Are you considering having your breast implants removed, with or without new implants or a breast lift? This page explains what you can expect from the surgery itself.
Preparing for surgery
During the consultation, the plastic surgeon will discuss your wishes, your health situation and your medical history. Based on this information, the surgeon will determine whether the operation can be performed safely and which treatment is best for you.
You will also receive advice from us on matters that you should take into account in the run-up to the operation, such as quitting smoking and being sober on the day of the procedure. The operation will be scheduled in consultation with you and will take place in our brand new operating centre.
Conversation with the anesthetist
An operation to remove breast implants (an explantation) takes place under full anesthesia. Before the procedure, you will therefore have an appointment with the anesthetist. During this consultation, you will discuss your health situation and complete a medical questionnaire. This contributes to a safe anesthesia and a smooth operation.
The day of the operation
On the day of the operation, you report to the reception of our operating centre. You will then be accompanied to the preparation room, where you can ask the plastic surgeon any questions. After marking the surgical area, you will be taken to the operating room, where the anaesthetist will put you under anaesthesia. As a result, you will not notice anything of the operation itself.
The plastic surgeon makes an incision in the natural breast fold, usually four to five centimeters long. As much use as possible is made of the existing scar, so that the explantation causes as few new scars as possible. The breast implants are then removed. Is there capsule formation? (the natural connective tissue that forms around the implant), this capsule is also removed during the operation.
If you have chosen not to have new breast implants replaced or other additional treatments performed, the incision will be closed again. In this case, the operation takes an average of one to one and a half hours.
Did you decide during the consultation in consultation with the doctor that you want to have your breasts lifted and/or filled with your own body fat? Then this will be done during the same operation. The plastic surgeon will tell you during the consultation how the operation will proceed.
The wounds are carefully sutured and covered with plasters. If necessary, you will be given a supporting bandage to stabilize the breasts during recovery.
After the procedure
After the operation, you will wake up in the recovery room. As soon as you have recovered sufficiently from the anesthesia, you will go to the short-stay unit. If the doctor and nurse think that your recovery is going well, you will be allowed to go home later that day. You will not be allowed to drive home yourself, so make sure that someone picks you up.
Drains
In some cases, drains (thin tubes) are placed during the procedure to drain wound fluid. These are usually removed the next morning. Sometimes an overnight stay in the clinic is required, depending on the complexity of the operation. You will discuss this with the doctor during the consultation, so you will always know in advance whether you need to stay overnight.
Possible complications
Every surgical procedure has risks. Although complications with an explantation are rare, infections, post-operative bleeding or problems with wound healing can occur. We will discuss these risks in detail during the consultation and carefully guide you during your recovery. In case of emergency, we are available 24/7, because we are a subsidiary of OLVG are. So you always have access to the best care, even outside the clinic's opening hours.
More information
When you choose an explantation at Aesthetic Center Jan van Goyen, you will receive all the necessary information from us in a timely manner. We believe it is important that you are well-informed and make a well-considered decision. Do you have any questions? Please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team of doctors and consultants are ready to answer all your questions.