Why do breast implants change over time?
Your body naturally creates scar tissue around foreign objects, and breast implants are no exception. Often this scar tissue remains thin and pliable, but in some cases, it becomes thick enough to cause distortion of the breasts.
These changes can affect your nipple placement and the shape of your breasts, and may cause visible and palpable rippling and deflation of saline implants. When this encapsulation occurs, Dr. Swanson offers scar tissue removal to correct the problem.
What procedures can restore breast softness?
If your breast implants have hardened over time, Dr. Swanson offers two options to restore the look and feel of your breasts:
1. Removal and lift
If you choose this option, Dr. Swanson removes implants and capsules and lifts the breasts. This approach works well for women who want smaller breasts and don't want to have to worry about doing anything with their implants in the future. The only sacrifice is that the breasts may not have quite as much fullness as breasts with implants.
Dr. Swanson can almost always perform the lift with a lollipop-shaped incision, which is much less visible than standard incisions. A lollipop incision is made around the nipple/areola and straight down to the bottom of the breast to avoid a long horizontal incision along the bottom of the breast.
2. Removal and replacement
This option is more common. With this procedure, Dr. Swanson removes implants and capsules and replaces them with new gel implants. This approach is the choice for women who wish to retain the volume of their breasts while restoring their soft feel. If a lift is needed the lollipop lift provides excellent shaping with minimal scarring for a beautiful final result.
Can I have my breast implants removed?
There are many reasons you may wish to have your breast implants removed. If you’re dissatisfied with the look or feel of your current implants, Dr. Swanson does offer restoration procedures to help you feel more confident in your appearance.
If you want to remove your implants for other reasons, Dr. Swanson can discuss your options and perform the removal surgery. You may wish to replace large implants with smaller ones. If you’re no longer interested in having implants, Dr. Swanson can perform a breast lift to reshape the contour of your natural breasts.
To discuss your options for breast implant restoration or removal, book an appointment online or by phone today.
