101, Mani Mahal, Mathews Road, Opera House, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400004
Breast Implant Removal in Mumbai
Explant Surgery by Dr. Vicky Jain · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
- Board Certified
- 17+ Years Experience
- International Training
What is Breast Implant Removal Surgery?
Breast implant removal surgery, called explant surgery, removes previously placed breast implants along with some or all of the surrounding scar capsule, and reshapes the breast for a natural appearance. It is performed for medical reasons, personal preference, or both. The decision to remove implants is as valid as the original decision to place them, and the procedure is well-established with predictable outcomes when planned correctly.
The most important planning decision in explant surgery is what to do with the capsule. Every implant develops a surrounding scar capsule as part of the body's normal response to a foreign material. In most cases this capsule is soft and causes no problems. In some patients it thickens and tightens, causing capsular contracture. In patients with implant rupture, the capsule may contain silicone material. In patients concerned about breast implant illness symptoms, complete capsule removal is often requested. The appropriate capsule management depends on the clinical situation.
Dr. Vicky Jain performs breast implant removal surgery as a standalone procedure and in combination with breast lift or fat grafting for patients who want to improve breast appearance after removal. Many patients are concerned about how their breasts will look after explant. The outcome depends on the original breast tissue, the implant size, how long the implants were in place, and skin elasticity. Dr. Jain discusses what is achievable for each patient's specific anatomy during consultation.
Why Women Choose Breast Implant Removal
Capsular Contracture
The scar capsule around the implant tightens excessively, making the breast feel hard, appear distorted, and in some cases causing pain. Capsulectomy alongside implant removal addresses both the implant and the contracted capsule causing the problem.
Implant Rupture
Silicone implant rupture is often silent, meaning the implant shell has failed but the cohesive gel has not migrated. Saline rupture is immediate and visible as the breast deflates. Both require implant removal and assessment of the surrounding capsule for any gel that has spread beyond the shell.
Implant Shifting or Asymmetry
Implants that have moved from their original position, dropped too low, or sit unevenly create visible asymmetry. Removal with pocket correction, or replacement with repositioning, addresses the displacement.
Breast Implant Illness
Some women report systemic symptoms including fatigue, joint pain, cognitive fog, and skin changes that they attribute to their implants. The science around breast implant illness continues to develop. Dr. Jain performs complete en bloc removal for patients who want this approach and discusses the current evidence honestly during consultation.
Personal Choice and Lifestyle Change
Many patients choose removal because their preferences have changed over time, they want a more natural body, or their implants no longer align with who they are. This is a completely valid reason for explant and requires no medical justification.
Rippling or Unnatural Feel
Implant rippling occurs when the edge or surface of the implant is visible or palpable through the overlying tissue. It is more common in patients with thin breast tissue, above-muscle placement, or saline implants. Removal or replacement addresses the cause.
Types of Breast Implant Removal Surgery
Simple Implant Removal
The implant is removed and the capsule is left intact. Appropriate when the capsule is soft, there is no rupture, and there is no clinical indication for capsule removal. The fastest and least involved explant approach with the quickest recovery.
Partial Capsulectomy
Part of the capsule is removed alongside the implant. Used when sections of the capsule are thickened or symptomatic but complete removal is not required or not safely achievable due to capsule proximity to the chest wall or ribs.
Total Capsulectomy
The entire capsule is removed along with the implant. Used for capsular contracture, silicone rupture with gel spread within the capsule, calcified capsules, or patients who want complete removal of all implant-associated tissue.
En Bloc Capsulectomy
The implant and surrounding capsule are removed together as a single intact unit without opening the capsule during surgery. This is the most complete removal technique and is requested by patients with BII concerns, textured implant history, or silicone rupture where containing the capsule contents during removal is a priority. It is technically more demanding than standard total capsulectomy and requires adequate tissue between the capsule and chest wall to perform safely.
Implant Removal with Breast Lift
For patients whose skin has stretched over the implant and will not contract adequately after removal. A mastopexy is performed simultaneously to remove excess skin and reposition the nipple to a more youthful level. The most common combination procedure in explant surgery.
Implant Removal with Fat Transfer
For patients who want to restore some breast volume after removal using their own fat rather than a new implant. Fat is harvested from a donor area and grafted into the breast to improve contour and softness after explant. Produces a modest volume restoration with no foreign material.
What Happens to the Breast After Explant Surgery?
This is the question most patients want answered before anything else. The honest answer is that the outcome depends on four factors: how much natural breast tissue existed before the implant was placed, how large the implant was, how long it was in place, and the patient's current skin elasticity. Patients who had meaningful natural breast tissue before augmentation, had smaller implants, and have good skin quality often achieve a natural result without any additional procedure. Patients who had very little natural tissue, had large implants for many years, or have reduced skin elasticity will likely have loose skin and reduced projection after removal alone.
Dr. Jain assesses these factors during consultation and gives an honest, patient-specific picture of what to expect. For patients where the outcome of removal alone is unlikely to be satisfactory, he discusses whether a concurrent lift, fat grafting, or replacement with smaller implants produces a better result. No patient should go into explant surgery without a clear understanding of what their breasts will look like afterward.
How Breast Implant Removal Surgery is Performed
Surgery takes 1.5 to 3 hours under general anesthesia depending on the complexity of capsule management and whether concurrent procedures are performed. Dr. Jain typically uses the existing implant incision scar to access the implant, minimising additional scarring.
The implant is removed first. The capsule is then assessed and managed according to the plan: left intact for simple removal, partially excised, fully excised, or removed en bloc with the implant depending on the clinical indication. If a breast lift is being performed simultaneously, this is completed after implant removal through the same or extended incisions. If fat grafting is being performed, the donor area liposuction and breast injection are completed as the final step.
A support bra is applied immediately after surgery. Drains are used in some cases, particularly after complete capsulectomy, for the first 24 to 48 hours. Most patients stay one night and go home the following day.
Recovery Timeline
Week 1
Swelling, bruising, and tightness. Support bra worn continuously. Rest with limited arm movement. Most patients are comfortable moving around the house within 2 to 3 days.
Week 2
Light daily activity resumes. Sutures are checked and removed if non-absorbable. Swelling reduces. The breast shape after removal becomes clearer as swelling settles.
Weeks 3 to 4
Most patients return to desk work and normal routine. Strenuous activity and heavy lifting remain restricted.
Months 2 to 3
Final breast shape is visible. Skin contraction is complete. If fat grafting was performed, the surviving fat has integrated and the final volume is stable.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Implant Removal?
Any woman with breast implants who wants them removed is a candidate for explant surgery. There is no medical requirement to keep implants. Patients with active complications including capsular contracture, rupture, infection, or significant asymmetry have a clear clinical indication for removal. Patients choosing removal for personal reasons, including preference for a natural body, lifestyle change, or BII concerns, are equally appropriate candidates.
Good health and stable weight support a better surgical outcome and recovery. Patients who smoke are asked to stop at least 4 weeks before surgery as smoking impairs healing and increases complication risk. Patients considering simultaneous breast lift should be at a stable weight, as significant weight change after mastopexy affects the lifted result. The most important factor in a successful explant outcome is an honest consultation where the expected post-removal appearance is discussed clearly and any concurrent procedures to improve that appearance are planned together.
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17+
Years Experience
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What Patients Say
Professional, caring, and clear at every step. Recovery went smoothly. Highly recommended.
Manas C.
Plastic SurgeryTook time to listen; I left informed and confident. Excellent consultation.
Deepa R.
Cosmetic ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
What is en bloc capsulectomy and do I need it?
En bloc capsulectomy removes the implant and its surrounding capsule together as a single intact unit without opening the capsule during surgery. It is the most complete removal technique. It is appropriate for patients with BII concerns, silicone rupture, or textured implant history where containing all capsule contents during removal is a priority. It is not required for every patient and is not always safely achievable depending on capsule thickness and proximity to the chest wall. Dr. Jain assesses whether en bloc removal is appropriate and safe for your specific anatomy during consultation.
Will my breasts sag after implant removal?
This depends on your natural breast tissue, implant size, how long the implants were in place, and your skin elasticity. Patients with adequate natural tissue, smaller implants, and good skin quality often achieve a satisfactory natural result without additional procedures. Patients with significant skin stretch, large implants, or reduced elasticity benefit from a concurrent breast lift. Dr. Jain gives a patient-specific assessment of expected post-removal appearance during consultation.
Can I replace my implants with smaller ones instead of removing them entirely?
Yes. Patients who are satisfied with having implants but want a size reduction, a different profile, or correction of a complication can have their current implants replaced rather than removed entirely. This is a separate procedure from explant and is planned differently. Dr. Jain discusses which option better addresses your specific concern during consultation.
How long does recovery take after breast implant removal?
Most patients return to desk work within 2 weeks. Full activity including exercise resumes at 4 to 6 weeks. If a breast lift or fat grafting is performed simultaneously, recovery follows the timeline of those procedures, which is similar.
Is complete capsule removal always necessary?
No. A soft, non-contracted capsule with no rupture and no clinical concern does not require removal. Removing an uninvolved capsule adds surgical time, complexity, and risk without clinical benefit. Capsule removal is indicated when the capsule is contracted, calcified, contains silicone from a ruptured implant, or when the patient specifically requests complete removal for BII or personal reasons.
What is breast implant illness and can removal help?
Breast implant illness refers to a range of systemic symptoms some women attribute to their implants, including fatigue, joint pain, cognitive fog, and skin changes. The scientific evidence around BII is still developing and there is no definitive diagnostic test. Some women report significant symptom improvement after complete explant with en bloc capsule removal. Others do not improve. Dr. Jain does not overstate or dismiss these concerns and performs complete removal for patients who want this approach, while being honest about what the current evidence supports.
Will there be new scars after implant removal surgery?
In most cases, Dr. Jain uses the existing implant scar to access the implant, so no new scar positions are created. If a breast lift is performed simultaneously, additional incision patterns are required depending on the degree of ptosis. These are positioned in the same locations used for any standard mastopexy and fade over 12 to 18 months.
Can I have fat grafting after implant removal to restore some volume?
Yes. Fat transfer to the breast after explant is a practical option for patients who want to restore modest volume using their own tissue rather than a new implant. The procedure adds approximately half to one cup size of volume per session and requires adequate donor fat in other body areas. It is performed simultaneously with explant or as a separate procedure once the breast has healed after removal.
