What is explant surgery?
An explant surgery is the surgical removal of breast implants.
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Breast explant surgery, also known as breast implant removal surgery, is a breast procedure to remove your breast implants. Explant means to surgically remove a previously placed device from the body. Breast implants are filled either with silicone gel or saline; they’re originally put in place for breast augmentation or breast reconstruction.
Depending on the reason for the surgery, your plastic surgeon may also remove the breast capsule, which is the layer of scar tissue that forms around the implant over time. Your surgeon doesn’t always remove the capsule. If it’s still soft and safely in place, then removal is needless. Only if the capsule has hardened or is associated with capsular contracture does it need to come out.
The explant procedure demands a high level of surgical precision, which Mohamed Elfar, MD, MS, FACS has with his rigorous training and board certification. He’s also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Alongside Dr. Elfar, David Shokrian, MD brings more than 14 years of experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery to New York Breast Surgery Center in Midtown Manhattan and Great Neck, Long Island.
“Your surgical plan depends on your symptoms, the condition of the implant and your overall health,” says Dr. Shokrian. “According to peer-reviewed data published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, explant surgeries increased by five percent from 2023 to 2024, but that doesn’t mean breast implants are more unsafe.”
Your surgeon may recommend explant surgery when your implants aren’t functional anymore. Implants aren’t meant to last a lifetime. The decision comes after assessing the condition of the implant, the surrounding tissue and the capsule. Common reasons for explant surgery include:
In a 2003 peer-reviewed 28-year multi-center study of more than 1,000 explant cases published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, medical reasons covered 34 percent of explant surgery decisions. This means that the majority of removal decisions involved personal and subjective factors, including a dissatisfaction with how breasts looked and the feeling that the implants no longer aligned with the woman’s sense of self.
“Some of our patients told us that ‘they underwent explant surgery in preparation for breastfeeding,’” says Dr. Shokrian. “The point is that implants are relatively safe, and surgeons don’t usually perform explant procedures for medical reasons.”
Whether you’re opting for an explant surgery for a medical or a personal reason, the starting point is the same: getting a one-on-one surgical consultation with an expert plastic surgeon. Find one, like Dr. Shokrian or Dr. Elfar, who understands the spectrum of explant procedures and has the expertise to decide on a suitable capsulectomy option. Don’t settle for less than the best surgeon.
During your breast implant removal surgery, what happens in the operating room depends on the condition of your implants, the surrounding scar tissue and your surgeon’s assessment. Typically, the surgery takes one to three hours. The common steps for every approach, which involves removing the implant, includes:
A simple implant removal is the most straightforward form of explant surgery. Your plastic surgeon makes the incision in the existing scar tissue, removes the implant and leaves the capsule in place. The scar tissue breaks down and naturally dissolves over time without causing harm to the surrounding tissues. This approach works for those women with healthy capsules; otherwise, an explant surgery involves one of three types of capsulectomy:
Preparations begin before your procedure day. Your plastic surgeon provides a detailed pre-operative plan as part of your successful surgery at New York Breast Surgery Center. This preparation allows your surgeon to plan the procedure safely and reduce surprises.
“Your journey to have your implant or implants removed starts with a surgical consultation that helps us understand your symptoms, implant-related concerns, and reasons for choosing this surgery,” says Dr. Shokrian. This discussion also includes a review of the minor risks involved in the surgery, as well as:
Following your pre-operative instructions is an aspect of the explant surgery that’s within your control, and you’re encouraged to do everything you can to make the process easy. At New York Breast Surgery Center, you receive a personalized pre-op guide, ensuring that by the time you enter the operating room, all clinically controllable variables are known. Whether you’re local or an out-of-town patient, you can rest assured that the surgery team has taken care of all your, and their, concerns.
After implant removal surgery, you can expect changes in the size, symmetry and positioning of your breasts, as the surgery only addresses your core reason for the explant, not for your appearance afterward. After the removal, your tissue and the skin that stretched to accommodate the implants don’t return to their original state. If you wish to maintain a proportionate breast look, your surgeon may recommend a clinically recognized surgical approach, such as a breast lift, a fat transfer or an implant replacement. Your chosen procedure may be performed in the same operative session or in a later session after you’ve healed.
Staged reshaping is a common surgical approach. It means that your plastic surgeon separates the enhancement procedures from the removal process. For a staged reshaping, you undergo additional procedures in separate surgical sessions at some later date. Reasons for doing this may include:
Dr. Shokrian: “There’s no right surgical approach that offers the desired results for every woman. Your options rely on the condition and anatomy of your current implants, as well as your goals, overall health and breast tissue elasticity. We create a personalized plan just for you.”
A breast implant removal is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you go home the same day after some time in a monitored recovery room. While you’re in the recovery center, the staff wait for your anesthesia to wear off. They check your incision site, vital signs and dressing placement.
Before you leave, they provide A specialized support bra or compression garment that you have to wear for a couple weeks while you heal. Don’t take off the compression garment prematurely, as you can interfere with your healing process.
“If you have any additional procedures done,” says Dr. Shokrian, “we may adjust your recovery plan and discharge time. Even before the surgery, I make sure you understand your activity restrictions and garment instructions. For best results, follow my instructions.”
There’s no simple answer to how your breasts will look after your implants are removed. Some women see their natural breast contour, while others notice a flattening or a striking volume loss. How your breasts look depends on factors that include:
You’ll likely see an immediate change in your breast size, but that’s not the final result. Right after the removal, you see the bruising, early swelling and tissue adjustment. You may notice a more settled breast contour within two weeks. Final results take months, as the tissue adjusts and scars mature. Additional procedures like a breast revision changes your recovery timeline.
During your first week of recovery from explant surgery, you can expect sensitivity around the incision sites, along with swelling and bruising. Wear the surgical bra as directed to improve healing and reduce pain. By the second to fourth week, you may return to light activities.
After two months, the swelling continues to improve, and you return to normal activities. You may receive a list of dos and don’ts from your surgeon. Follow it to ensure that you heal as planned. The list may include:
The precise cost and financing of a breast implant removal surgery depends on multiple factors, including the complexity of your case and whether your procedure was performed due to medical or personal reasons. If your implant removal surgery is medically necessary, such as in cases of confirmed BIA-ALCL cancer diagnosis or severe scar tissue hardening, the surgery may be eligible for insurance coverage. At this moment, New York Breast Surgery Center isn’t in-network with any insurance carrier.
“If your procedure is medically necessary, we verify your specific plan to determine whether out-of-network benefits apply,” says Dr. Shokrian. “If your implant removal is driven by personal preference, we offer financing plans, as you must pay for it out-of-pocket. We understand that cost is an integral part of your decision to get the surgery, so we offer transparency in pricing.”
Several factors affect the final cost of your procedure, including the fees for the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, the anesthesia and the facility. If your procedure is especially complex, that also impacts the final cost. If you’ve opted for additional procedures, you can expect your overall cost to increase.
Have questions about explant surgery? Find answers to some of the most common questions below.
An explant surgery is the surgical removal of breast implants.
Not always. It depends on the condition of your capsule and the symptoms you’re experiencing.
It varies; some women experience initial deflation, swelling and drooping. The appearance of your breasts improves over three to six months after the surgery.
Not always. It depends on the size of your natural boobs, as well as the skin elasticity around them. Of course, you can always choose to get a breast lift.
Yes, but not right away. You must wear a specialized bra garment for several weeks after your surgery.
No, not right after your procedure. You may shower after 48 to 72 hours, but soaking in pools and bathtubs is restricted for four to six weeks.
Most women get back to light activities within the first few weeks and normal activity by the fourth to sixth week.
Medically necessary explant surgeries are covered by insurance, including those for ruptures or cancer cases.
Yes. Like any other surgical procedure, an explant surgery also carries a risk of infection, bleeding and scarring. You can reduce your risks by relying on plastic surgeons with extensive experience, like Dr. Shokrian and Dr. Elfar.
Yes, you can choose implant replacements if you still want volume and the underlying tissue isn’t infected or damaged.
Depending on your preference, you may get a breast lift or fat transfer if you don’t want new implants.
Yes, but the scarring is minimal and won’t be anything new, as your plastic surgeon at New York Breast Surgery Center typically uses the original incision sites.
The risk is never zero from any surgery, but choose a talented plastic surgeon who operates in an accredited facility. At New York Breast Surgery Center location, no two cases of explant surgeries are ever exactly the same. Your surgeon creates a personalized treatment plan that spans every phase of your care, from consultation through recovery, including:
The most appropriate combination of procedures depends on your unique anatomy and goals. Your surgical plan is determined through a formal surgical consultation and assessment, not from a phone call or online inquiry. Schedule your breast implant removal surgery consultation at New York Breast Surgery Center in NYC today. With the right support, an explant surgery is a safe, positive and empowering decision.
Facility Safety Note: All surgical procedures are performed at our JCAHO-accredited flagship surgical center in Bryant Park, Manhattan (HCO ID: 676295). Consultations, minimally invasive procedures and pre/post-operative care are available at our Bronx and Great Neck locations.
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