Breast Implant removel and/ or Replacement Surgery

Patient journey for Breast Implant removel and/ or Replacement Surgry

Pre-Operation

• In-depth consultation with Dr Georgina Konrat regarding your concerns and ideal outcome.
• Dr Konrat will ask important questions about you and your health (your medical history).
• Dr Konrat will examine your breasts with their implants, noting their condition, size and shape, the quality of your skin and other physical details to assist in planning to address your issues for the best possible outcome.
• Dr Konrat will provide you with her informed opinion on the options available to you and will discuss her reasons for her recommendation.
• You will make a final decision as to if/how to proceed to address the issues you have with your implants. We understand that you may not remember or understand everything you hear in your consultation, so we encourage you to make notes as soon as possible after the consultation, and to call or email Dr Konrat with any questions or concerns you may have about your intended surgery.
• If you decide to have your implants replaced, Dr Konrat will assist you to choose the new implants in the same manner as for any breast augmentation surgery.

The Operation

• Breast implant removal is done in an accredited Day Surgery Hospital under either general anesthesia or local anesthesia combined with sedation (twilight anesthetic).
• The procedure usually takes between 30 minutes and one hour.
• The doctor carefully removes the implants through either the inframammary fold (the crease under the breast), or the peri-areolar incision (through the nipple). If the implant is filled with saline, the doctor may choose to deflate it first to facilitate removal.
• If the implants are to be removed because of infection, h�matoma, necrosis or capsular contraction, then those issues will be dealt with when the implants have been removed.
• If new implants are to replace the old implants, then the new implants chosen in consultation with Dr Konrat will be placed in the space (the surgical pockets) that have been prepared following the removal of the old implants.
• The small opening through which the implants are removed is then closed with sutures and a dressing or surgical tape placed to seal the wound. In some cases you may have drains, which will be removed in the few days after surgery.

Post-Operation

• For the first few days after breast implant removal, there may be mild discomfort, swelling and bruising.
• Initial recovery from breast implant removal surgery is usually quick, providing there were no complicating factors such as infection prior to surgery. Many patients will be able to return to everyday activity within a few days, and full activity within two weeks. Full recovery often takes a few months.