There are times when some patients who have had breast augmentation may need to have their implants removed, like when they develop breast implant illness. At Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery, our board-certified plastic surgeons, Drs. James Romanelli and John Layliev can meet with Long Island, NY area patients who wish to remove or replace their implants. A breast lift may be needed after implant removal, typically for patients who had large implants and subsequent sagging skin. When you need your breast implants removed, breast implant removal surgery allows you to get back the look of your natural breasts.
What is breast implant illness?
Breast implant illness is a term used by medical professionals that refers to a range of symptoms that can occur after breast augmentation with saline or silicone implants. Oftentimes, these symptoms can affect how the body fights off infections. While the risk of contracting breast implant illness is low, when it happens to Long Island, NY area patients, the doctors at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery can help.
Symptoms of breast implant illness
Some common symptoms of breast implant illness include:
Chronic fatigue
Joint or muscle pain
Breathing problems
Memory issues
Sleep problems
Skin problems or chronic rashes
Dry eyes or mouth
Depression
Anxiety
Headaches
Hair loss
Gastrointestinal disturbances
These symptoms can appear at any time after breast implant surgery. Some patients develop them following their implant, while others don’t have symptoms until years after their surgery. Many patients with breast implant illness also are diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. At Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery, we have found that in many cases, removal of breast implants improves or resolves all of these symptoms.
Ideal candidates for medically necessary breast implant removal
Implant removal surgery can fix issues that someone who had breast augmentation can experience, such as breast implant illness, implant malfunction, scar tissue removal, or general unhappiness with the implants. Some women decide that they prefer their original breast size and want to restore their look. Regardless of the reason, breast implant removal can usually be performed.
How breast implant removal surgery works
First, anesthesia is administered to the patient, either through intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Breast implant removal requires an incision under the lower fold of each breast, or one around or below the areola. Our plastic surgeon will choose the one most appropriate for your plastic surgery. Depending on your reason for removal and the type of implant you have, we will remove your implants using different techniques. We also will remove the scar tissue since it can cause discomfort and affect the size of your breast. Once they’re removed, we will close the incisions. You may notice indentations in your breast following surgery. This will depend on how much scar tissue was produced around your breast implants. Some patients opt to include a breast lift with their breast implant removal surgery. This will be done before the incisions are closed.
Recovery after breast implant removal
The recovery period will vary for each patient, depending on the repair required after their surgery. At Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery, we provide our patients in Long Island, NY post-procedure directions to follow for the best results and to reduce scarring. You may have drains that will help remove excess fluid that is temporarily placed under the skin. For the first few weeks after surgery, you may experience swelling and bruising. Compression garments can help with the swelling. Optimal results will be seen about four months following your surgery.
Learn more on medically necessary breast implant removal
At Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery, our plastic surgeons, Drs. James Romanelli and John Layliev, want to do everything they can to help their patients in Long Island, NY. If you suspect that you have breast implant illness or just want to remove your breast implants for other reasons, please contact our Huntington, NY office to schedule an appointment. We can help you to get the look that you desire. We can discuss all of your options with you at a consultation to help you better prepare for breast implant removal surgery.
