Breast Implant Removal in Oklahoma City, OK
Bajaj Plastic Surgery
If you have had a previous breast augmentation and now believe that your breast implants no longer fit your lifestyle or you simply want a new look, breast implant removal may be the right choice for you. Whether you’re considering removal for medical reasons, a change in your aesthetic goals, or simply because your body and priorities have changed since your original surgery, Dr. Bajaj will walk you through every option available so you can make a decision that’s right for you, not a one-size-fits-all recommendation.
Quick Links
- Why Get Breast Implant Removal?
- What Do You Need to Know About Breast Implant Illness (BII)?
- En Bloc vs. Standard Capsulectomy: What’s the Difference?
- Why Choose Dr. Bajaj For Your Breast Implant Removal?
- What Are Your Next Steps?
- Why Choose Dr. Bajaj For Your Breast Implant Removal?
- What Are The Expectations From This Procedure?
- What Are Your Breast Implant Removal Options?
- Breast Implant Removal FAQs
Why Get Breast Implant Removal?
Breast implant removal is a highly personal decision, and many women choose to have their implants removed for a variety of reasons, including:
- Capsular contracture: When the body’s immune system detects a foreign material, it responds by forming a “capsule” around the breast implant. This capsule can become hardened and painful over time. Surgeons grade capsular contracture using the four-stage Baker scale, ranging from a soft, natural-feeling breast (Grade I) to a firm, visibly distorted, and often painful breast (Grade IV). Most commonly, women with Grades III and IV are most likely to benefit from surgical intervention.
- Rupture & deflation: Implants are not meant to last forever, and they can fail within months or years of placement. Both silicone and saline implants are susceptible, and symptoms include breast shrinkage or swelling and sensations like pain or tingling. Saline ruptures are usually obvious, since the breast visibly deflates over a matter of days as the saline is absorbed by the body, but a silicone rupture can be “silent,” producing no outward symptoms at all, which is why imaging, such as a high resolution ultrasound is often used to confirm it.
- Lifestyle & aesthetic change: Some women who undergo breast augmentation surgery may find that they no longer desire the larger breast size. Bodies change with childbearing, weight fluctuations, and hormonal changes. These changes can make your implants feel incompatible with your current lifestyle. Others may wish to explore whether smaller, implant-free results are achievable using their own tissue, which an option we cover below.
What Do You Need to Know About Breast Implant Illness (BII)?
Breast implant illness (BII) refers to a wide range of symptoms that some patients experience after getting breast implants, spanning musculoskeletal symptoms like joint and muscle pain, cognitive symptoms like brain fog and difficulty concentrating, and systemic symptoms like chronic fatigue, hair loss, and skin rashes. The exact cause isn’t fully understood, and researchers are still investigating possible links to autoimmune response, bacterial biofilm, or the body’s reaction to surgical trauma. There is no single diagnostic test for BII, but Dr. Bajaj’s team will work with you to rule out other conditions with overlapping symptoms based on your history and presentation. Studies show many patients report improvement within the first three months after implant removal, though outcomes vary and removal isn’t guaranteed to resolve all symptoms.
En Bloc vs. Standard Capsulectomy: What’s the Difference?
If you’ve researched implant removal online, you’ve likely come across the term “en bloc capsulectomy.” An en bloc capsulectomy removes the implant and its surrounding scar capsule together, as a single unopened specimen, resulting in a more extensive procedure with a longer incision. A standard or total capsulectomy, the more common approach, removes the implant first and then removes the capsule, which is the technique used for the majority of explant patients. Current evidence does not show that en bloc capsulectomy is necessary to see symptom improvement after implant removal, and studies have found patients improve whether they undergo en bloc removal, standard capsulectomy, or no capsulectomy at all. En bloc is generally reserved for cases with a suspected capsule-related concern, such as BIA-ALCL, a rare lymphoma linked to textured implants. Dr. Bajaj will recommend the technique that fits your specific findings and goals, rather than defaulting to the most invasive option.
Why Choose Dr. Bajaj for Your Breast Implant Removal?
Dr. Anureet Bajaj has founded her illustrious career on finding lasting solutions that fit her patients’ goals and lifestyles. Her honesty with her patients helps guide them toward making decisions without pressure. Her passion for aesthetic care stems from a deep desire to help patients make life-changing decisions that affect how they see and feel about themselves and how they present themselves to the world. That includes an honest conversation about which procedure or capsulectomy technique, if any, actually fits your situation, rather than recommending the most extensive surgery by default.
We are an office of women who understand the insecurities and importance surrounding the appearance of your breasts. When undergoing any procedure, we believe in preparing our patients for their surgery to help ensure safety, optimize their recovery, and lend to loved and lasting results. To help prepare patients, a nutritional plan will be created both before and after their surgery, a proactive pain and nausea management schedule will be carefully implemented, as well as our own personal testimonials from undergoing breast procedures.
What Are Your Next Steps?
Before your procedure, you’ll be asked to stop smoking and discontinue any medications that increase bleeding risk, and to plan for adequate recovery time. Most patients can resume somewhat normal routines after 3 to 5 days, and strenuous activities like exercise after 2 to 3 weeks. Dr. Bajaj will give you a timeline tailored to your specific procedure.
Before & Afters
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What Are Your Breast Implant Removal Options?
If you’re looking for a new look or to resolve discomfort caused by your breast implants, you have a few different options:
Fat Transfer
This option involves liposuction to harvest fat, which is then injected into the breast. Not all injected fat survives (“takes”), so it’s generally better suited for small size increases or improvements in contour irregularities, and multiple procedures may be needed. Because it uses your own tissue, it eliminates the risk of capsular contracture entirely. For patients who want a soft, natural result without reintroducing any implant material, fat transfer is often the most conservative option worth discussing at your consultation.
Breast Lift
Performing a breast lift will relocate your nipple-areola complex and help alleviate breast ptosis, or sagging; however, it will not increase breast size. A lift is frequently recommended alongside implant removal when the skin has stretched enough during implant wear that the breast would otherwise sit lower once the implant’s volume is gone.
Implant Replacement
New silicone or saline implants can replace the ones being removed if you prefer, though they carry the same potential complications as the original implants. This path is best for patients who are happy with implants generally but need a specific issue addressed, like a rupture, a contracture, or simply updating to a different size or implant type.
Ready to Schedule Your Personalized Consultation?
If you’re ready to discuss your breast implant removal options in Oklahoma City, book a consultation with Dr. Bajaj today. She will use your time together to examine your pre-existing implant, assess any potential issues, and give you recommendations that best address your concerns.
Breast Implant Removal in Oklahoma FAQs
What is breast implant illness (BII), and could my symptoms be related to my implants?
BII describes a wide range of reported symptoms, including joint pain, brain fog, fatigue, and skin issues, that some patients experience after getting breast implants. The cause isn’t fully understood, and there’s no single test that confirms it, so Dr. Bajaj’s team will review your symptoms and history with you to help determine whether implant removal is worth exploring.
Is there a specific test to diagnose breast implant illness?
No, there is currently no standard diagnostic test for BII. Instead, your provider will rule out other conditions with overlapping symptoms, such as autoimmune or thyroid issues, based on your medical history and presentation.
What is en bloc capsulectomy, and will I need one?
En bloc capsulectomy removes the implant and its surrounding scar capsule together as one unopened piece. Most patients don’t need it, and current evidence shows symptom improvement occurs whether or not an en bloc technique is used. En bloc techniques are primarily used in situations where cancer is suspected.
What’s the difference between an en bloc and a standard capsulectomy?
A standard or total capsulectomy removes the implant first, then removes the capsule. This is the more common, less invasive approach for the large majority of explant patients. En bloc capsulectomy removes both together as a single specimen and involves more extensive dissection, so it’s reserved for specific clinical indications rather than used routinely.
Will my insurance cover breast implant removal?
Coverage varies by plan and by reason for removal. Explant surgery performed for a medical reason, such as rupture, significant capsular contracture, or a suspected implant-associated illness, is more likely to be considered for coverage than removal for aesthetic reasons alone. Our office can help you look into your specific benefits; however, Dr. Bajaj and Bajaj Plastic Surgery is not considered an in-network provider for most insurance plans.
Can I have my implants removed without replacing them?
Yes, this is often called an “explant only” procedure. Depending on your skin elasticity, original breast size, and how long you’ve had your implants, you may also want to discuss a breast lift at the same time to address any resulting sagging.
What is the Baker scale used to grade capsular contracture?
The Baker scale is a four-grade system surgeons use to describe capsular contracture severity, ranging from Grade I (a soft, natural-feeling breast) to Grade IV (firm, visibly distorted, and often painful). Grades III and IV are the ones most likely to require surgical treatment.
What should I do if I think my implant has ruptured?
Saline ruptures are usually easy to notice, since the breast visibly deflates over a few days. Silicone ruptures can be silent, with no obvious symptoms, so an MRI or ultrasound is often needed to confirm one. Either way, contact our office promptly for an evaluation if you suspect a rupture.
How is fat transfer different from getting new implants?
Fat transfer uses liposuction to harvest your own fat, which is then injected into the breast, so there’s no foreign material and no capsular contracture risk. It typically produces a smaller size increase than an implant, and because not all transferred fat survives, some patients need more than one session to reach their goal.
Will I need a breast lift after implant removal?
It depends on your skin’s elasticity, your original breast size, and how long you’ve had your implants. A lift repositions the nipple-areola complex and addresses sagging, but it doesn’t add volume. Dr. Bajaj can tell you during your consultation whether your skin is likely to need that extra support after your implants are removed.
How long is recovery after breast implant removal?
Most patients resume somewhat normal routines after 3 to 5 days and can return to strenuous activity like exercise after about 2 to 3 weeks. Recovery can take a bit longer if a capsulectomy is performed at the same time, since more tissue is involved.
Will I have visible scarring after implant removal?
Some scarring is expected with any breast surgery, though its visibility depends on your original incision location, your skin’s healing tendencies, and whether a capsulectomy or lift is performed at the same time. Dr. Bajaj will talk through incision placement and scar care as part of your surgical plan.
How do I decide between implant replacement, fat transfer, or removal alone?
It comes down to your goals and whether you want to keep some added volume, prefer a smaller, all-natural result, or want your implants gone entirely. Dr. Bajaj will walk through the pros, limitations, and recovery of each option with you at your consultation so you can choose the path that fits your priorities.
Ready to Get Started?
Time to start shopping for a stylish new wardrobe to show off your new figure. Schedule your personalized consultation with Dr. Bajaj to learn more about what breast augmentation can do for you. Call (405) 810-8448 or complete our email contact form to reach our Oklahoma City office.