The decision to remove breast implants — also called explant surgery — is one of the most personal decisions a woman can make about her body. For some patients, the decision is medical, prompted by capsular contracture, implant rupture, breast pain, or concern about breast implant illness or BIA-ALCL. For others, the decision is aesthetic, driven by changing tastes, dissatisfaction with the original result, or simply the desire to be implant-free after years or decades of having implants. Whatever the reason, breast implant removal is a precise reconstructive procedure that requires a surgeon with the technical skill to remove the implants and surrounding capsule safely AND the aesthetic judgment to help the breasts regain a confident, natural appearance afterward — frequently in combination with a breast lift, fat transfer, or other restorative procedure.

Dr. John Anastasatos performs breast implant removal at his Beverly Hills practice with the senior reconstructive training and peer-vetted authority this complex revision work requires. Dr. Anastasatos serves as an Expert Reviewer for the Medical Board of California — a credential reflecting the standards his California colleagues trust him to evaluate, particularly relevant for the complex surgical decision-making explant cases require — and served as Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, senior-level training covering the full reconstructive breast spectrum. Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World.

Reasons to Consider Breast Implant Removal

The most common medical and aesthetic reasons patients pursue explant surgery include:

• Capsular Contracture: Scar tissue forming around the implant tightens and compresses it, causing pain, hardness, or visible breast distortion.
• Implant Rupture or Leakage: Silicone rupture can produce shape changes, swelling, pain, or palpable lumps. Saline implants typically deflate noticeably when ruptured.
• Implant Displacement or Malposition: Implants that have shifted from their original position, producing asymmetry or an unnatural appearance.
• Implant Rippling or Wrinkling: Visible folds or ripples on the implant surface that become more pronounced over time.
• Persistent Breast Pain or Discomfort: Chronic soreness or pain that affects daily life and has not responded to conservative management.
• BIA-ALCL Concern: Although rare, breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma can produce unexplained swelling, lumps, pain, or fluid accumulation around the implant. Any of these warrant prompt evaluation.
• Breast Implant Illness or Cosmetic Dissatisfaction: Symptoms attributed to implants that improve after removal, or simple aesthetic desire to no longer have implants.

Other reasons exist beyond this list, and the consultation evaluates each patient’s specific circumstances individually.

“Explant patients come to me at a very specific moment in their journey — after they’ve made a decision that’s personal and often emotional. My job isn’t to second-guess that decision. My job is to perform the removal with the technical precision required for a good outcome AND to help the patient understand what their breasts will look and feel like afterward. For most explant patients, the cleanest path is implant removal combined with a breast lift to address the deflation that comes with explant. The Medical Board of California reviewer work I do calibrates me specifically for this kind of complex surgical judgment — every case is different.” — Dr. John Anastasatos

What the Procedure Involves

Breast implant removal is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. The incision is typically placed along the original breast augmentation incision line to avoid creating new visible scarring. Depending on the implant type and condition:

• Saline implants are deflated and removed.
• Silicone implants are removed intact when possible, or carefully in fragments if ruptured.
• Capsulectomy (removal of the surrounding scar tissue) is performed when capsular contracture, BIA-ALCL concerns, or breast implant illness considerations apply. Total or en bloc capsulectomy may be appropriate in select cases.
• Tissue analysis of removed material is performed when clinically indicated — particularly for any BIA-ALCL concern.

Drains may be placed when needed and are typically removed within one to two weeks. The incision is closed with attention to producing the cleanest possible final scar.

What to Expect After Implant Removal

Realistic expectations are essential to a good explant experience. The breasts will initially appear smaller — often noticeably so — and may show some degree of deflation or laxity that depends on how long the implants were in place, the original implant size, and the patient’s tissue quality. The final shape emerges as residual swelling resolves and the tissues settle into their new configuration over the following months.

For many patients, particularly those who had implants for many years, a combined approach producing the best result includes implant removal plus breast lift in the same procedure or as a staged second operation. Fat transfer can also restore volume to specific areas without reintroducing implants. Dr. Anastasatos discusses these options in detail during consultation so each patient can make an informed decision about what additional procedures, if any, are right for them.

The emotional adjustment to explant deserves equal attention. Many patients describe a mix of relief and adjustment as the body settles. Continued breast health monitoring — self-examination and routine mammograms as recommended by a primary care provider — remains important after explant.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Implant Removal

Will my breasts look normal after explant?

The final appearance depends on the original implant size, how long the implants were in place, and your tissue quality. Most patients have some degree of laxity or deflation that benefits from a concurrent or staged breast lift. The consultation provides a realistic preview of likely outcomes for your specific anatomy.

Should I have a breast lift at the same time?

Most patients pursuing explant after long-term implants benefit from a combined or staged breast lift to address the laxity that becomes visible once implants are removed. Some patients prefer to see how their breasts look post-explant before deciding. Both approaches are valid and discussed during consultation.

How long is recovery?

Most patients return to desk-based work within five to seven days. Light activity resumes over the first one to two weeks. Strenuous upper-body exercise is restricted for approximately four to six weeks. Final settling continues over three to six months.

What about scarring?

Incisions typically follow the original breast augmentation incision lines, so no new visible scarring is created. With proper scar care, scars fade significantly over twelve to eighteen months.

Is BIA-ALCL screening part of the procedure?

When clinically indicated — particularly for patients with textured implants or any concerning symptoms — tissue from the surgery can be sent for pathological analysis. Dr. Anastasatos discusses screening as appropriate during consultation.

Can fat transfer replace implants for volume?

Yes, in many cases. Fat transfer can add modest, natural-looking volume that restores fullness without reintroducing implants. The amount of volume achievable depends on the patient’s available donor fat and the goals discussed during consultation.

Why Choose Dr. Anastasatos for Breast Implant Removal

• Medical Board of California Expert Reviewer: Peer-vetted authority on complex surgical decision-making — particularly relevant for revision and explant cases.
• UAB Plastic Surgery Chief Resident: Senior-level training covering the full reconstructive breast surgical spectrum.
• Board-Certified and FACS: Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons.
• ASPS and ASAPS Member: Full membership in the specialty’s two most respected peer societies.
• Full Spectrum of Explant Approaches: Standard removal, capsulectomy when indicated, en bloc capsulectomy in appropriate cases, and combined or staged breast lift.
• Honest Pre-Operative Counseling: Realistic discussion of expected outcomes, scarring, and the value of combined procedures so patients make truly informed decisions.
• Featured in Leading Media: Reuters, the Boston Globe, FOX News, Forbes, Vogue, Elle, and the plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck.
• Top 10 International Recognition: Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World.

Schedule Your Breast Implant Removal Consultation in Beverly Hills

If you have decided — or are considering — that breast implant removal is right for you, the surgeon you choose for explant matters as much as the surgeon you originally chose for augmentation, and often more. Dr. John Anastasatos welcomes patients to the Beverly Hills office at 436 North Bedford Drive, Suite 202, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, for a private consultation covering your reasons for explant, the appropriate surgical approach, options for combined or staged procedures, and realistic expectations. Contact us at Los Angeles Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation with Dr. Anastasatos.