TOP BREAST IMPLANT REMOVAL SURGEON IN CHICAGO, IL
Dr. Truong is one of the foremost experts in breast augmentation in Chicago, and will give you the best advice you can find on removing your breast implants
"I couldn't be any happier with Dr. Truong. Very caring and reassuring."
Find a caring and compassionate doctor for your Breast Implant Removal in Chicago. At Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics, we specialize in Breast Implant Removal.
Breast Implant Replacement Video
Mommy Makeover Breast Implant Replacement. Have you ever wondered what 29-year-old breast implants look like? Top Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Anh-Tuan Truong performed a Breast Implant Removal and Implant Replacement Mastopexy Breast Lift and Lipo360 (liposuction around the abdomen, flanks, back) to give her a nice flat tummy to complete her amazing Mommy Makeover transformation!
You may be a good candidate for a Breast Implant Removal or Replacement if you have:
- If you have textured implants.
- Experiencing any short-term change in shape, softness.
- Experiencing any discomfort.
- If you have implants and your breasts have dropped with age, you may also need a breast lift, which is also a good time to change your implants.
BREAST IMPLANT REMOVAL FAQ
If you are considering breast implant removal, you need to be confident that your implant removal experience will be a positive one. Dr. Truong’s will walk you through the entire process so that you can be informed knowing you made the right decision for you!
Reasons women choose to have their breast implants removed
Modern Breast implants have a very high satisfaction rate among women who have them, and a majority of women don’t have any issues with them. However, breast implants are not for everyone, and some women may experience problems and are better off having them removed. The most common reasons for breast implant removal are:
What is capsular contracture?
When implants are placed, the body forms a natural barrier around the implant, called the implant capsule, which creates an implant pocket. Normally the capsule is a very thin, almost translucent membrane that causes no harm and protects the body from the implant. Capsular contracture is a condition in which the scar-tissue membrane becomes thickened and contracts which can cause the breast to become hard, misshapen, and can even cause the patient pain. It can affect one or both breasts and can occur at any time from immediately post-op to many years later. Overall it is a rare condition, affecting only 3-5% of women with breast implants. Capsular contracture can sometimes be treated with medications, but usually requires removing or replacement of the implant and cutting or removing the capsule. Some patients with severe or recurrent capsular contracture might benefit from implant removal or explanation.
What happens when my implants rupture?
Breast implant rupture is very uncommon, only occurring in 1% or less of patients with implants. Of course, the risk is slightly higher the longer you have them, but it is still uncommon. If you have saline implants, then the rupture will be very obvious since the implants will immediately deflate. The good news is that the sterile saline solution will simply be absorbed and will cause no harm. The saline in implants is the same saline that doctors use in IV fluids to rehydrate you. If you have a saline implant rupture and deflation, it is best to have the implants replaced or removed within 1-2 weeks to prevent the capsule from contracting around the deflated implant.
If your implants are modern silicone implants, which means they are the cohesive gel types approved for use in 2004, then the implant will not deflate on rupture since the cohesive gel filling is a solid and not a liquid. The silicone gel is designed to stay within the capsule and therefore will not flow out like a liquid. A silicone rupture can only be confirmed with an MRI scan since there is no deflation. Symptoms of silicone implant rupture are usually non-specific like pain, new-onset contracture, or mild misshape of the implants. Often women only experience a feeling that something is different. Once rupture is confirmed or strongly suspected, the damaged implant should be replaced as soon as possible and replacement can be done immediately if needed. At Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics, our surgeons specialized in removal and replacement of ruptured breast implants and most of the time we can schedule your surgery within a few days.
What is breast implant illness?
Breast Implant Illness or BII, is a term that describes unexplained symptoms that occur in women who have had breast implants. Sometimes the symptoms are signs of implant rupture or implant leakage, but in many cases the implants can show no visible defects.
Common BII symptoms include: joint pain, muscle aches, weakness, generalized fatigue, flu-like symptoms, rashes, hives, itchiness, swollen glands and tissues, hair loss, unexplained infections, chest pain, heart palpitations, hair loss, depression and anxiety, premature menopause or perimenopause, or other unexplained, non-specific symptoms. Some patients may even have diagnosis of autoimmune disorder, viral illness, fibromyalgia, or psychiatric syndromes.
There is no test for Breast Implant Illness so the only way to confirm BII is to remove the implants and document improvement of the symptoms.
Do breast implants cause breast cancer?
There is no evidence that breast implants cause breast cancer. In 2011, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported a possible link between breast implants and a very rare form of cancer called ALCL or anaplastic large cell lymphoma. ACLC is not breast cancer and does not grow in the breast itself. Women with breast implants are no more likely to develop breast cancer than women without. There is some argument that breast implants may make breast cancer detection more difficult, but this is debatable and with modern mammography and MRI technology, breast cancer detection is still effective even with implants.
What is ALCL or BIA-ALCL?
ALCL is a very rare form of lymphoma (cancer of the immune system) that occurs in patients with or without breast implants. In 2016, the FDA re-classified cases which occurred in women with history of breast implants as Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). The cancer cells were discovered in the implant capsule or scar tissue around breast implants and not in the breast tissue itself. The FDA also reported that most or all of these cases occurred in patients with textured breast implants. When detected early prior to spread, ALCL is curable with removal of the implant capsule and scar tissue where it resides.
The lifetime risk of developing BIA-ALCL from textured breast implants is estimated to be from one in 4,000 to one in 30,000 which is very rare. Considering 90% of women with modern breast implants have smooth implants and not textured, the association is even more exceedingly rare. Researchers have not been able to directly link the presence of smooth breast implants to increased risk of BIA-ALCL.
Although any association between increased cancer risk in a procedure is concerning, it is important to keep the potential risk in perspective. If you are considering breast implants, it’s advisable to do research and obtain information from credible reliable sources or from your doctor. If you have implants and are concerned, it’s best to attend your regular follow-ups an discuss any concerns with your surgeon.
Read about the FDA statement on BIA-ALCL
How are breast implants removed?
Breast implant removal requires a surgical procedure to remove the implants. If a patient does not have severe symptoms, signs of capsular contracture, or implant rupture, the implants can simply be removed without the capsule. The capsule may have to be scored or cauterized to encourage closure of the pocket following removal. If the procedure is done this way, there is usually very little discomfort and the recovery is relatively easy. Simple explantation can be done under local anesthesia if desired.
However, if there are significant symptoms including capsular contracture, signs of infection, or believed to have severe BII, then a complete capsulectomy or complete removal of the capsule, and explantation should be performed. This procedure usually requires heavy IV sedation or general anesthesia. When possible, the explant capsulectomy should be done “en-bloc” which avoids opening the capsule or exposing the implant during removal. Total capsulectomy explantation may involve more postoperative discomfort and bleeding associated with more involved recovery process. Sometimes the surgeon may choose to leave temporary drains.
What is recovery like after breast implant removal?
If implants are removed and not replaced, the breasts will lose the volume of the implants. If there is still significant natural breast tissue, then the breasts may still look aesthetically pleasing, albeit less full. However, in patients with very little or atrophic natural breast tissue, the breasts may appear very deflated and the skin may appear very wrinkled and saggy. Some patients with long-standing implants may even show signs of chest-wall deformity due to long-standing pressure from implants. Over a period of weeks to months, the skin will contract to an extent, alleviating some of the wrinkled look, but this may depend on age and quality of the skin. In most cases, patients are pleasantly surprised how aesthetically acceptable their post-explanted breasts can look when given enough time to heal and for the skin to retract.
What can be done to improve the look of my breasts after implant removal?
After implant removal, some women may want to improve the appearance or size of their breasts without the use of implants. Depending on the issue of volume or ptosis (drooping of the breasts), these options include a mastopexy or breast lift and/or an autologous fat transfer or fat graft. Our surgeons at Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics are experts in both mastopexy and fat transfers and can offer these procedures to patients after breast implant removal.
What is the cost of breast implant removal?
Implant removal in Chicago costs between $3000 to $15,000 depending on the extent of the type of anesthesia and extent of the procedure. The cost will be additional if IV or general anesthesia is used, or if a more difficult procedures like total en-bloc capsulectomy, mastopexy, or fat graft are required.
Your Breast Implant Removal procedure can be financed using one of our financing partners including Care Credit. At Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics, our patient coordinators can assist you obtaining information and applying for financing.
What will my breasts look like after implant removal?
If implants are removed and not replaced, the breasts will lose the volume of the implants. If there is still significant natural breast tissue, then the breasts may still look aesthetically pleasing, albeit less full. However, in patients with very little or atrophic natural breast tissue, the breasts may appear very deflated and the skin may appear very wrinkled and saggy. Some patients with long-standing implants may even show signs of chest-wall deformity due to long-standing pressure from implants. Over a period of weeks to months, the skin will contract to an extent, alleviating some of the wrinkled look, but this may depend on age and quality of the skin. In most cases, patients are pleasantly surprised how aesthetically acceptable their post-explanted breasts can look when given enough time to heal and for the skin to retract.
Breast Implant Removal Before & After Gallery
Seeing is believing and our before & after gallery is second to none, with thousands of surgeries, and zero serious complications, it’s no wonder our Chicago Breast & Body surgeons are among the Top Breast Implant Removal surgeons in Chicago.
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Why Choose Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics
Award-Winning Top Cosmetic Surgeons. Voted "Best of Plastic Surgery" In Chicago, Illinois
Dr. Truong holds three board certifications including the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, and the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Truong is the founder and CEO of Chicago Breast & Body Aesthetics and is considered one of the Top Breast & Body Surgeons in Illinois.
Dr. Pey-Yi Kevin Lin is a board certified plastic surgeon in Chicago who emphasizes tailored care and treatment to each individual patient. Dr. Lin is skilled in both Plastic and Reconstructive surgery trained under nationally renowned aesthetic and reconstructive surgeons, gaining valuable insight and an unparalleled experience with stunning results.
Dr. Vagotis is a leader in cosmetic procedures of the face and body, with over 33 years of experience in the field of plastic and cosmetic surgery. She trained under Dr. Connel is also known as “the father of the modern facelift”. Because of the training Dr. Vagotis received under Dr. Connell, she possesses special techniques and skills that set her apart from other plastic surgeons in the Midwest.
Dr. Miami Squad Members in Chicago, Illinois: A New Era in Cosmetic Surgery
Dr. Anh-Tuan Truong and Dr. Kevin Lin have joined the Dr. Miami, a renowned group of elite surgeons, ushering in a new era of excellence in the plastic surgery industry to Chicago, Illinois. Together, their combined expertise, talents, and innovation allow patients to benefit from the highest standards of care and stunning aesthetic results.
