Chronic Breast Pain Improved with Explantation and Mastopexy, Raleigh, NC*

This 44-year-old woman had breast augmentation 12 years prior. She had a periareolar mastopexy with smooth walled submuscular saline breast implants. She had fairly long-standing discomfort from the implants and never quite adapted to them. She also felt that her breasts were a little too large after she had gained weight and stated that she did not "like" her breast implants anymore. She desired removal and breast lifting. She did have some concerns about possible breast implant illness. She had done some research and read about this phenomena on a variety of popular websites. She did not however have any signs or symptoms that were definitively related to her breast implants. She underwent explantation with capsulectomy and mastopexy. She had 350 cc smooth-walled saline implants inflated to 3 75 cc. They were completely intact and the capsules were very flimsy and benign in appearance. Pathologic examination did not reveal any problems Despite losing 375 cc of volume she was very pleased with her mastopexy with a nice volume and somewhat smaller breasts. Breast implant removal and soft by women concerned about a number of health issues including chronic pain in the breast. Breast implant illness is an ill-defined condition that has recently undergone further study by plastic surgeons. In most cases of explantation however no abnormal findings are discovered, especially with saline breast implants. Patient's generally do feel better after explantation.