Breast implant removal (explant surgery)

When the implant is removed, the breast goes back to the volume provided by your own breast tissue, which is less than you had with the implant. The skin and gland, which have adapted over years to a larger volume, need time to retract: during the first few weeks the breast may look empty or saggy. In most patients this gradually improves between 3 and 6 months. When the retraction is not expected to be enough, a lift or a fat transfer with your own fat is added in the same operation.

At Instituto de Benito, breast implant removal starts at €6,000. The final price depends on whether it is implant removal alone or whether a complete capsulectomy, breast lift or fat transfer is added, since each involves a different operating time. We always give a fixed quote after the consultation, and it can be financed at 0% interest.

It depends on three factors: the elasticity of your skin, the breast tissue of your own that you still have and the size of the implant removed. With small implants, firm skin and good glandular tissue of your own, the breast regains a natural shape with no additional procedures. With large implants, many years of use or lax skin, there is likely to be sagging and excess skin, which is why adding a breast lift, fat transfer or both is recommended. At the consultation we will show you realistically what your scenario is before you have surgery.

The most common ones are mild and temporary: swelling, bruising, changes in sensation and a feeling of tightness. Seroma (a buildup of fluid in the cavity left by the implant) is the most characteristic issue with this surgery and usually resolves on its own or with needle drainage in the office. Less commonly, infection, abnormal scarring, residual skin laxity or persistent asymmetry may occur. Serious complications are uncommon.

Most common risks (and generally mild)

• Hematoma or bleeding: a buildup of blood under the skin; it usually resolves with drainage or compression.
• Temporary swelling and discomfort: normal during the first few days; they gradually subside.
• Changes in sensation: loss of sensation or hypersensitivity in the nipple or breast skin, almost always temporary.
• Mild asymmetries: the body may show subtle differences during the healing process.
• Seroma: a buildup of serous fluid that can be reabsorbed or easily drained.

Very rare risks

• Postoperative infection: very uncommon thanks to aseptic measures and preventive antibiotics.
• Wound opening or delayed healing: usually due to skin tension or improper handling of the wound.
• Allergic reaction or intolerance to the anesthesia or surgical materials.
• Capsular contracture: the body creates a fibrous capsule around the implant; if it hardens, it may require revision or replacement.
• Implant rupture or leakage: extremely uncommon with modern implants, but possible over time or due to trauma.

Not always. If the capsule is thin and healthy and the implant is intact, it can be left for the body to reabsorb. It is removed (capsulectomy) when it is thickened, calcified or contracted, when the implant is ruptured or when BIA-ALCL is suspected. The decision is made case by case, not as a rule.

It is the technique in which the implant and capsule are removed together, in one piece and without opening the capsule. It is indicated when the implant has ruptured and silicone has leaked out, or when BIA-ALCL is suspected. It is technically more demanding and offers no proven advantage when the capsule is thin and the implant is intact, so we do not indicate it routinely.

Less than an augmentation. No new pocket is created and no foreign body is placed that would put the tissues under tension. In Barcelona we apply the Synapta® protocol, which acts on the peripheral nervous system to make recovery more comfortable.

It is one of the most requested combinations. The implants are removed and the breast is filled with fat harvested by liposuction from the abdomen, flanks or thighs. It requires sufficient donor areas, and part of the graft is reabsorbed, so in some cases a second session is planned.

You can return to your social life in 2 to 4 days and to office work within a week. Drains, when placed, are removed after 3-5 days. High-impact exercise can be resumed from 6 weeks onward. The final shape of the breast can be seen between 3 and 6 months.

We cannot guarantee it, and you should be wary of anyone who does. There is no proven causal link between implants and a systemic autoimmune disease, although there is literature documenting improvement in these symptoms in some patients after implant removal. Our recommendation is to rule out other treatable medical causes first. If, after that workup, you decide to have your implants removed, we will support you.

Yes, but it is best to wait. We recommend a minimum of 6 months so the tissues can stabilize and be assessed under real conditions. If you are unsure whether to remove or renew your implants, also see our breast implant replacement page.

It does not prevent them. After implant removal, imaging is actually simpler than with implants. If fat transfer has been performed, it is important to tell the radiologist, because oil cysts and microcalcifications from the fat graft have a characteristic radiological pattern that an experienced radiologist identifies without difficulty.

Yes, at 0% interest. See the options on our financing page.