En bloc Capsulectomy for Breast Capsular Contracture Removal
Nearly all breast implants used in the United States come with a warranty of at least ten years. Although some implants may last for 15 or 20 years or even more, some others will have to be changed much earlier. This is because breast implants are not a permanent solution.
According to the data analyzed by the manufacturers of implants, nearly 50 percent of breast implants will have to be changed within a period of seven years. Some of the most common reasons for implant problems are damage, rupture, capsular contracture, and infection.
Board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Farah Naz Khan provides breast implant removal to patients in Dallas, Texas, and surrounding locations.
Capsular Contracture
This refers to the scarring that happens around the breast implant. All breast implants – textured, round-shaped, and smooth, above muscle, below muscle – will form a capsule. This is because implants are an alien entity, so the human body tries to create a protective barrier to the implant by forming a capsule which serves as a wall around it.
The capsule may be something that is flimsy, soft and unnoticeable – just like a film. But in some cases, it may become uncomfortable and firm – just like a hard shell that feels painful as if it contracts and shrinks over time. When an implant grows painful and hard due to capsular contracture, it is not risky in and of itself. However, the discomfort that it may cause will result in the patient seeking an implant removal.
En Bloc Capsulectomy
This surgical procedure is designed to withdraw the implant and the capsule in one piece from the breast tissue. A complete en bloc capsulectomy is an intricate and painstaking surgery that eliminates every bit of the capsular tissue, including the section that adheres to the ribs and the chest wall.
In partial capsulectomy, tiny fragments of the capsule are left behind in the pocket of the breast. The surgical dissection from an en bloc capsulectomy causes irritation to the capsular tissue (that has been left behind) and this leads to fluid production in the area of incisions.
Therefore, following your en bloc capsulectomy surgery, it becomes necessary to place drains to give a passage to the fluid from the breast pocket to exit the body. If a new implant is being placed, it is usually positioned in a new space within the breast tissue.
In other words, if the earlier implant was positioned sub-pectorally, the new implant would be placed pre-pectorally (and vice versa). At times, the pectoral muscle may get severed or damaged. In these cases, it will be essential to repair the muscle before the implant is replaced.
Capsulectomy without Replacement of Implant
For patients who go through breast explantation cosmetic surgery with en bloc capsulectomy technique, but do not want to replace their implant, drains for fluid removal may have to be left inside for a little longer period of time. For customers who have excessively loose breast tissue, mastopexy or a breast lift may be needed as an additional procedure to reposition any residual breast tissue and to form a shapely and youthful breast mound.
How Should the Patients Prepare for Surgery?
You should stop drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes a few days or weeks before your en bloc capsulectomy surgery. Both of these can increase the chances of swelling and bruising. Any herbal supplements and blood thinning medications should be discontinued two weeks prior to surgery. On the day of the procedure, it’s essential to have someone who can drive you back home after the surgery.
Board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Farah Naz Khan receives patients from Dallas, Texas, and nearby areas for breast implant removal.
Contact Board Certified Dallas Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Khan to Schedule a Consultation
To schedule a consultation with Board Certified Dallas Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Farah Khan please call 469-437-5426 or click here to contact us.
Taking patients from in and around Dallas, Plano, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Garland, Mesquite, Carrollton, Irving, Frisco, Texas and more.