Whether you're experiencing discomfort, facing complications, or are ready to return to a more natural appearance, breast implant removal requires careful surgical planning and an experienced hand. Dr. Reza Najafian has performed numerous explant procedures for patients throughout Oregon, addressing everything from ruptured implants to capsular contracture to changes in personal preference. Board-certified and trained at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Oregon Health and Science University, Dr. Najafian approaches each case with thorough evaluation and honest discussion about what your tissue quality, implant history, and anatomy mean for your surgical options and expected outcome.

What Breast Implant Removal Involves

Breast implant removal (explantation) means surgically extracting breast implants, typically along with some or all of the surrounding scar tissue capsule your body formed around each implant. The complexity varies significantly. A straightforward removal in someone with minimal capsular contracture differs substantially from removing ruptured silicone implants with extensive capsular calcification. Dr. Najafian performs a physical examination, reviews your implant specifications if available, and may order imaging such as MRI or ultrasound when rupture is suspected. This assessment determines which surgical technique will safely address your specific situation. Some patients need only implant removal. Others benefit from complete capsulectomy, breast lift, or fat grafting to achieve their aesthetic goals given their tissue characteristics. Explant surgery is performed under general anesthesia, typically as an outpatient procedure. Surgical time ranges from one to three hours, depending on complexity.

Candidates for Implant Removal

You may be a candidate if you're experiencing capsular contracture (hardening and distortion from scar tissue), confirmed or suspected implant rupture, chronic breast pain or tightness, implant malposition, or rippling and visible implant edges. Many women simply decide they no longer want implants and prefer their natural breast contour. During the consultation, Dr. Najafian evaluates your breast tissue quality, skin elasticity, implant pocket condition, and overall health to recommend the most appropriate approach.

Dr. Najafian's Surgical Approach

Each surgical plan reflects the individual patient's anatomy and goals. Dr. Najafian prioritizes the complete removal of implant material while preserving healthy tissue. When capsular contracture exists, removing the thickened capsule often provides the best aesthetic outcome and symptom relief. For patients with good skin quality seeking smaller breasts, removal alone may suffice. Those with skin laxity typically achieve better contour with a concurrent mastopexy. His training in both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery allows comprehensive problem-solving for complex cases.

Why Women Choose Explantation

Medical complications drive many removal decisions. Capsular contracture develops in approximately 10-20% of augmentation patients over time, creating firmness, distortion, and sometimes pain. Implant rupture, while less common with modern devices, requires removal and often more extensive capsular surgery, particularly with silicone gel implants. Other patients develop chronic discomfort, changes in sensation, or difficulty with mammography that they attribute to their implants. Some notice asymmetry, malposition, or aesthetic changes as tissue ages around the implant.

Personal preference also matters. Life circumstances change. What felt right at 25 may not at 45. Some women simply want to simplify their lives and eliminate future implant-related monitoring or replacement surgeries.

Common Medical Indications

• Capsular contracture (Baker grade III or IV)

• Confirmed implant rupture or deflation

• Chronic pain or tightness

• Implant malposition or rotation

• Breast implant-associated concerns

• Tissue thinning or visible rippling

What Removal May Accomplish

Removing problematic implants often relieves discomfort and the anxiety associated with device complications. You eliminate future implant maintenance. Breast tissue becomes easier to image on mammography. For patients bothered by firmness or distortion from capsular contracture, removal with capsulectomy typically restores softness. Your final breast appearance depends on your tissue quality before augmentation, implant size and duration, skin elasticity, and whether you choose concurrent lift or fat grafting. Dr. Najafian discusses realistic expectations based on an examination of your specific tissue.

Surgical Techniques and Options

The surgical plan depends on your capsule condition, implant type, tissue quality, and aesthetic goals.

Capsulectomy Approaches

Complete capsulectomy removes the entire scar tissue capsule. En bloc capsulectomy removes the capsule with the implant still inside as one unit—appropriate when capsule condition allows and particularly requested for silicone rupture. Partial capsulectomy removes only problematic capsule portions, preserving areas adherent to the chest wall or ribs where complete removal risks complications. Dr. Najafian determines the safest, most effective approach during surgery based on what he encounters.

Mastopexy and Fat Grafting

Many patients benefit from a breast lift after implant removal to address ptosis (drooping) and reposition the nipple-areola complex. Fat grafting can restore upper pole volume in patients with adequate donor sites. These procedures may be performed at the time of explantation or staged depending on tissue condition and surgical safety considerations.

Recovery and What to Expect

Most patients go home the same day. Recovery involves 1 to 2 weeks of limited activity, though this varies depending on the extent of the surgery. Drains are sometimes placed temporarily. Pain is typically well-controlled with medication. Swelling and bruising peak around day three and gradually resolve over several weeks. You'll wear a supportive surgical bra and avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and overhead reaching during the initial healing period. Most patients return to desk work within one to two weeks. Dr. Najafian monitors your healing through scheduled follow-up visits.Full tissue settling takes three to six months. Your breasts will feel softer once postoperative swelling resolves.

Schedule Your Consultation

Dr. Najafian provides a thorough evaluation and honest discussion about your surgical options during consultation. He explains what your specific anatomy and implant history mean for your outcome. Contact the practice at https://www.najafianmd.com/reza-najafian-plastic-surgery-eugene-oregon-appointment to schedule your appointment. For information about related procedures, visit our breast reconstruction and breast augmentation surgery pages.