The Breasts
Breast Implant Removal
Thoughtful Explantation. Careful Restoration.
Thoughtful Explantation. Careful Restoration.
The decision to remove breast implants is deeply personal. Throughout a career that includes over 12,000 surgeries, Dr. Schwartz has seen motivations as varied as the patients who make them. Whether you are seeking to return to a natural aesthetic, have concerns about implant illness or BIA-ALCL, or are managing complications like capsular contracture, Dr. Schwartz approaches every explantation with meticulous care and an absolute absence of judgment. His elite training at Yale and the UTSW Plastic Surgery program, combined with a reoperation rate of less than one percent, allows Edition Plastic Surgery to offer a level of expertise that prioritizes your safety and the most predictable surgical outcome possible.
During the explant procedure, Dr. Schwartz focuses on precise techniques to minimize scarring and carefully manage the internal scar tissue, or capsule. As every patient presents unique clinical needs, Dr. Schwartz discusses the appropriate degree of capsule management for your specific situation—whether that requires a full en bloc capsulectomy or a partial removal to maintain better breast support. These surgeries are performed in our private, fully equipped operating room alongside a dedicated internal team. At Edition, we do not use outside agencies or contractors, ensuring that every step of your surgical journey is handled by staff who understand Dr. Schwartz’s exacting standards and are committed entirely to your comfort and the integrity of your results.
At Edition, we believe in being completely honest about what the breast will look like following removal. Dr. Schwartz presents every available option for restoring shape—including a breast lift, fat grafting, or replacement—so that our patients can make a fully informed decision. Our approach centers on surgical precision and your long-term well-being, ensuring you feel supported and confident in your choice to return to a more natural aesthetic, backed by the clinical depth and refined artistry that defines our practice.
For your comfort and safety, Dr. Schwartz performs explant surgery using either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation in our private, fully accredited operating suite. At Edition Plastic Surgery, we utilize our own dedicated surgical team rather than outside contractors, ensuring you are cared for by a staff that understands your goals and maintains the highest standards of personalized care.
In most cases, Dr. Schwartz is able to perform the removal through your existing implant incisions to minimize any additional scarring. During your consultation, we will review your surgical history and anatomy to ensure the most aesthetic result possible while maintaining the integrity of the breast tissue.
The appropriate degree of capsule management depends on the tissue's condition; while thin, pliable capsules can often be left to reabsorb naturally, thickened or calcified capsules require partial or total removal. For patients with confirmed ruptures or specific health concerns, Dr. Schwartz performs En Bloc capsulectomy, which involves removing the implant and surrounding capsule as a single unit to ensure no material contacts the surrounding tissue.
Many of our patients choose to undergo a mastopexy (breast lift) at the same time as their implant removal to address the skin laxity that often follows explantation. By tightening the skin envelope and reshaping the remaining tissue, Dr. Schwartz creates a natural, uplifted contour that avoids a deflated appearance and restores a more youthful breast shape.
For patients who wish to retain breast volume without foreign materials, Dr. Schwartz utilizes autologous fat grafting to harvest fat from the abdomen or thighs and transfer it to the breasts. This produces a softer, more natural feel and can be performed at the time of explantation or staged afterward, typically adding one to one and a half cup sizes per session.
Most of our patients are able to return to work and light daily activities within about four days of their procedure. While the initial recovery is relatively quick, Dr. Schwartz recommends waiting at least three weeks before returning to more strenuous exercise or heavy lifting to ensure your body has ample time to heal.
If you are removing implants due to rupture or aesthetic dissatisfaction but still desire volume, Dr. Schwartz can perform a combined removal and replacement with new implants during the same session. Our team will advise on whether a same-day replacement or a staged approach—allowing the tissues to settle for several months first—is the safest and most effective path for your anatomy.
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All photographs are of actual Edition Plastic Surgery patients. Individual results may vary.
Breast implant removal is generally a more straightforward recovery than the original augmentation — and many patients describe feeling significantly better physically in the weeks following surgery.
Dr. Schwartz will review your implant history, any available imaging, your current breast anatomy, and your goals following removal. He will discuss the appropriate degree of capsule management for your specific situation, be completely honest about what the breast will look like following explantation, and present every option for shape restoration. No approach will be recommended without transparent discussion of its rationale.
If implant rupture is a concern, updated imaging (MRI for silicone implants) is arranged before surgery. Medical clearance and any medication adjustments are coordinated. Our patient concierge provides detailed preparation guidance well in advance of your surgery date.
Implant removal is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. Operative time varies from one hour for straightforward removal to three or more hours when concurrent lift, extensive capsulectomy, or fat grafting is included. You are discharged the same day with a supportive surgical bra and all aftercare instructions.
Breast soreness and swelling are expected and well-managed with prescribed medication. A supportive bra is worn continuously. Drains, if placed for an extensive capsulectomy, are removed within the first one to two weeks. Most patients are surprised by how quickly they feel comfortable and how much better they feel physically compared to the days following their original augmentation.
Desk work resumes within five to seven days. Strenuous exercise and lifting are restricted for four to six weeks. The breast contour continues to evolve as swelling resolves and the skin contracts — a process that takes three to six months following removal alone, or three to six months following combined removal and lift.
The final breast shape following explantation is visible once all swelling has resolved and the breast skin has fully contracted around the remaining tissue — a process that takes three to six months. Patients who underwent a concurrent lift will see their final result at this point. Those who chose to stage a lift will be reassessed at three to six months to determine whether and how much lift is needed.
Breast implant removal is not a simple procedure — particularly when capsule management, shape restoration, or en bloc technique is involved. Dr. Schwartz's extensive experience in breast revision surgery means he is fully equipped to navigate the anatomy of previously operated breasts, manage complex capsules safely, and advise honestly on realistic outcomes. His results in this procedure are consistently described by patients as transformative — not just physically, but in terms of peace of mind.
Full Credentials →Implant removal is appropriate for any patient who wishes to have their implants removed — for any reason. Dr. Schwartz's role is to advise on the safest, most appropriate technique and to present all options for what comes next.
Every patient considering implant removal deserves a thorough, unhurried consultation with complete information. Dr. Schwartz will give you exactly that — and will support whatever decision you make.
Answers to the questions Dr. Schwartz hears most often from patients considering implant removal.
At Edition Plastic Surgery, we work with patients for a wide variety of reasons. Many women choose explant surgery because their aesthetic preferences have shifted toward a more natural look, while others seek removal due to complications like capsular contracture, rippling, or a suspected rupture. Our team also sees patients with concerns regarding BIA-ALCL or other health-related issues. Whatever the motivation, our goal is to help our patients achieve a result that leaves them feeling healthy, confident, and comfortable in their own skin.
Every patient develops a fibrous capsule around their implant. If the capsule is thin and healthy, it is often left to reabsorb naturally. However, a partial, total, or 'en bloc' capsulectomy—where the implant and capsule are removed as one intact unit—is indicated if the tissue is thickened, calcified, or has contacted silicone from a rupture. Dr. Schwartz recommends the specific technique that best addresses your health needs and anatomy after a clear clinical assessment during your consultation.
The final appearance depends on your natural tissue volume, the size of your implants, and your skin elasticity. While some of our patients retain a good shape, others may experience a 'deflated' look or skin laxity. During your consultation, Dr. Schwartz provides a completely honest, anatomy-specific assessment to determine if a concurrent breast lift (mastopexy) would be beneficial to restore a youthful, lifted contour without the need for a new implant.
Most of our patients find recovery to be more comfortable than their original augmentation. You can typically return to desk work within five to seven days, and light exercise can usually be resumed at three weeks. We perform your surgery in our own private, fully equipped surgical suite with our dedicated Edition team, allowing us to maintain a highly controlled environment for your safety and comfort from start to finish.
In most cases, Dr. Schwartz is able to utilize your original augmentation incisions to remove the implants and address the capsule, which avoids creating unnecessary new scars. If you opt for a concurrent breast lift to address sagging, additional incisions will be necessary. In all cases, Dr. Schwartz prioritizes strategic placement and meticulous surgical technique to ensure that any scarring is as discreet and well-hidden as possible.
While Dr. Schwartz maintains a reoperation rate of less than 1%, any surgical procedure involves some level of risk, such as infection, hematoma, or changes in nipple sensation. Our team at Edition Plastic Surgery prioritizes patient safety above all else, utilizing an extensive experience—spanning over 12,000 surgeries—to minimize these risks and ensure a predictable, smooth surgical journey.
The investment for explant surgery varies based on the extent of capsule management required and whether concurrent procedures, such as a lift, are performed. In some cases involving medical indications, removal may be partially covered by insurance; our team can assist you with the necessary documentation for your provider. A personalized fee quote and various financing options are provided following your private consultation with Dr. Schwartz.
Dr. Schwartz performs breast implant removal at Edition Plastic Surgery as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia, prioritizing safety and comfort as we restore your natural silhouette. Most of our patients return to desk work within five to seven days, focusing on light movement while initial swelling and soreness begin to subside. To ensure your results settle into a refined, natural contour, Dr. Schwartz recommends wearing a supportive surgical bra and refraining from strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for four to six weeks. Throughout this transition, our patient concierge team provides comprehensive aftercare and closely coordinated follow-up appointments, ensuring your recovery is as sophisticated and attentive as the surgery itself.