Breast Implant Removal and Mastopexy: Indications and Technique-A Single Surgeon Experience

Breast implants cannot be considered "lifetime" devices, and reoperations are frequent, increasing over time for various reasons. The most common are capsular contracture and implant rupture, but in recent years, it has increased the request for implant removal just for desire or because of fear of the onset of BII or BIA-ALCL.

Analyze the indications for implant explantation and the esthetic and satisfactory outcomes with mastopexy and auto-augmentation lateral flap based on a single surgeon experience.

The criteria for inclusion in this study were: (1) surgical procedure involving implant removal, total capsulectomy, and mastopexy; (2) a minimum follow-up of 12 months; and (3) completion of the questionnaire administered 1 year postoperatively. Twenty-six patients were selected.

The indication for surgery was implant rupture in 11 cases followed by capsular contracture in five cases, the desire to no longer have breast implants in four cases, weight gain and subsequent increase in breast volume in four cases, double bubble deformity in one case, and implant displacement associated with significant dynamic deformity in one case. The questionnaire results demonstrate that the overall satisfaction rate using this technique is considered favorable, given that 84.62% of patients evaluated the result as "Good" or "Sufficient."

Regarding the indications for implant removal long-term complications related to the implants was preponderant, although a small group of patients requested the procedure solely for the desire to remove the implants. Furthermore, an original, reliable, and reproducible technique of mastopexy with a lateral pedicle auto-augmentation flap has been described.

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