En Bloc Capsulectomy

Kai Morimoto, MD Plastic Surgeon in Spokane Valley, WA

American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Best of Spokane 2020 Gold
Voted Best Cosmetic
Surgery Surgeon
Lovely woman with long, flowing, sandy blonde hair, with ample cleavage spilling out of light blue shirt, with downcast eyes, by pool side

What is Breast Implant Removal?

The goal of breast implant removal surgery is to remove breast implants from breast augmentation or breast reconstruction patients. During these procedures, the Dr. Morimoto may also remove silicone material from implant leaks and the breast capsule, which is the scar tissue that forms after the placement of a breast implant.

Often, the scar tissue that forms after the placement of an implant is soft and does not need to be removed, but it may harden, causing pain and discomfort. This is often a reason to have the implants and scar tissue removed.

Should You Replace Implants?

Breast implants are not lifelong devices and it is important to have them exchanged or removed approximately every 10-15 years. This decision is typically based on the individual and the patient’s needs and desires.

In some cases, the outside shell of the implant breaks down causing silicone to leak and the scar tissue around the implant to harden. It is important to understand that your implants should be removed for this reason.

What Is The Procedure Like?

Breast Implant removal is when the surgeon removes the scar tissue (or capsule) and implant at the same time, with the implant still inside the intact scar tissue capsule. Breast Implant removal allows the silicone and other chemicals to stay inside the intact scar tissue capsule as it is removed.

Breast Implant removal is also sometimes referred to as a total capsulectomy, but they are not exactly the same. A total capsulectomy is not always performed using the specific en bloc technique. 

A total capsulectomy is the removal of the breast implants and all the scar tissue, or capsule, that forms around a breast implant. However, during a total capsulectomy, the implant is not necessarily removed while still inside the intact scar capsule (en bloc method). Most surgeons use the term total capsulectomy to mean that they will cut the scar tissue capsule, remove the implants first, and then go back and remove all of the scar tissue capsule.

Reasons To Consider Breast Implant Removal

  • Fatigue
  • Chest pain
  • Hair loss
  • Headaches
  • Chills
  • Light sensitivity
  • Chronic pain
  • Rash
  • Body odor
  • Neurologic issues
  • Anxiety
  • Brain fog
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Depression

There are women with breast implants who self-identify and present with various systemic symptoms and believe that these are related to their breast implants.

Breast Implant Illness (BII)

The recent increase in patients reporting Breast Implant Illness (BII) symptoms appears to be related to social media. There is one Facebook group alone with more than 50,000 members, all of whom report Breast Implant Illness (BII) symptoms.

This is not to say that social media is the cause of Breast Implant Illness (BII) however, it may account for the rapid increases in patient reporting. BII is not an official medical diagnosis.

Before & After

Our approach is one-on-one, we want to know you and answer any concerns or reservations you may have. Full transparency will help you make an informed and confident decision. What is this procedure like? What is recovery like? How long is recovery? Will I be in pain? All questions are valid and we encourage you to ask anything you may be unsure of or confused about. For a more in-depth look at how we operate and our philosophy check out the details of our practice.

Patient Testimonials​

Making that first leap can be nerve racking. It’s important to choose a surgeon that you feel comfortable with and who has your best interest at hand. Explore some of the testimonials of satisfied patients to help you in your decision.

Google 5 Stars
Yelp 5 stars
Facebook 5 Stars

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