Breast implants aren’t a life-time device – some have a span of 10 years, others longer – but there are some cases women choose to remove their implants before their time is up. Growing concern in recent years for breast implant associated lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) closely linked to certain implants, and Biocell’s voluntary recall of textured implants, has prompted a move for many women across the globe to take action and remove their implants. However, there is still no medical basis for it, explains Bay Plastic Surgery’s cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon, Adam Bialostocki.
“Research is starting to ramp up a bit – so watch this space – but removal isn’t just limited to BIA-ALCL reasoning,” he explains. “There is a small group of individuals that do not co-exist well with their breast implants, and wish for them to be removed for unproven and unverified health reasons.”
So, what reasons may spur you to opt for elective breast implant removal?
- The size and shape of your implants may not fit with your body and lifestyle of now. Implants you got pre-children, may now be hindering your ability to move, play, take up new sports, fit clothing. Or, you may feel they just don’t look natural anymore – and so a change is needed.
- Sometimes larger implants can cause back pain later, feel uncomfortable or look misshapen, and removing them – or opting for a smaller implant and lift – can restore both comfort and confidence.
- For some women significant body changes—like pregnancy, gaining or losing weight, or simply the natural aging process – can prompt a move to remove implants as they may not stay in keeping with a changing body.
- And, for some women the choice to remove implants may come down to wanting more confidence in other areas – like preventative breast cancer screenings, mammograms and even manual exams. With implants removed, it can restore greater peace-of-mind going forward.
There are many reasons as to ‘why’ women opt for elective breast implant removal, so it's important to keep the individual at the fore of all procedure decision making. After all, every women’s body is different and so too are her reasons for doing.
