How to have a Smooth Recovery after Breast Implant Removal Surgery – Tips and Timeline

Breast implants are a great solution if you want to make breasts bigger and perkier. They can fix breast asymmetry and restore a tighter breast contour. Nevertheless, the day might come when you’ll need or want to bid your implants farewell. There are a variety of reasons to undergo Breast implant removal. Capsular contracture, implant leak, or malposition can all happen years after you get your breast augmentation. You can either replace your implants or remove them without replacing them.

Either way, a good recovery after breast implant removal is essential for a great result. Like it is the case with other Breast procedures, you can expect some level of breast discomfort, bruising, and swelling. After 3-4 weeks, you should be able to return to your normal daily routine.

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon with cosmetic clinics in Sydney and Wollongong NSW. He has performed hundreds of breast procedures in over 20 years of practice.

Plastic Surgeon Dr Maryam Seyedabadi consults at the Woollahra Clinic in East Sydney and is available now for consultations on a range of plastic surgery & cosmetic surgery.

Guide to Rapid Recovery

Preparing for Breast Implant Removal

After your breast implant explantation, you will need to spend a few days at home resting. You will need to limit your physical activity. In fact, you won’t have much energy to pursue many activities.

This is why it is important to plan and prepare your recovery period before you have your breast implants taken out. Here are a few things you can do to prepare:

Take up to two weeks off from work
Organise some entertainment. You will likely be spending 2-3 days in bed and won’t have much to do. Get some movies, a new series, or an interesting book to help the time pass
Make sure everything you need will be within easy reach, you shouldn’t have to stretch to get things
It’s also important that you get a friend or family member to be your caretaker and driver. You will need someone to get you to the hospital, help you out when you’re there, and then take you back home. Make sure they are aware of your needs after the surgery
Stock up on healthy foods and snacks. Good nutrition can help speed up recovery
Prepare a comfy and supportive bed, maybe even a recliner
If you have kids, make plans for them. Either get someone to take care of them for a couple of days as you recover, or plan a 2-3 day family visit for them

What to Expect During Recovery after Breast Implant Removal

So, what will recovery be like after you have your breast implants removed? Will it be painful? How long will it last? Removing breast implants is not a procedure as invasive as breast augmentation, for example. Sure, it does include tissue dissection, however, most of the cut tissue is fibrous (scar) tissue and contains no blood vessels. Nevertheless, an explant procedure is still a complex surgery that causes tissue injury. Therefore, it is normal to have some side effects after.

Normal symptoms that you should expect after your implants are taken out include:

1. Minor Pain and Discomfort

Breast and underarm pain usually lasts 1-2 weeks
You can effectively manage it with routine painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen)

2. Breast Swelling

Fluid normally accumulates around surgical wounds
Expect your breasts to be swollen for up to 2 weeks after your implant removal
Wearing a surgical compression bra and sleeping on your back can help reduce swelling

3. Bruising

Bruising should be expected after any surgery
It might involve the breasts, upper belly, and underarm regions
Bruising usually lasts 2 weeks before it fades away completely

4. Numbness or Tingling

This is a possible side effect of surgery
When small sensory nerve endings are damaged by tissue dissection, you might temporarily experience changes in sensitivity in the area

Tips for the Recovery after Breast Implant Removal

We’ve put together a list of tips and advice to help you recover faster after the removal of your breast implants. These aftercare tips will help speed up recovery and prevent complications:

1. Wear your surgical compression bra as instructed

This is one of the tips for recovery after breast implant removal. There’s a risk that fluid will accumulate after the implants are taken out (seroma). Wearing a compressive bra, day and night, for at least 4 weeks can help reduce this risk.

2. Sleep on your back

Like it is the case with other breast procedures, you’ll need to sleep on your back during the first 3-4 weeks of recovery. Avoid sleeping on your sides or stomach, as this can lead to more swelling and can stretch the incisions.

3. Get a recliner

It’s recommended that you sleep with the upper body elevated during recovery after implant removal. It helps reduce swelling. Sleeping in a recliner is an excellent alternative to using multiple pillows under your upper back.

4. Avoid smoking and vaping

Smoking is forbidden during recovery. It can ruin your results and lead to complications. It interferes with healing and reduces blood supply to your wounds.

5. Be prepared

Do your research, make sure you get all the information and facts. Check our website to learn more about breast implant removal, recovery after cosmetic surgery, and potential risks and complications of surgery. Check out the tips above on how you can effectively prepare for your recovery period after breast implant removal.

Dos and Don’ts for Recovery after Breast Implant Removal

Below is a list of DOs and DON’Ts after breast implant removal:

DON’T: Things to avoid

Don’t sleep face down. It can alter your results
Avoid sleeping on your side. It can cause swelling on a single side and can interfere with healing and cause complications
Don’t sleep braless until at least 4 weeks have passed
Avoid participating in intense sports for at least 4 weeks
Don’t hesitate to visit your surgeon if you have any concerns

DO: Things to Do

Sleep on your back, preferably with pillows under the upper body
Wear your compression bra, day and night, for at least a month
Use ice packs and cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising
Follow all of your surgeon’s aftercare instructions

A Timeline for Recovery after Breast Implant Removal

So, what will the weeks after your explant be like? To answer this question, here’s a detailed week-by-week recovery timeline with all the info you need to know:

Early Days – Right after the Explant Surgery

After you wake up, it is normal to feel tired and a bit dizzy after surgery. You might have a couple of thin plastic drains coming out of your breasts. These are to prevent fluid and blood collection and Dr Hunt will remove them after a few days.

You might spend the night at the hospital or leave home on the same day after getting your breast implants removed. Either way, your medical team will give you post-op care instructions that you should adhere to strictly. This will include things like:

Return in 3-4 days for drain removal
Return in 7-10 days for suture removal
Take your antibiotics as prescribed
Take your painkillers only when needed
Wear your compression bra for at least 4 weeks
Sleep on your back for at least 4 weeks
Avoid sports for at least 3-4 weeks
Rest at home for 1-2 weeks

Week 1

After you go home, you should spend the first few days resting. Don’t go around cleaning the house, cooking or doing chores. Rest is rest. Just sleep and try to relax
As mentioned above, on day 3 you will need to visit your surgeon to have your drains taken out and again on day 7, for suture removal
The pain will peak during the first few days after removing your implants. Take your antibiotics and painkillers to manage the discomfort. Swelling and bruising might keep increasing till the end of the first week
You can walk around the house and outside during this time, but no running or jogging yet

Week 2

By week 2 most of the pain will be gone. The bruises will be turning blue and on their way to fading. The swelling will also start to decrease, but this will be a slow process
Most women usually feel well enough to go back to work 1-2 weeks after breast implant removal. However, if your job, requires heavy lifting and excessive upper-body activity, then you should wait longer

Weeks 3 – 4

By the third week, the pain and bruising will be mostly gone. Swelling, on the other hand, takes more time to go away
Nevertheless, most of the swelling will be gone by the 4th week. Some minor degree of swelling might linger for up to 6 months before being completely reabsorbed by your body

After 4 weeks

After 4 weeks of breast implant extraction, you can start going back to the gym and exercising. We recommend that you start gradually and slowly, especially when it comes to weight lifting
After a full month has passed on your explant, the final shape of your breasts will settle in. Keep in mind, though, that your scars will keep developing for up to 12 months after your surgery. They will change shape, size, and colour intensity

How to Get Optimal Results after Removing Your Breast Implants

Consider a breast lift or fat transfer after breast implant removal
Consider getting new implants to replace your old ones – Implants are often removed and then replaced with new implants – This rejuvenates your breasts, restores their perkiness
Read more about Implant replacement after Breast Implant Removal Surgery
Talk to Dr Hunt about the available scar reducing therapies – Our clinic can offer scar reducing therapies that you can commence after a few months of removing your implants
Don’t smoke – Smoking is toxic for the body and can influence the results of plastic surgery. It can delay wound healing and ruin your results
Maintain a healthy diet – Eat your greens, fruit, lean meats, beans – A diverse and rich diet can boost immunity and provide your body with the nutrients it needs to heal

Potential Risks of Breast Implant Removal

There are a few risks that can occur after removing your breast implants:

Seroma: This is particularly a concern in breast implant removal, since removing your implants will leave a small pocket behind, which might fill with fluid (seroma). Your surgeon will try to prevent this by closing the pocket with sutures and putting in a temporary drain after your surgery
Hematoma: Sometimes, a loose tiny blood vessel might cause some blood to accumulate at the level of the surgical site
Wound infection: Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam follow surgical sterility techniques to prevent infections. If you develop fever, start feeling pain, notice redness or oozing pus, you might have a breast infection – contact us!

FAQS about Recovery after Breast Implant Removal Surgery

How long does it take to heal after breast implant removal?

It usually takes 4-6 weeks to completely heal from breast implant removal. You can resume work 1-2 weeks after your implant removal. However, keep in mind that scar healing can take up to a year before reaching the final shape and skin colour.

What happens to your breasts when you remove implants?

You can either have new implants inserted, or your surgeon will pull the natural tissue together (an internal bra lift) to give you a good outcome without implants.

Will I feel better after breast implant removal?

If your breast implants had been causing you discomfort or pain (e.g. with severe capsular contracture), then removing them will definitely improve your symptoms and make you feel better. Patients suffering from BII are most likely to have some relief from breast implant and partial capsule removal

How long after breast implant removal can I exercise?

You can walk the next day after your implant removal. You can generally start light jogging approximately 3-4 weeks post-surgery. However, when it comes to more intense exercise you will have to wait approximately 4 weeks.

Is breast implant removal painful?

Breast implant removal is not particularly painful. Patients can experience a certain level of pain and discomfort. However, the pain is usually well handled with routine pain medications.

When can I shower after explant surgery?

You can shower 2 days after your breast implant removal surgery. By then, your wound will have sealed enough to be protected from water. Make sure you gently dry your wounds and keep them clean all the time.

How long do you wear a compression bra after implant removal?

It is recommended that you wear your surgical bra for at least 4 weeks after your breast implant removal.

How do I sleep after explant?

After having your implants removed, it is recommended that you sleep on your back with an upward inclination of your upper body. This sleeping position is recommended for at least 4 weeks after breast implant removal.

Medical References – Breast Implant Removal Recovery

About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.

Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is optimal for your body and your lifestyle. Every patient is unique and, through his guidance, can achieve good results.

Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has given thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia the aesthetic results they desire.

Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education

Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.

Next Step – Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt

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Find out more about pricing, medical payment plans and paying for your surgery
Request more information about the procedure – call on 1300 157 200 or contact us

If breast reduction is something you’re considering, Dr Hunt can thoroughly explain all the options to you in a one-on-one consultation.

Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health professional.