Breast Implant Removal & What to Expect
Posted on November 26, 2018
The team at Aqua Plastic Surgery is committed to providing exceptional treatment and care to all patients. Breast explant (removal) surgeons Drs. David Rankin and Dev Vibhakar make it a point to educate patients as they prepare for surgery and make the necessary arrangements.
Here, we break down what you can expect before, during and after explant surgery.
Before Explant Surgery
The first step of the breast explant surgery process is an initial consultation, either through the phone, video chat or in person. During your consultation, you and our doctors will discuss your reasons for seeking breast explant surgery, as well as what you hope to achieve with the procedure. If you are experiencing symptoms of breast implant illness (BII), we will document these symptoms as well as any other health conditions that may affect your candidacy. Once we determine you are a candidate, we will schedule your surgery (or schedule an additional in-person appointment) with the doctor of your choice. A small refundable deposit is required at the time of booking your surgery.
In the weeks leading up to your surgery, you will remain in constant contact with our patient concierges Jeff Rose and Beatrice Zuluaga, who will answer all of your questions and concerns. If you are traveling from out of town, we can help make your hotel and transportation arrangements.
We will also provide you with a detailed list of pre-op instructions to follow, including what medications to avoid, foods to fuel your body before surgery, and which, if any, pre-op tests you will need to have. If you suffer from BII, our team can also provide recommendations on how to alleviate symptoms as you await surgery.
What to Expect the Day of Your Explant Surgery
The morning of your surgery, you will come to our facility and meet with your surgeon (if you are traveling from out of town, we suggest you arrive to your hotel the night before surgery). You will also meet with our anesthesiologist who will evaluate your medical history to determine whether you have any health conditions that can cause a rare adverse reaction to the IV sedation.
Your surgery will take place in our state-of-the-art and fully accredited operating room. It will take approximately two hours to complete. Immediately after, you will be taken to our recovery suite so you can rest as the effects of IV sedation wear off. Since no anesthesia is used, you will not experience nausea or any other side effects associated with anesthesia. About an hour after surgery, you will be cleared to go home or your hotel room to rest in a comfortable position for the remainder of the day.
After Explant Surgery
The following day, you will need a loved one to drive you back to our office. We will monitor your healing progress, and ensure that the drains in place are functioning. A surgical bra will be placed to support your breasts as they heal. We will also explain how to empty out your drains, which you will need to do twice a day until they are removed approximately four to seven days after surgery. Typically we require that the fluid drainage level is under 20 cubic centimeters for 24 hours before removing them.
Follow-up visits will be scheduled for the three-month and six-month marks. Our patient concierges Jeff and Beatrice will be available via their direct cell phone lines to answer all of your questions and concerns. Jeff can be reached at (561) 400-0600 and Beatrice can be reached at (561) 385-5135.
To learn more about breast explant surgery, please schedule a personal consultation with Dr. David Rankin or Dr. Dev Vibhakar. Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830, our Ft. Lauderdale office at (954) 564-3832 or our Miami office at (305) 918-1750.
