Even though modern and high-quality implants are designed to remain in the body for many years, some patients wish to have their breast implant removed.
Personal reasons or, more rarely, medical indications can be the trigger for the desire for a permanent removal of breast implants after perhaps a breast augmentation that took place some time ago. How this procedure works, when it is advisable or even necessary, what costs are associated with removing breast implants, and what alternatives exist, will be explained to you on the following pages.
When patients decide to have their breast implants removed, a common reason is that they want to return to their ‘natural’ breasts. Perhaps the implanted breast implants were too large and the idea of living without them in the future outweighs replacing large implants with smaller ones.
Also, the feeling of something foreign in the breast can eventually lead to the decision to have the breast implants removed. Especially when implants, after a longer period of time, shift due to skin and tissue sagging or simply no longer fit perfectly, the path towards removing breast implants can be short.
Sometimes, back pain, especially with large and heavy breast implants, can also lead to this decision. Other patients complain of tension pain and high sensitivity, possibly due to capsular contracture.
And last but not least, women may decide to have their implants permanently removed after a rupture of the implants and choose not to have them replaced.
Just as with breast implant insertion, the same applies after breast implant removal: physical rest and a recovery period of several weeks are necessary.
Since breast implant removal, as already mentioned, is a surgical procedure lasting 2 to 4 hours under general anesthesia, there are corresponding risks, such as bleeding, swelling, and other complications.
Especially when the tightening and firmness of the skin and tissue have already diminished, the excess skin resulting from the removal of the implants can tend to sag. After all, there is no longer a (large) implant filling the skin around the breast.
In such cases, a skin tightening procedure is recommended to be performed after the removal of the breast implants. This makes the breast look firm again even without implants.
Depending on the condition of the tissue and the presence of sufficient body fat, filling the breasts with prepared autologous fat by injection can be a complementary treatment after the removal of breast implants. The advantage of autologous fat transplantation is that the body does not perceive it as a foreign substance, unlike implants.
However, there must be enough autologous fat available to transplant into the breasts.
Of course, implants can also be replaced instead of being permanently removed. If the existing breast implants seem too large, for example, they can be replaced with smaller ones.
If the implants have shifted, there is also the possibility of repositioning them, correcting the implant pockets, or moving the breast implants from on top of the chest muscle (subglandular) to underneath the chest muscle (submuscular).
In general, this question cannot be answered in a similar way to the insertion of breast implants. The resulting costs depend on the position, size, shape, and quality of the implants, anatomical conditions, and therefore, the duration of the procedure.
Additional costs may also arise when removing breast implants if, for example, subsequent skin tightening is desired.
However, I would be happy to discuss all the details about the “costs of removing breast implants” with you in a first personal consultation.
Regarding the coverage of costs by statutory health insurance, this usually only occurs if there are compelling medical indications.
I would be happy to advise you personally, individually, and discreetly as an experienced specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery at my modern practice for plastic and aesthetic surgery in Munich.
Are you interested in breast surgery, breast augmentation, or a thread lift in Munich? At the practice of Dr. Christian Lenz, you will receive personalized and confidential consultation tailored to your individual wishes and needs. Schedule an appointment and discover how modern aesthetic surgery combines natural results with the highest precision and safety.
We deliberately take plenty of time for non-binding initial consultations, while still ensuring that you can get an appointment quickly.
We deliberately take ample time for non-binding initial consultations in order to fully understand your requirements.
Our impressive results are not based on magic, but on scientific precision.
All breast surgeries are performed in our state-of-the-art operating rooms – for maximum safety and quality.
