Breast Implant Removal in Chicago North Shore

Capsulectomy

A Capsulectomy removes silicone or textured breast implants and their capsules as one unit, without causing any contamination. The implant is kept inside the capsule while being removed to prevent chemicals and bacteria from leaking inside your body. A Capsulectomy also takes out all the scar tissue, including the tissue around the implant along the ribs and lungs, by removing the implant first followed by all the capsule tissue.

Partial Capsulectomy

A partial capsulectomy corrects capsular contracture and removes only part of the scar tissue. Capsular contracture is a problem that some women experience with breast implants where the scar tissue that forms the capsule hardens around the implant, causing pain and discomfort. A partial capsulectomy removes the hardened scar tissue while giving the surgeon options regarding replacing or removing the implant.

Open/Closed Capsulectomy

Capsulotomies can be performed open, where the capsule is partially or mostly removed through an incision within the breast area. Or, they can be closed, where the capsule tissue is broken down while leaving the implant in place. This poses the risk of a rupture of the implant but avoids the need for removal if successful.

Ultrasound-Assisted Capsulectomy

An ultrasound-assisted capsulectomy is a closed, non-surgical option using ultrasound to soften the scar tissue through sound waves, which increases blood supply to the breast area. The goal of this method is to attempt to mitigate the symptoms of capsular contracture without having to undergo a second surgery.

Replacement

You can get new implants depending on the circumstances surrounding your procedure. You may wish to transition to a different size or shape, or maybe change from a saline implant to a silicone implant. This is often the choice for women who are happy with their implants but wish to have them replaced as the implants near the 15-year mark.

As part of your consultation at PryorHealth, our skilled surgeons will help you go through the available options for replacement. There has been a lot of innovation in breast augmentation in the past 15 years, and there may be implants or styles that weren’t available for your initial surgery you may want to consider for your replacement.

Fat Grafting

Fat grafting is a procedure that is rapidly gaining popularity where plastic surgeons use fat grafting to replace the volume in your breast. This is typically done by using liposuction to remove fat from a donor area in your body (such as the buttocks, abdomen, thighs, or hips) and then insert it into the breast implant tissue pocket.

Fat grafting is the ideal solution for women who wish to keep their size but have a more natural augmentation than implants. Because the augmentation is done using your own fat, it feels just like a breast without implants. While there are some limitations to the size of augmentation that can be done via fat grafting, the result is a full, natural shape without any potential for ruptures or leakage in the future.

Breast Lift

Sometimes, women who have had breast implants for a while decide that they would like to go back to their original size, or just have the implants removed for health or safety reasons. If you wish to have a breast implant removal without replacement, you can also have a breast lift performed to take out excess skin and reposition the nipple and areola. This restores nipple placement and eliminates sagging while returning your breasts to their natural size. There will be some scarring from the breast lift procedure, but the doctors at PryorHealth are experts at minimizing these scars and hiding them in places that maximize your fashion options (including swimwear!).

A breast lift can be done in conjunction with other removal and replacement procedures as well as on its own. Your surgeon will work with you during your consultation to tailor your surgery plan to your specifications to make sure you love your final results.