Breast Implant Removal
in Charlotte, NC
At our office in Charlotte, NC breast implant removal, or explant surgery, allows patients to restore their natural contours and address evolving lifestyle needs or physical comfort. Whether you are seeking relief from implant-related symptoms, desiring a return to your original proportions, or simply ready for a change, removing your implants can help you feel more comfortable in your skin. At Appel Plastic Surgery, Dr. Appel and Dr. Wormer provide compassionate, individual care tailored to your unique surgical goals. Our surgeons take time to understand your personal reasons for explant surgery, helping you weigh options like simultaneous breast lifts or capsulectomies to achieve a natural, balanced outcome.
Breast implant removal (explantation with or without capsulectomy to remove scar tissue)
1 to 3 hours under general anesthesia, dictated by the capsule removal technique
Return to non-strenuous desk work within 1 week; compression garment use for up to 6 weeks; full athletic lifting clearance at 6 weeks
Immediate physical lightness, permanent removal of the implant device, and a soft, natural breast contour
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After undergoing a breast augmentation to enhance the size and contour of the breasts, a few women may decide to have them taken out for a variety of reasons. At Appel Wormer Esthetics in Charlotte, NC, Dr. James Appel consults with patients who wish to remove their breast implants. In some cases, a breast lift might be required following implant removal based on the size of the implants and how much your skin stretched. A lift can often help reduce sagging or excess skin that may remain after an breast implant removal. If you're wishing to go back to your previous breast size, breast implant removal surgery, along with a breast lift, may create beautiful results to restore the natural look and texture of your breasts.
On the morning of your breast implant removal Charlotte, NC will be welcomed into our Quad A-certified on-site surgical suite, where the procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon creates precise incisions, typically reusing your initial augmentation scar to avoid creating new incision lines. The implants are taken out, and scar tissue may also have to be removed. Scar tissue is typical after receiving implants and will need to be removed if it's affecting the shape of the breast or causing pain. After the implants are removed, your surgeon may conduct a breast lift, fat transfer, or possibly both, depending on what was decided upon during your consultation. There are also a number of options to restore volume after an implant removal to improve the shape of the breast.
In some cases, patients simply wish to return to their natural breast size. In others, breast implant removal, or explantation, is performed to resolve discomfort, health challenges, or structural concerns, such as:
Breast Implant Illness (BII): Addresses systemic symptoms some women experience after breast augmentation surgery—such as chronic fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and immune challenges—by executing a clean en bloc removal of the device and capsule shell.
Capsular Contracture: Eliminates hard, tight, painful scar tissue capsules that can constrict around the implant over time.
Device Rupture or Gel Deflation: Resolves compromised silicone or saline implants, completely clearing out old shell remnants and leaked contents from the implant pocket.
Severe Aesthetic Malposition: Corrects severe bottoming-out, lateral shifting, or painful pocket displacement that cannot be remedied through a revision procedure.
Breast implant removal in Charlotte, NC offers both physical relief and peace of mind for patients looking to restore their natural shape or address implant-related concerns. Explantation eliminates the ongoing maintenance and future surgeries associated with aging or compromised implants. After removing the added weight of implants, many patients experience immediate relief from chronic neck, back, and shoulder discomfort. Returning to your natural breast size can also improve mobility, making high-impact exercise and daily movement far more comfortable. Additionally, removing implants leads to clearer, less obstructed mammogram screenings for more straightforward breast health monitoring.
Beyond improvements in comfort, the procedure resolves painful complications like capsular contracture, scar tissue buildup, BII symptoms, and damaged or ruptured implants. Our surgical team provides personalized care to help you evaluate your goals, whether you wish to return to your natural proportions or combine removal with a breast lift. The surgery is followed by a manageable recovery period, allowing patients to quickly return to their daily routines. Ultimately, explanting frees patients from the 10-to-15-year replacement cycle, giving them long-term confidence in their health and body.
With breast implant removal Charlotte, NC patients can be used to correct an array of issues a patient might experience after a breast augmentation, including scar tissue (capsular contracture), implant malfunction, and unhappiness with the breast implants. Sometimes, women might simply prefer their original breasts and want to restore their natural appearance. Regardless of the reason, breast augmentation removal may function to counteract the outcomes of a breast augmentation and, if combined with a breast lift, may reestablish a natural, desirable aesthetic appearance. Before your surgery, Dr. Appel will talk with you about the look of your breasts and how to achieve it.
Women with highly stretched skin or minimal natural breast volume must have realistic expectations regarding their results or be open to discussing a concurrent breast lift or fat transfer procedure to maintain a firmer, more shapely breast contour. During your consultation, our surgeons will evaluate your skin and the quality of your natural breast tissue to recommend the safest and most effective surgical plan to meet your functional, aesthetic, and wellness goals.
Your recovery phase is managed with the highest level of clinical oversight. The initial 7 to 10 days are dedicated to rest at home, with your upper body kept slightly elevated to control normal surgical swelling and improve your comfort. A specialized, non-wired supportive surgical bra must be worn continuously to protect your healing incisions and guide the natural tissue contraction process.
While light walking is encouraged early on to promote healthy circulation, you must completely avoid strenuous workouts, sudden upper body twisting, and heavy lifting for a full 4 to 6 weeks. If surgical drains were placed during an en bloc capsulectomy, our team will safely clear and remove them in the office within the first week.
Following breast implant removal surgery, patients often experience a sense of relief and renewed comfort in their natural contours. Immediate changes in breast size and shape are visible right after the procedure, though final results continue to refine over the following weeks and months as residual swelling subsides. Many patients report feeling lighter and more physically comfortable as symptoms like upper body tension ease. If the surgery included a breast lift or tissue reshaping, the breasts will settle into a firmer, more naturally elevated position. Provided a stable weight is maintained, the physical improvements from implant removal offer long-lasting aesthetic and functional benefits tailored to your body. Your breasts will retain a soft, natural, harmonious position on your chest wall.
North Carolina plastic surgeons Dr. Appel and Dr. Wormer apply extensive reconstructive insight to safely perform everything from simple explantation procedures to complex capsulectomies. They focus on anatomical integrity, long-term tissue health, and meticulous incision placement to deliver lasting comfort and natural refinement. We invite you to experience a fully supported surgical journey, where you are treated with the meticulous care and personalized attention your transformation deserves.
Several situations could make you dissatisfied with your current breast implants. Whether they're the wrong texture, shape, or size, Appel Wormer Esthetics can help you to reach the appearance you want with breast implant removal. At your consultation, Dr. Appel will speak with you about your choices to renew the look and feel of your breasts. To learn more, call Appel Wormer Esthetics today.
Some soreness, tightness, or swelling is expected after surgery, but discomfort usually improves within a few days. Patients at Appel Wormer Esthetics in Charlotte, NC, receive postoperative guidance to help support a smoother and more comfortable recovery.
A standard removal involves creating an incision to slide the implant out of its pocket, leaving the surrounding internal scar tissue (capsule) mostly intact if it is healthy and soft. An en bloc capsulectomy is a highly specialized approach where the surgeon removes the implant and the entire scar capsule together in one single, unbroken piece. This technique is highly valued by patients with silicone ruptures or Breast Implant Illness (BII), as it ensures that all capsule tissue and any inflammatory material are completely cleared without touching the surrounding chest wall.
The appearance of the breasts after removal varies based on skin elasticity, implant size, and how long the implants were in place. Some patients choose additional procedures like a breast lift to improve shape. Our team can recommend options that support your desired outcome.
A straightforward implant removal typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours. If your case is more complex—requiring a meticulous total or en bloc capsulectomy to clear out dense scar tissue shells, a pocket conversion, or a concurrent breast lift to address skin laxity—the procedure can take between 2 to 3 hours. Our board-certified surgeons prioritize safety and precision over speed to ensure an optimal outcome from your procedure.
Yes. For patients who desire to permanently remove their synthetic implants but are concerned about a significant loss of upper-pole fullness or overall breast volume, composite fat transfer is an excellent option. During the same operative session as the implant removal, liposuction is used to harvest excess fat from areas such as the abdomen or thighs. This fat is purified and precisely injected in fine layers into the natural breast tissue, providing a soft, entirely natural volume restoration without the need for breast implants.
Coverage depends on the reason for removal and your insurance policy. Removal for medical complications may be eligible for reimbursement. Our team can help you navigate your insurance questions during your visit.
