What Is the Difference between Breast Explant and Breast Revision?

Posted on August 22, 2017

Recently, Dr. David Rankin was featured on the daytime show The Doctors to discuss a breast explant procedure he performed on former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal. Since then, Aqua Plastic Surgery has received numerous inquiries from women wanting to know more about explant surgery, including how the procedure differs from breast revision surgery. Drs. David Rankin and Dev Vibhakar have years of experience treating women in need of explant and revision surgeries. In this blog post, they outline the differences between the two procedures.

Understanding Breast Implant Illness and Explant Surgery

In recent years, some women, like McDougal, have reported experiencing symptoms that some believe to be connected to “breast implant illness.” Common symptoms believed to be related to breast implant illness include fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, muscle pain and weakness.

Breast explant surgery is performed on women who wish to remove their breast implants, some of whom report having symptoms of breast implant illness. In any case, Drs. Rankin and Vibhakar will design a treatment plan that will yield the most successful results. The doctors meet with each patient to discuss her implant concerns and evaluate her symptoms. Aqua Plastic Surgery’s Explant Concierge, Jeff Rose, has worked with hundreds of women reporting symptoms of breast implant illness and offers expert advice on breast implant illness and explant healing.

When Is Breast Revision Surgery Appropriate?

Breast revision surgery is appropriate when a woman is unhappy with the results of her previous augmentation procedure and wants to replace her implants. Breast revision may be performed to replace implants that have deflated, leaked or rippled. Or, it may be performed simply because the patient is unhappy with their current implant size. Breast revision surgery can also address capsular contracture, a complication that develops when scar tissue forms and hardens around the implant and constricts it. Breast revision surgery is performed to replace breast implants, while breast explant is performed to remove implants and almost always without replacing them.

If you wish to remove or replace your breast implants for either cosmetic or medical reasons, Aqua Plastic Surgery can help. Dr. Rankin or Dr. Vibhakar can personally meet with you to discuss your concerns and your treatment options. Please call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830 or our Ft. Lauderdale office at (954) 564-3832.