to San Antonio or traveling in, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

We focus on breast implant removal procedures, including techniques like en bloc capsulectomy, total capsulectomy, and customized combination surgeries. Our goal is to help you achieve a result that feels right for your body and your health.

Do you have questions or are you ready to book your in-person or virtual consultation? Contact San Antonio Breast Implant Removal. We’re here to help!

San Antonio Breast Implant Removal
4083 De Zavala Rd
San Antonio, TX 78249
(210) 361-8825

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