To understand en bloc capsulectomy or total capsulectomy, surgical procedure, it is essential to be familiar with the breast capsule. It is the scar tissue that forms around the breast implant. This occurs as a natural reaction of the body to the implantation, and in most cases, will not change in the way your implants look or feels.
When taking out the breast implants, the capsule should always be taken into consideration. If the breast implants are being removed permanently, a total capsulectomy can ease tissue recovery and healing. In an enbloc capsulectomy, the full capsule is removed along with the implant as a single unit. The breast implant will stay inside the capsule during the entire surgery.
The surgeon will take out the old capsule via en bloc capsulectomy only when it is suitable and safe for the patient. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie provides breast implant removal to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles CA, and surrounding locations.
When is En Bloc Capsulectomy Not Advised?
There are some cases where an en bloc capsulectomy surgery cannot be performed or is not the appropriate choice. If the capsule is very delicate and thin to take out as a single piece your explant surgeon will take out as much of the capsule as possible with the implant and then cautiously remove the scar tissue left behind. Another condition that could stop en bloc with total capsulectomy is if the capsule is stuck to the vital tissues.
For instance, if scar tissue is found attached tightly to the rib cage, taking out the tissue could cause damage to the lungs. This at times implies that some portions of the capsule will stay in place. Your surgeon will take all the necessary steps to ensure good healing including sterilizing the capsule left behind. In most cases, the capsule left behind does not cause any problem to the patient.
Process of Implant Removal
Breast implant removal procedure is accomplished in the outpatient setting at an accredited surgical facility. This surgical procedure involves general anesthesia and takes around two hours. Usually, the explant surgery can be performed using the incision sites made during your earlier breast augmentation.
However, in a few cases, your surgeon may want to make an extra incision to guarantee thorough removal of the capsule. The surgeon will remove the entire capsule that has formed around the breast implant and extract it as one piece. After the removal of both the capsules, the cuts will be closed, and you will be placed in a compression bra.
Taking out the implants help to restore the natural aesthetics of the patient but this procedure may cause some changes to soft tissue. Drooping or sagging is common after the breast implant surgery because the skin stretches itself to accommodate the implant.
In case the patient is not interested in new implants, there are alternatives to address this issue. The first option is a breast lift, which includes eliminating the extra skin and changing the position of the nipple and areola to construct a perkier breast.
The other option is to use fat grafting to add more volume in the breast, partly replacing what was created by the implant, but with a more natural and subtle effect.
Recovery from Implant Removal
If you are a non-smoker, not overweight and have general good health, you will not take much time to heal and will require only a few days of downtime. Patients may experience some post-operative swelling that generally resolves within the first four weeks after surgery.
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles CA, and nearby areas for breast implant removal.
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