Breast implant revision with Dr. Claire Duggal
Breast Implant Revision & Removal
When you had your original breast augmentation, it probably wasn’t part of your plans to have another procedure. But lifestyle changes, evolving aesthetic ideals, and, more rarely, medical issues, lead some women to seek revision or removal.
At a glance
Surgeon
Dr. Claire Duggal
Procedure time
2–3 hours
Anesthesia
General, or local for some removals
Setting
West Annapolis Surgery Center
No driving
First 10 days
Office work
Within a week
Strenuous activity
After 2–3 weeks
Final results
About a year
What is breast implant revision or removal?
Breast implant revision is a procedure to replace or reposition breast implants. You might want to change the size of your implants or switch to a different shape or material. Dr. Duggal might also make adjustments to the pocket where the implant sits to improve its position — over time implants can fall to the side, and patients elect to have them adjusted for more cleavage and better shape.
Breast implant removal allows the breasts to go back to their natural size. For patients with saline implants, the implant can be deflated in the office to see what you would look like without implants. It can then be removed or exchanged for another implant at a later date.
In some cases, Dr. Duggal may also need to remove the thin layer of tissue surrounding the implant, known as a capsule. Capsule formation is a normal reaction by the body to a foreign object — it occurs with pacemakers and hip replacements too, usually with no ill effect. Tissue removal may be necessary when the capsule thickens in a response known as capsular contracture.
Personal reasons patients choose it
A desire to have a more slender figure
A change to a more active lifestyle
Discomfort from the size of the augmented breasts
Medical reasons
Thickening and hardening of the tissue around the implant, as happens with capsular contracture
Leaked material from a silicone gel implant
Pain from the implants
Infection in the tissue around an implant
Concern about the accuracy of cancer detection in mammography imaging
Evidence of ALCL, a treatable form of lymphoma linked in rare cases with certain textured implants
Concern that implants are affecting overall health, from a process known as Breast Implant Illness
Related procedures
Five approaches
How Dr. Duggal performs the procedure.
The approach depends on the reason for the revision or removal and the outcome you want.
Can be done in the office for women who are not sure whether they would like to go without implants, have new ones placed, or have a breast lift. Especially if your implants were placed many years ago and you are not sure how much breast tissue you have, deflation is a simple way to see what you naturally have. Dr. Duggal uses a tiny needle to numb an area of skin, then painlessly removes the saline. Initially the breast will look deflated, but appearance and shape change over a few weeks to months. This is not an option for silicone gel implants.
The most straightforward approach: the implants are replaced or removed without affecting surrounding tissue. This is chosen when the implants have not ruptured or leaked and there are no problems with the surrounding tissue. To minimize additional scarring, incisions typically follow the original lines. If desired, this can be done under local anesthesia with numbing medicine alone.
Sometimes recommended for women who have experienced malposition of their implants, including bottoming out, where the implant falls below the breast crease, or double bubble formation, where the old crease and breast footprint can be seen above the implant. Dr. Duggal may reconstruct the breast to improve shape and implant position using additional support from a piece of mesh.
The procedure of choice when the tissue around the implant has hardened and thickened, or when a silicone implant has ruptured or leaked. Dr. Duggal removes the implant and any damaged, hardened, or inflamed tissue in the same procedure, along with any leaked silicone gel. The goal is to leave a clean pocket to heal. You may choose replacement implants, or leave your breasts without implants.
Can correct sagging and create a natural-looking shape to the breasts after the removal or replacement of implants.
The day of your procedure
Your surgery will take place in our West Annapolis Surgery Center. Dr. Duggal typically makes the incisions along the same lines as those from the original procedure for discreet healing.
In simple revision surgery, she removes the old implants and places new ones in the same procedure, or repositions the existing implants. If a breast lift is part of a combined procedure, she removes a thin strip of extra skin and raises and reshapes the breast, and may reduce areola size to harmonize with your new breast size.
The surgery usually takes between two and three hours. You may have temporary drains placed to minimize swelling. You will be able to go home, with someone to drive you, once you have recovered from the anesthesia. If your implants are removed under local anesthesia, you will be able to drive yourself home.
Recovery, and how you will look
Recovery is similar to breast augmentation, with a bit more time needed after en bloc removal. You will need a few days of rest with minimal activity. We advise you not to drive for the first 10 days, and to avoid strenuous activity for two to three weeks. Most patients return to office-type work within a week, wearing a surgical support bra for the first few weeks.
You will experience some swelling in the days and weeks after surgery, after which your breasts will gradually assume their new size and shape. Final results are visible after about a year.
If implants are removed and not replaced, breasts may appear deflated at first, with hollowed areas where the implants were. The shape changes and improves over a few weeks to months. Autologous fat grafting can add volume without implants, and a breast lift can restore a younger, natural look if skin has stretched.
Questions patients ask.
Yes. By adjusting the implant pocket or replacing implants with a different size or type, Dr. Duggal can create a more balanced, symmetrical appearance.
Not always. Some patients have enough natural tissue and skin elasticity to maintain their desired shape after implant removal. Others may benefit from a breast lift to restore firmness and prevent sagging. Dr. Duggal will recommend the best options based on your anatomy and goals.
Yes. Autologous fat grafting uses your own fat to add volume and shape to the breasts after implant removal. This option appeals to patients who want a more natural look and feel and want to avoid further synthetic implants.
In most cases, implant removal does not interfere with breastfeeding. If you had implants placed under the muscle and your breast tissue and ducts remain intact, you should still be able to nurse.
Results are long-lasting, but natural aging, weight fluctuation, and lifestyle changes can affect breast shape over time. Many patients enjoy their revision results for 10 years or longer before considering further adjustments.
Yes. Rippling often occurs with saline implants or when there is too little tissue covering the implant. Revision can correct this by switching to silicone implants, repositioning the implant, or adding fat grafting for smoother coverage.
For patients experiencing unexplained symptoms they believe may be linked to their implants, removal can provide peace of mind. While research on breast implant illness is ongoing, many women report significant improvement in their overall health once their implants have been removed.
Absolutely. Many women choose revision to replace larger implants with smaller ones that better fit their current lifestyle and aesthetic preferences. Downsizing can reduce discomfort and create a more natural overall look.
Initially your breasts may appear deflated, but with healthy skin elasticity and collagen, the skin acts like a rubber band and can contract again over time. If skin elasticity is limited, a breast lift or fat transfer can help restore a youthful shape.
Breast revision and implant removal are paid for directly — we do not work with insurance for these procedures. Financing is available through Cherry, and our patient coordinator can go through the costs with you at your consultation.
Talk it through with Dr. Duggal.
She will help you understand how your breasts will change with revision or removal, and whether a breast lift should be part of, or a follow-up to, the procedure.