Breast implant removal

What is breast implant removal, and why is it done?

It is surgery to take out breast implants. The surgeon may take out the implant alone, or also remove the scar tissue around it, called the capsule. People have it for problems such as a tear, a hard and tight capsule, an infection or BIA-ALCL, or by choice. BIA-ALCL is a cancer of the immune system that can develop after breast implants.

FDA says breast implants are not lifetime devices. The longer someone has them, the more likely problems become, and some problems need more surgery.

Taking out the implant alone means less cutting and may carry less risk of bleeding. Removing part or all of the capsule too may be a bigger operation. It is sometimes called en bloc removal or capsulectomy.

Some people have implants removed because of symptoms such as tiredness, joint pain or brain fog, often called breast implant illness. FDA says these symptoms are poorly understood. In some cases, taking implants out without putting new ones in has been reported to ease them.

When should I talk to my doctor about breast implant removal?

Talk to your surgeon about lasting swelling, a lump, pain or other changes near an implant. If you have no symptoms, FDA does not advise taking out implants because of BIA-ALCL risk. Surgery has risks of its own. Never have a device removed just for a lawsuit.

That FDA advice covers the recalled Allergan BIOCELL implants as well as other kinds.

FDA says that if BIA-ALCL is suspected, it is important to be checked for it. A confirmed diagnosis may change which operation is needed.

Some people choose not to replace their implants. FDA notes the breasts may then look dimpled, sunken or saggy, so ask your surgeon what to expect.

How is breast implant removal done, and how are problems treated?

Your surgeon takes out the implant, and sometimes part or all of the capsule. With confirmed BIA-ALCL, FDA says the implant and the capsule around it should both come out. Some people also get a new implant or other repair in the same surgery.

If an infection does not get better with antibiotics, the implant may need to come out. Repeat surgeries can also remove or release the scar tissue around an implant, or fix scars.

Any surgery and anesthesia carry risks. Ask your surgeon about the benefits and risks of each choice before you decide.

With BIA-ALCL, some people also need chemotherapy or radiation. Our breast implant lymphoma guide explains that cancer.

Which records matter after breast implant removal?

Your operative notes tell what the surgeon did and found. If fluid or the capsule went to the lab, a pathology report gives the results. A device card or your first surgery record may name the implant maker and model.

FDA suggests keeping a record of your implant maker and model name. If you never got a device card, ask your surgeon, or ask the place where you had surgery for its records. If your card or records list a UDI, a code for the exact model, keep that too.

When BIA-ALCL is suspected, FDA tells doctors to send fluid and pieces of the capsule to the lab. A pathologist then writes up what was seen and the final diagnosis.

Ask whether your removed implants were kept, sent to the maker or thrown away. FDA’s form for reporting a device problem asks for the model, lot and serial numbers, and whether the device can be checked.

You have a right to copies of your health records. You can use our medical records request tool to draft a letter asking for them.

What does research say about Allergan implants and removal?

In 2019, FDA asked Allergan to recall some textured implants because of BIA-ALCL risk. FDA still does not advise taking out implants in people with no symptoms. Surgery has its own risks. A recall does not show that an implant harmed any one person.

FDA lists the kinds of repeat surgery breast implants can need. They include taking out or replacing an implant, removing the capsule, and fixing scars.

In March 2021, the federal judge in the Allergan cases dismissed some claims and let others go forward. That ruling was about which legal claims could proceed, not a finding that the implants caused harm.

Who brings claims in the Allergan breast implant cases?

People with Allergan BIOCELL textured implants or tissue expanders filed these federal cases. They claim the implants raise the risk of BIA-ALCL. Some say tests and removal surgeries harmed them. A lawyer can look at your records and health history and tell you whether you may have a claim.

The court has said that some people in these cases have BIA-ALCL, some have had their implants removed, and some still have them.

The Allergan case page explains what is happening in the cases now.

Can a family member get records after breast implant removal?

It depends on their legal role. Someone named in a health care power of attorney can usually get the records tied to that role. Being a spouse alone may not give you the right to get the full records, since state or other law decides.

A doctor may share details with a family member who helps with care, unless the patient says no.

After a death, the person who runs the estate can get the records the estate needs. A doctor may also share some details with a relative who helped with care, unless the patient had said no.

If the person died, see our wrongful death case page for a general overview of those claims.