Going Implant-Free

While breast augmentation is usually a rewarding and even life-changing procedure, it’s not uncommon for women to choose to remove their implants at some point in their lives. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey J. Roth performs breast implant removal (explant surgery) in Las Vegas to help women enjoy a fresh start and remove implants they no longer desire.

Featured Explant Surgery Before & After Photos

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What Is Breast Implant Removal (Explant Surgery)?

Breast implant removal surgery removes previously placed breast implants. The procedure may be combined with a capsulectomy, which removes the tissue capsule that naturally surrounds the implant after placement.

What Are the Benefits of Explant Surgery?

There are many benefits of removing breast implants, including:

  • Relief from discomfort or complications
  • A look that reflects your current age, body type, and lifestyle
  • Peace of mind

Whether you are facing complications or simply having a change of heart about your implants, removal gives you the chance to return to your natural breast shape and size. It frees you from any concerns your implants may be causing or worries about continued monitoring as they age.

How Common Is Explant Surgery?

Compared with breast augmentation, the number of women choosing to have their implants removed is quite low. More common is breast revision surgery to either exchange implants that have ruptured, adjust implant size, or correct issues such as asymmetry. After augmentation, a woman can expect to need at least 1 and more likely 2 or more implant revision surgeries over her lifetime.

Meet Dr. Roth

Dr. Jeffrey Roth is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a Las Vegas local since 1977. Drawn to medicine by his innate desire to help others, he provides exceptionally natural-looking results, concierge-level service, and long-lasting connections to every person who walks through the doors of his practice, Las Vegas Plastic Surgery.

Get to Know Dr. Roth
Dr. Jeffrey Roth wearing white doctors coat

Credentials You Can Trust:

Dr. Jeffrey Roth has the following credentials: ABMS Maintenance of Certification, AMerican Medical Association, The Aesthetic Society, Castle Connolly Top Doctors of 2022, Fellow American College of Surgeons, The American Board of Surgery, and American Society of Plastic Surgeons Dr. Jeffrey Roth has the following credentials: ABMS Maintenance of Certification, AMerican Medical Association, The Aesthetic Society, Castle Connolly Top Doctors of 2022, Fellow American College of Surgeons, The American Board of Surgery, and American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Why Do Women Choose To Remove Their Breast Implants?

While each person’s journey is unique, there are a few common reasons women choose to remove and not replace their implants.

  • Capsular Contracture – Capsular contracture happens when excessive scar tissue forms around the implants, causing tightness and discomfort in the chest. The implants are removed through revision surgery, along with most of the excess scar tissue. However, most women opt to have new implants placed.
  • Health Concerns – Some women have symptoms of a condition called “breast implant illness” (BII). Although there isn’t any research to specifically link implants to health outcomes, patients anecdotally report symptoms or opt to remove their implants following an FDA recall—more on those circumstances in our FAQ section below.
  • Age – Some women don’t want to spend their older years with breast implants in place. They simply opt to remove them and have a breast lift. This removes sagging tissue and firms up their breasts, giving them an implant-free look that doesn’t require maintenance in the years to come.

How Much Does Explant Surgery Cost in Las Vegas, NV?

The cost of breast implant removal surgery at our Las Vegas plastic surgery practice varies depending on the complexity of the procedure, whether a lift is included, and other factors. During your consultation, we will provide you with a personalized estimate of your expected costs.

We happily accept payments through CareCredit®, a third-party financing company that provides affordable monthly payment plans to make your procedure more attainable.

Why Choose Dr. Roth for Your Explant Surgery?

A board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience in cosmetic surgery, Dr. Roth offers exceptional expertise with integrity and a personal touch his patients trust. Beyond natural-looking results you love, you can expect a warm and unrushed experience that revolves around caring for you and bringing your vision to life.

Reviews

Read what real people like you have shared about their experiences with Dr. Roth and his team.

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Is Explant Surgery Safe?

Breast implant removal is a straightforward procedure. It carries the same risks as any surgical procedure, including infection, which remain low when you work with a board-certified plastic surgeon. If you have symptoms of capsular contracture or are worried about health issues, having your implants removed is safe and could be viewed as a way to improve your health.

How Is Explant Surgery Performed?

Dr. Roth typically performs breast implant removal as an outpatient procedure using general anesthesia. He usually begins by entering through the original incisions used to place the implants. He then removes the implants. If you have any signs of capsular contracture, where scar tissue continues to build around the implant, the hardened capsule of scar tissue will also be removed. If intervening scar tissue exists, but is relatively soft, some incisions can be made in the scar, and the capsule can be left in place. Some patients wish to have a capsulectomy in any case, which can usually be accommodated.

What to Expect

Bringing your best look to life is as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Consultation

2. Pre-Op

3. Surgery

See your step-by-step journey

What Will My Breasts Look Like After Implant Removal?

Some women assume their breasts will return to the look they had prior to breast augmentation. However, this is not the case. The weight and bulk of the implants will have stretched your skin and support tissues. They also tend to create changes in the rib cage area. Once the implants are removed, the breasts typically appear flattened and saggy. They may be uneven.

Will I Need a Breast Lift After Having My Implants Removed?

Before & After Explant Surgery Case 55 View #1 View in Las Vegas, NV
Before & After Explant Surgery With Lift
Before & After Explant Surgery Case 55 View #2 View in Las Vegas, NV
Before & After Explant Surgery With Lift
Before & After Explant Surgery Case 55 View #3 View in Las Vegas, NV
Before & After Explant Surgery With Lift

As mentioned above, once your implants are removed, it’s likely your breasts will have the classic characteristics that often cause women to opt for a breast lift. For that reason, Dr. Roth almost always recommends a breast lift along with implant removal.

With a breast lift, he can remove the loose hanging skin, reposition the remaining breast tissue, and likely relocate the nipple-areola complex. The goal with a breast lift is to return the breasts to a higher position on the chest, which will be important for you to be satisfied with the appearance of your breasts after removing your implants. As mentioned, without a lift, it’s likely your breasts will be quite flat and saggy without the implants. This is especially true the longer you have had implants and with larger implant sizes.

What Will My Scars Look Like After Explant Surgery?

If Dr. Roth is performing a breast lift to account for sagging and flattening after your implants are removed, he may need to extend your incision along the breast crease upward to the nipple. This will allow him to remove more excess, sagging skin and give him access to reposition more breast tissue to a higher location on the chest. He may, however, be able to do everything necessary through the same incisions as used to remove your implants.

During your consultation, he’ll discuss with you what he thinks will work best for your unique situation once your implants are removed.

What Is Recovery Like After Explant Surgery?

Recovery is typically fairly brief after implant removal. You’ll be sore along the small incisions for a few days, but you won’t have a lengthy recovery. Your chest will feel different without the implants, but it’s more a feeling of unfamiliarity rather than discomfort.

As mentioned above, however, most women having implants removed also request a breast lift so they aren’t left with flattened, sagging breasts after the implants are removed. Because there is more tissue repositioning and excision of excess sagging skin, the addition of a breast lift makes recovery a bit more involved. You won’t be able to lift anything more than a gallon of milk for about a month. Any heavier lifting or strenuous exercise will need to wait for 6 weeks after a breast lift.

A Few More Explant Surgery FAQs

Q: What is Breast Implant Illness (BII)?

A: Currently, there are no studies in medical literature associating breast implants with a specific illness or patient complaints.

However, symptoms anecdotally expressed by some women with implants include:

  • Lack of energy
  • Foggy thoughts or difficulty with memory
  • Headaches
  • Irritable bowel syndrome and gastrointestinal illness
  • Swelling of the lymph nodes
  • Pains in joints and muscles
  • Recurrent infections
  • Rashes on the skin
  • Loss of hair

Many of our patients have seen various physicians (rheumatologists, infectious disease specialists, and so on). We have found that the vast majority of our patients who desire the removal of implants for BII feel better after the procedure.


Q: Is it true that breast implants cause lymphoma?

A: In July 2019, the FDA announced a mandatory recall of all textured implants with the brand name Biocell made by Allergan®. These textured implants have been linked to a very rare form of cancer: anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. In the announcement, the FDA called the cancer “breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma” (BIA-ALCL).

The occurrences of this lymphoma are exceedingly low— of the 40 million women who have had implants, only between 300 to 500 have been diagnosed with genuine cases of BIA-ALCL— but the news has brought implant removal to the forefront of the public consciousness.

This does not apply to any other implants but the Biocell textured implant from Allergan.


Q: Is breast implant removal covered by insurance?

A: Breast implant removal is not typically covered by insurance. The main exception is the removal of implants after a mastectomy and reconstruction, if it is deemed medically necessary.

A New You Starts Now

If you are in the Henderson or Las Vegas, NV, area and breast implant removal (explant) is on your mind, please call us at (702) 450-0777 or request a consultation online to discuss your options.

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