Breast Implant Removal
Dr. Rankin specializes in breast explant or implant removal surgery. He's one of the top explant doctors in the country. You can trust him to get the results you deserve.
Meet David Rankin, MD
Dr. David Rankin is a board-certified plastic surgeon with years of experience and a dedication to artistry and healing. Dr. Rankin’s main focus and passion is breast explant surgery. He performs more than 500 breast implant removal surgeries each year and is considered one of the best explant surgeons in Florida. His advanced training, attention to detail and natural artistic skills help him to achieve beautiful results with all his patients.
Trust One of the Top Explant Doctors in the Country
Dr. Rankin has 20+ years of experience and is respected for his compassion, surgical skill and artistry.
He treats patients who wish to remove their implants, some of whom report experiencing symptoms of breast implant illness (BII).
Dr. Rankin meets with each patient one-on-one to discuss their concerns regarding their breast implants. After identifying the root of the problem, Dr. Rankin will design a treatment plan for removal. Each breast removal procedure is unique. He carefully explains all of the available options and helps each patient choose the best option for her needs and goals.
Our Explant Patient Liaison is here to help you.
Aqua Plastic Surgery also provides an explant patient liaison, Dee Hicks, who has extensive experience helping hundreds of women with breast implant illness. Dee will be available to help you through the process of explanting — from your initial call to your post-surgery healing.
It's Your Body. Expect Personalized Treatment.
At Aqua Plastic Surgery in South Florida, we are committed to your well-being.
While some women choose to remove their implants for cosmetic reasons, others do so out of health concerns. In recent years some women have expressed concern that their breast implants may have led to an autoimmune disease or worsened a serious health condition. Many of these women have reported experiencing symptoms of breast implant illness or BII, including fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, muscle pain and weakness.
Related Procedures
Ideally Suited For
- Women who want smaller breasts with a possible breast lift
- Patients suffering from breast implant illness or other autoimmune issues
- Women who do not wish to have a foreign body or those whose lifestyle no longer aligns with breast implants
- Those wishing to enhance their self-image and self-confidence
Breast Implant Removal FAQs
We use Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA) during explant surgery. This is considered general anesthesia — you will not remember the procedure or feel anything — and we tend not use a breathing tube (intubation) unless deemed necessary by our anesthesia team. With this technique, no gas is given as it tends to cause nausea in many patients. We feel that TIVA is the most safe and effective method for our patients, and we believe strongly that our patients should wake up without feeling any nausea or pain.
Dr. Rankin uses drains with explant surgery.
Drains are small tubes that are easy to care for, and we will teach you or a family member how to do it. After explanting there is a pocket that exist where the implants were. This pocket can have fluid build-up and cause a seroma (fluid collection), which is prevented by the drains. The drains are generally removed when each side produces 20ml (ccs) or less over a 24-hour period. The drains are removed by Dr. Rankin’s staff in the office and stay in an average of 3-5 days.
At this time, all dressings will be removed and replaced with new, lighter dressings. You will also get instruction on scar care and treatment.
There is often some mild drainage around the drains which may drip. There may also be some clot-like material inside the tubes, which you can see. These are both normal.
Most women who report symptoms of breast implant illness opt to remove their implants without replacing them.
Aqua Plastic Surgery offers fat grafting to breast explant patients who want to add a small to moderate boost in volume to their breasts without the risks associated with implants.
Fat grafting to the breasts allows patients to increase breast size naturally, by utilizing fat cells from other areas of the body, and transferring to the existing breast tissue. It is the perfect complement to the breast explant procedure or to provide fullness and symmetry for augmentation.
After implant removal, patients should expect to wait about six months post surgery before scheduling the fat grafting procedure. Explant patients are offered an additional discount when they opt for this procedure.
Patients should not to to the gym or work out for the first three weeks after surgery. Walking is fine and encouraged during this time. Keep your arms at your side for the first two weeks as much as possible. For weeks 3-6, you can do light physical activity with caution. After six weeks you may resume normal physical activities such as cardio and lower body weights, however avoid engagement of the pec muscles (push-ups or bench presses) for the first three months.
The cost of surgery follows a range based on your personal situation. During your consultation, we will discuss your surgery and needs to come up with a refined cost for your treatment. All pre-operative consultations are free. The final cost of your treatment will be discussed in more detail at your pre-operative consultation with Dr. Rankin. Aqua Plastic Surgery offers several affordable financing options to help you pay for your procedure. These will also be discussed during your consultation.
Get Expert Advice on Breast Implant Removal Surgery
What To Expect: Breast Implant Removal
About the Procedure
Breast explant is performed with the goal of safely removing the breast implant and restoring an attractive breast contour and appearance. The procedure typically takes two hours to perform. Your surgeon will do the following:
- Offer a nerve block performed during surgery to reduce pain for 72 hours post-surgery, which may reduce or even eliminate the need for prescription pain medication.
- Remove implant and capsule.
- Insert drains to enhance the healing process.
- Take pictures of the implant and capsule.
- Offer the choice to send capsules to pathology and keep possession of your implants
Surgery is performed in the Jupiter location in one of two fully accredited operating suites. It generally takes about two hours of surgical time. Patients will recover and either go home or go to one of our partner hotel sites.
Explant surgery is generally performed under general anesthesia. (See FAQ above for more information.) The surgeon tries to keep the incisions as small as possible to achieve little to no post-operative scarring. Through the incision, the surgeon carefully removes the implants. In case of an implant rupture or capsular contracture, the “capsules” that hold the implants are also removed. Once the implants are removed, the doctor addresses any loose skin that has become stretched out due to the implants. They trim the breast skin and reshape the breast tissue for a beautiful, natural shape.
As long as they have good breast tissue and skin elasticity to begin with, the majority of patients are very happy with their post explant breast appearance. However, the doctor may recommend performing a breast lift in conjunction with the explant to position the breasts higher on the chest wall, correct breast ptosis and achieve a more beautiful breast shape. Dr. Rankin, a leading authority in breast explant, has refined his surgical technique to consistently deliver safe and successful results with the breast lift and explant method. During the procedure, the surgeon selects the breast tissue (gland) in the lower breast that will create the new volume in the upper breast and prepares it to be moved. This technique, known as the tissue wrap around, leaves the lower end of the gland attached to preserve the blood supply and to prevent any necrosis. The surgeon rotates the tissue to its new position in the upper pole of the breast (between the nipple and the collar bone) and attaches it to the chest wall and surrounding upper breast tissue.
The tissue wrap-around technique provides in many circumstances breast volume to be rotated into the breast space/cavity that is left over after removal of the implant. It is a superiorly based pedicled surgery, allowing use of the lower breast tissue to create more volume. At the same time, it addresses the lower portion of the breast that may be loose and in need of tightening. Outcomes certainly depend on multiple factors, the most important of which is the amount of native breast tissue present.
When finished, the incisions are closed with sutures and bandages. A surgical bra and drains will be placed to aid in healing. Patients will then be moved to one of our recovery suites where they will rest for approximately one hour before being driven home from a loved one to rest for the remainder of the day.
What to Expect During Recovery from Explant
Patients will be seen the morning after surgery for a checkup or on Monday if surgery falls on a Friday. Drains are used in all explant patients and are removed by our staff in the office, typically five days after surgery. All sutures are dissolvable, and we will provide counseling on scar treatment during the post-op session.
Patients should expect to take one to two weeks off from their normal routine, including work. During this time, vigorous activity should be avoided. During the initial recovery period, patients may experience swelling, bruising and tenderness. Our team can prescribe oral pain medication to minimize discomfort. Surgical drains are removed six days after surgery. Regular follow-ups with us are mandatory so we can closely monitor healing progress. You will meet with our team for three-month and six-month follow-up appointments.
Follow-up
Expect to attend a follow-up session one day after surgery, five days after surgery (for drain removal), and once more, depending on where you live.
Dr. Rankin is available to his patients at all times for any question or concerns.
Expectations about Final Results
Final results, particularly breast shape, are achieved usually nine to 12 months after surgery and depend on many factors including previous breast surgeries, amount of native breast tissue, size of implants, skin elasticity, asymmetry present and other variables.
“I just wanted to say THANK YOU to you and your staff for taking such good care of me during my explant.”
KAREN McDOUGAL, Former Playmate of the Year and fitness cover model
The Proof Is In Our Patients’ Stories
I am deeply grateful to Dr. Rankin and his incredible team for the exceptional care I received during my explant. From the moment I walked in, they made me feel comfortable, informed, and cared for. Their professionalism and compassion were evident in every detail, and I always felt I was in the best possible hands.
Love Dr. Rankin! He did my tummy tuck in May. We're now in October, and I'm doing great. He's a great surgeon. I definitely recommend him to all my friends and all my doctors. His staff is wonderful. The girls are so sweet! I'm going to get liposuction done in November to finish up the great work that he did.
One month since my explant surgery with Dr. Rankin, and I couldn't be more thankful. Choosing the right doctor was important to me, and Dr. Rankin and his team exceeded every expectation. Their support made me feel reassured at every step. The results are beyond what I hoped for! I feel free and truly happy.
I am deeply grateful to Dr. Rankin and his incredible team for the exceptional care I received during my explant. From the moment I walked in, they made me feel comfortable, informed, and cared for. Their professionalism and compassion were evident in every detail, and I always felt I was in the best possible hands.
Love Dr. Rankin! He did my tummy tuck in May. We're now in October, and I'm doing great. He's a great surgeon. I definitely recommend him to all my friends and all my doctors. His staff is wonderful. The girls are so sweet! I'm going to get liposuction done in November to finish up the great work that he did.
One month since my explant surgery with Dr. Rankin, and I couldn't be more thankful. Choosing the right doctor was important to me, and Dr. Rankin and his team exceeded every expectation. Their support made me feel reassured at every step. The results are beyond what I hoped for! I feel free and truly happy.
I am deeply grateful to Dr. Rankin and his incredible team for the exceptional care I received during my explant. From the moment I walked in, they made me feel comfortable, informed, and cared for. Their professionalism and compassion were evident in every detail, and I always felt I was in the best possible hands.
Love Dr. Rankin! He did my tummy tuck in May. We're now in October, and I'm doing great. He's a great surgeon. I definitely recommend him to all my friends and all my doctors. His staff is wonderful. The girls are so sweet! I'm going to get liposuction done in November to finish up the great work that he did.
One month since my explant surgery with Dr. Rankin, and I couldn't be more thankful. Choosing the right doctor was important to me, and Dr. Rankin and his team exceeded every expectation. Their support made me feel reassured at every step. The results are beyond what I hoped for! I feel free and truly happy.
I’m beyond grateful for Dr. Allyson Deziel! Such an amazing experience, with amazing results! Truly the best decision I’ve ever made.
Ashley is very caring and gentle with her patients. She takes time to explain the procedure and then performs like an artist! Sending my relatives and friends her way!!! They are blessed to have her!
I flew 2,000 miles each way from Colorado to Florida to see Dr. Rankin at Aqua Plastic Surgery, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. He is truly one of the BEST explant surgeons, and he has helped me reconnect with my authentic self. His skill and compassion made this a healing experience.
I’m beyond grateful for Dr. Allyson Deziel! Such an amazing experience, with amazing results! Truly the best decision I’ve ever made.
Ashley is very caring and gentle with her patients. She takes time to explain the procedure and then performs like an artist! Sending my relatives and friends her way!!! They are blessed to have her!
I flew 2,000 miles each way from Colorado to Florida to see Dr. Rankin at Aqua Plastic Surgery, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. He is truly one of the BEST explant surgeons, and he has helped me reconnect with my authentic self. His skill and compassion made this a healing experience.
I’m beyond grateful for Dr. Allyson Deziel! Such an amazing experience, with amazing results! Truly the best decision I’ve ever made.
Ashley is very caring and gentle with her patients. She takes time to explain the procedure and then performs like an artist! Sending my relatives and friends her way!!! They are blessed to have her!
I flew 2,000 miles each way from Colorado to Florida to see Dr. Rankin at Aqua Plastic Surgery, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. He is truly one of the BEST explant surgeons, and he has helped me reconnect with my authentic self. His skill and compassion made this a healing experience.
Traveling to Jupiter? We Can Help
Dr. Rankin and the plastic surgery team have helped patients from all over South Florida, other states and the world. We are confident they can help you, too.
One of our specialists can help every step of the way, from setting up a virtual consultation to helping with your transportation and hotel needs.
