Textured Implants Removed with Lift and Fat Transfer, Raleigh, NC

This 54-year-old woman had breast implants with a peri areolar mastopexy in the early 1990s. She thought her breasts looked too big and droopy now and wanted the implants removed and breasts lifted. She did not have any implant information but remembered that her right breast was smaller and had a larger implant. She also was hopeful to have some liposuction of her abdomen and wondered if some fat could be placed to treat any expected asymmetry. During her explantation and lift, she was found to have McGhan textured subpectoral breast implants. Because of the recall of Allergan textured implants (formerly McGhan), a complete capsulectomy was performed. Fortunately, no ALCL was found. She had liposuction of the abdomen and flanks but because of the thin breast flaps and loss of capsule- only a small amount of fat was grafted. (70 cc) She had some persistent asymmetry and had another major session of fat grafting about a year later and a few other minor transfers. When the capsule is removed- there is less of a barrier to hold the fat in place and sometimes fat transfer is not recommended or very limited during explant and lift. The patient also had some weight loss which affects the fat transfer success. But she was very pleased with the improvement. There is still some asymmetry of her right breast. She is very happy with the liposuction that was done that allowed the fat transfer..