Breast Implant Removal
Breast implant removal, or explanation, is a surgical procedure to remove previously placed breast implants. Women may choose this procedure for medical, aesthetic, or personal reasons.
What is breast implant removal?
Breast implant removal is one of the most searched cosmetic procedures in the UK, and demand has grown significantly as more women choose to have their implants taken out — whether due to a complication, a change in how they feel about their body, or concerns about systemic symptoms.
It is not a single, standardised procedure. The right approach depends on why you are removing your implants, the condition of the capsule, the size and type of your implants, your skin quality, and what you want your breasts to look like afterwards. This page explains your options clearly, so you can come to consultation informed and ready to make the best decision for you.
Reasons for Breast Implant Removal
Women choose explant surgery for a wide range of reasons. The most common I see in my London practice are:
Capsular Contracture
The body naturally forms a layer of scar tissue around any breast implant — this is called the capsule. In most women it remains soft and unnoticeable. In others, the capsule thickens and tightens, causing the breast to feel hard, look misshapen, or become painful. This is capsular contracture, and it is one of the most common reasons for implant removal or exchange. Depending on severity, options include removal alone, removal with capsulectomy, or implant exchange with capsule management.
https://www.drshwetaaggarwal.com/post/capsulectomy-for-breast-implants-a-clear-calm-guide
Implant Rupture
Breast implants are not lifelong devices. Over time — typically after 10 to 15 years — the shell can weaken and rupture. With silicone implants, rupture may be silent and only detectable on MRI or ultrasound. With saline implants, deflation is usually visible quickly. A ruptured implant should be assessed promptly. Removal, with or without replacement, is the standard approach.
Breast Implant Illness (BII)
Some women with breast implants develop a range of systemic symptoms — including fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, hair changes, and recurrent infections — that they attribute to their implants. This symptom cluster is referred to as breast implant illness. BII is not yet a formally recognised medical diagnosis, but the symptoms are real and consistently reported. A meaningful proportion of women experience improvement following implant removal. I take a thorough, evidence-based approach to BII — investigating other potential causes first, then discussing surgical options honestly and witout pressure. https://www.drshwetaaggarwal.com/post/breast-implant-illness-uk
Lifestyle Change or Change of Preference
Many women simply decide, over time, that implants are no longer right for them. A preference for a more natural appearance, a change in lifestyle priorities, or a desire to feel more comfortable in their own body are all entirely valid reasons to consider removal. No medical justification is required for a decision about your own body. I approach these consultations with the same care and thoroughness as any clinical indication.
Your Procedure Options
Breast implant removal is not one operation — it is a family of procedures. The right combination for you depends on your reasons for removal, the state of your capsule, your breast anatomy, and your goals for how you want to look and feel afterwards.
Implant Removal Only
Simple explantation removes the implant without disturbing the capsule. This is appropriate where the capsule is soft and undamaged, and there are no clinical indications for capsule removal. It is a straightforward procedure with a shorter recovery than more complex approaches. The breast will be smaller following removal, and the degree of sagging depends on implant size, skin quality, and how long the implants have been in place.
Implant Removal with Capsulectomy
Where the capsule is thickened, calcified, contains ruptured silicone, or where there is a clinical indication such as suspected BIA-ALCL, removal of some or all of the capsule is appropriate. Capsulectomy can be partial (removing only the affected portion) or total (removing the entire capsule where safely achievable). En bloc removal — taking the implant and capsule out as a single intact unit — is sometimes requested by patients, particularly those with BII. The current evidence does not show that en bloc removal produces better symptom outcomes than standard capsulectomy in most cases, and it carries greater surgical risk. I discuss the most appropriate technique for each patient individually, based on their anatomy and clinical picture.
https://www.drshwetaaggarwal.com/post/capsulectomy-for-breast-implants-a-clear-calm-guide
Implant Removal with Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Following implant removal, many women are left with loose skin, reduced volume, and a degree of sagging — particularly where implants were large or had been in place for many years. A breast lift (mastopexy) can be performed at the same time as removal to reshape the breast, reposition the nipple, and create a firmer, more natural contour. Whether a simultaneous lift is appropriate depends on your anatomy and goals. In some cases, staging the lift as a separate procedure after the tissue has settled is the better approach. I discuss this with each patient in detail.
https://www.drshwetaaggarwal.com/breastlift-mastopexy
Implant Removal with Fat Grafting
For patients who wish to retain some breast volume after removal, fat grafting offers a natural alternative to implants. Fat is harvested by liposuction from another area of the body — typically the abdomen, flanks, or thighs — and injected into the breast to restore partial volume. Fat grafting cannot fully replace the volume of a large implant in a single session, but it can meaningfully improve shape and fullness. It can also be combined with a mastopexy where both volume and position need addressing.
Why Dual Training Matters for Explant Surgery
I am one of a small number of surgeons in the UK dual-trained in both plastic surgery and oncoplastic breast surgery. This means I bring reconstructive expertise to every explant procedure — skills developed through breast cancer surgery, complex reconstruction, and tissue management that go well beyond standard cosmetic training. For patients with complicated capsules, significant tissue changes, or wanting reconstruction after removal, this depth of experience makes a meaningful difference to the result.
What to Expect: The Procedure
Breast implant removal is performed under general anaesthetic, typically as a day case or with one overnight stay depending on the complexity of the procedure. Surgery takes between one and three hours.
I use existing incision sites wherever possible to avoid additional scarring. The approach — and whether capsule management, fat grafting, or a lift is incorporated — is planned in detail at your pre-operative consultation following examination and review of any relevant imaging.
You will be fitted with a supportive post-surgical bra before you go home. Most patients take one to two weeks off work. A return to light activity is usual by week three, with full recovery and a return to exercise by six to eight weeks. Final results — including the resolution of swelling and the settling of breast tissue — take three to six months.
Costs
Breast implant removal at my London practice starts from £6,990. The final cost depends on the complexity of the procedure, whether capsulectomy, fat grafting, or a breast lift is incorporated, and the surgical time required.
Your quoted price includes your surgeon's fee, anaesthetist's fee, CQC-registered hospital facility, pre-operative assessments, and early post-operative follow-up appointments. Finance options are available — please ask at consultation.
I would encourage you to confirm exactly what is and is not included in any quoted price before proceeding with any surgeon.
Choosing a Safe Surgeon for Explant Surgery
Breast implant removal — particularly where capsulectomy or reconstruction is involved — is a complex procedure that requires genuine specialist expertise. Before booking with any surgeon, verify:
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They are on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery — check at gmcuk.org
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They hold full membership of BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) or BAPRAS
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Surgery takes place in a CQC-registered hospital or clinic
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They take adequate time at consultation — you are not pressured to book on the day
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They give you a clear, honest account of what surgery can and cannot achieve for you
I am a full member of both BAAPS and ABS, operate exclusively in CQC-registered facilities, and have performed more than 1,000 breast procedures. I take a thorough, unhurried approach at consultation — my goal is always to give you the information you need to make the right decision for you, not to fill a surgical list.
