Celebrity Chrissy Teigen makes news for a lot of reasons, including her well-publicized decision to have her breast implants removed. Since she made that announcement, people have claimed she actually didn’t go through with the procedure. That led the supermodel to post a discreet photo of the scars on her breasts as proof on her Instagram account in July.
At a time when breast revision and explant (implant removal) surgeries are in more demand, Teigen’s post provided evidence that women’s breasts can still look great after undergoing either of these procedures. It also highlights a trend of celebrities and other women removing their implants for various reasons.
Articles about plastic surgery trends in 2020 are exploring this trend, but it’s still worthwhile noting that breast augmentation remains one of the most performed cosmetic surgery procedures in the U.S. and worldwide.
In this blog post, I’ll explain some of the reasons for breast implant removal at our Houston-area practice and the issues to think about when considering that choice.
Reasons for Breast Implant Removal
Breast implants are not designed to last forever, so at some point, most women who underwent breast augmentation surgery choose to replace or remove their implants. Their reasons vary from patient to patient.
For someone such as Chrissy Teigen, she has said she appreciated the boost implants gave her career but simply decided the time was right to have them removed. Other reasons include lifestyle changes, implant complications, and health concerns.
Lifestyle changes: A woman who gets breast implants in her early 20s may lead a very different type of life 10 years later. Some patients who get explant surgery say they’ve become runners or more physically active in other ways and find that the implants hinder their enjoyment. Other women are just at a different point in their lives, and having implants is no longer something they want.
Complications: Even though the majority of breast augmentation patients never experience post-surgical complications, they do occur. One of the most common issues is capsular contracture (although it’s becoming rarer). This condition occurs when the capsule of scar tissue encasing the implant tightens and squeezes the implant. In moderate to severe cases, the implant looks distorted and it can even be painful. Breast revision surgery that replaces the implants is an option, but some patients decide to just remove both implants. The same options are usually available with other complications, too.
Health concerns: If you have implants or are considering breast augmentation, you’re probably familiar with Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) and Breast Implant Illness (BII). These 2, separate conditions have led some women to have their implants removed, either because they were ill or as a precaution. BIA-ALCL is a very rare type of cancer (although it’s not breast cancer) that’s linked to a specific type of textured implant.
BII isn’t a specific condition but is rather a label used to encompass a wide range of symptoms that people have associated with having breast implants. Chronic fatigue, joint and muscle pain, depression, and several other conditions are among these symptoms. Although BII is not a specific diagnosis, we support women who want implant removal surgery at our practice.
Removing implants is a procedure that requires specific expertise, and you should choose a plastic surgeon with extensive experience performing the procedure to ensure desirable results. I’m a breast revision and explant surgery specialist and can help you decide on the best surgical path for you. Please contact us using the online form to request a consultation with me or call us at (281) 282-9555 to schedule an appointment.
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