Dr. Kunkel removes breast implants of women from Fort Worth, Arlington, Keller, Southlake, Weatherford, and all areas of North Texas. Fort Worth physicians have recognized Dr. Kunkel’s outstanding care of patients and have voted him a TopDoc 22 times!
A woman may want to have her breast implants removed for any number of reasons. There are many things to consider, and a couple of interesting options.
Reasons For Removing Breast Implants
A women may tell us she is at a different point in her life than when she underwent her augmentation. She may have changed physically. She may have a new spouse/partner who feels differently about breast implants than her last spouse/partner. Others don’t want to worry about having to undergo more surgery in the future related to their breast implants.
Our health changes as we age. Women who develop autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis usually are in their 40’s when the diagnosis is made. If a woman who has breast implants is diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, she may wonder if her implants are contributing to it. A woman who is worried about this may decide to have her implants removed.
Breast implant illness may be a concern. This is not a defined medical problem but rather a group of symptoms that includes fatigue, chest pain, hair loss, headaches, chills, pain, rash, body odor, anxiety, brain fog, sleep disturbance, depression, neurologic issues, and hormonal issues. A 'cause and effect’ relationship has not been established between implants and these symptoms. However, some women with breast implants who have these symptoms note their symptoms improve when the implants are removed.
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is another issue that women have questions about. Of an estimated 20,000,000 women worldwide who have had breast implants, about 1100 (0.00003%) have developed this problem. It appears to be related to textured surface breast implants. About 80% of women who developed BIA-ALCL had Allergan textured surface implants. Because of this, in July 2019 the FDA had Allergan recall their textured surface implants. Women who have textured surface implants may decide to have them removed due to concerns about BIA-ALCL. While they may not have BIA-ALCL now, they want to minimize their long-term risks of developing it.
Just Remove The Implants, Or Also Do Capsulectomies?
A thin layer of scar tissue, called a capsule, forms internally around any breast implant. A capsulectomy is the surgical removal of this layer of internal scar tissue.
Removal of the implants alone, without removing the scar tissue capsules, is relatively easy to undergo. The procedure takes about 30 minutes to do. Typically no drains are required. There is usually minimal discomfort, and the recovery is usually pretty uneventful.
Some women are concerned that silicone in the breast implant shell might have become embedded in the scar tissue capsule. Women who are concerned about the scar tissue capsules may want to have them removed. This is more involved than just removing the implants. During a routine capsulectomy, an incision is made in the scar tissue capsule and the implant is removed. The capsule is removed once the implant has been taken out. A number of women prefer to have the entire capsule and implant removed as one big piece. This is called an en bloc capsulectomy. Women who choose this may be concerned about ‘spillage’ of any contents contained within the scar tissue capsule. En bloc capsulectomies require longer incisions than regular capsulectomies, resulting in longer scars.
A capsulectomy is a bigger procedure than just removing the implants. It takes longer to do the surgery, it adds some tissue trauma, more discomfort is involved, and it costs more. It is a good option and many women choose it.
Do I Also Need A Breast-Lift?
Most women have their implants removed without undergoing a breast lift. However, when the breasts are bottom-heavy a breast lift may add more shape to the breasts. Sometimes a woman’s breast tissues may have drooped over the ends of the implants over time. When the nipples are low, a breast lift may reposition the nipples more centrally on the breasts as the implants are removed.
Fat Grafting After Removal Of Breast Implants
Removing breast implants results in a loss of shape and fullness. Breast lifts may reposition the nipples and tighten the bottoms of the breasts. However, that does not result in fullness toward the tops of the breasts. For women who want more shape and fullness at the top of the breasts, fat grafting may be a good option. It is possible to do liposuction of the abdomen, flanks, and thighs, and place that fat in the breasts. While this does not replace all of the shape and fullness, it is an option worth considering.
Undergoing Surgery To Remove Breast Implants
Removal of breast implants takes place in an outpatient surgical facility in Fort Worth. The woman is put to sleep for the procedure under the guidance of an anesthesiologist. Removing the implants usually takes about 30 minutes. Capsulectomies may add as much as an hour to the procedure. Breast lifts and fat grafting require additional time.
Recovery After Breast Implant Removal
Most women have fairly minimal pain after having their breast implants removed. If capsulectomies are required, a drain is placed on each side. The drains are usually present for about a week or so. If capsulectomies are not performed, drains may not be required. Women should return to their normal daily activities as soon as they are comfortable. Strenuous activities like working out, tennis, golf, and riding horses should be avoided for about a month. Sitting by a pool and looking great is allowed at any time, but no getting into the pool for about 4 weeks.
Breast Implant Removal in Fort Worth - Before and After Images
How Much Does It Cost To Remove Breast Implants In Fort Worth?
These prices include Dr. Kunkel’s fee, the surgical facility fee, and the anesthesia fee. Prescription medications cost extra. Insurance may pay the majority of the costs of these but that varies by insurance company.
- Removal of breast implants, no additional procedures:Â $5,300.
- Removal of breast implants and capsules, no additional procedures:Â $6,900.
- Removal of breast implants (not capsules), with mastopexies (breast lifts):Â $11,300.
- Removal of breast implants (not capsules), with fat grafting:Â Price varies depending on the areas undergoing liposuction.
Does Insurance Pay To Remove Breast Implants?
In most cases insurance does not pay to remove breast implants. There are some exceptions. Some insurance plans cover removal of ruptured silicone gel implants. Removal of ruptured saline implants is almost never covered. Currently insurance companies do not cover removal of implants for women who have symptoms of breast implant illness. Insurance companies do tend to cover removal of implants for breast cancer reconstruction patients.
Contact us Today
In most cases insurance does not pay to remove breast implants. There are some exceptions. Some insurance plans cover removal of ruptured silicone gel implants. Removal of ruptured saline implants is almost never covered. Currently insurance companies do not cover removal of implants for women who have symptoms of breast implant illness. Insurance companies do tend to cover removal of implants for breast cancer reconstruction patients.
Schedule A Consultation Today
To learn more about our Breast Implant removal procedure, please call us at 817.335.5200 to schedule a consultation. Our practice is proud to serve Fort Worth, TX, and the surrounding areas.
