Breast Implant Removal and Mastopexy, Raleigh, NC*

This 48 year old woman had prior augmentation/mastopexy about 13 years ago by another surgeon. She was working out more recently and thought her implants were just too big and uncomfortable. She did have some suspicions about health concerns related to her implants but they were smooth walled salines and not ruptured so less likely to be a source. She elected explantation with lifting and no replacement. She wanted some liposuction performed too and requested some of the fat to be transferred to the breast if possible. At surgery she was found to have 325 cc Mentor implants inflated to 380cc. No abnormal capsule was found . She had a repeat lift with about 100cc of fat transfer performed to each breast. She was very happy with her smaller breasts. Explantation of breast implants without replacement certainly leads to smaller saggier breasts. Simultaneous mastopexy of breast lifting has to done very carefully ( if at all) due to altered blood supply and risk of skin and nipple loss. Many surgeons recommend staged procedures. In most circumstances, a simultaneous lift can be performed- depending on the patient's underlying health and location of the implants. Remaining volume of breast tissue is also critical. If you have little breast tissue,there will be no benefit of a lift. Fat grafting can be added but there is a limit as to how much can be added safely. Improper technique or overfilling can lead to oil cysts and fat necrosis.