What it is
Breast implant removal, also called explant, takes out one or both implants. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes two main methods. The implant can be removed alone, leaving the scar capsule that forms around it; this needs less dissection and may carry less risk of bleeding or damage to surrounding tissue. Or the surgeon can remove part or all of the capsule with the implant, called en bloc resection or total or partial capsulectomy, which is more extensive. You should discuss with your surgeon which suits your situation.
People have implants removed for different reasons: the FDA says breast implants are not considered lifetime devices, and complications can need more surgery. They include severe capsular contracture (hardening of the breast around the implant), an infection that does not respond to antibiotics, and BIA-ALCL. Some people report symptoms they attribute to implants; the FDA says these symptoms and their causes are poorly understood, and that in some cases removal without replacement is reported to reverse them. Some people simply no longer want implants.
On the register this appears as Meme İmplantı Çıkartma under plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. See also breast implant and breast lift.
Who it is for, and who it is not for
It is for people with a medical reason, such as severe capsular contracture, infection or BIA-ALCL, and for people who choose to remove implants for personal reasons. The FDA says grades III and IV capsular contracture are severe and may require reoperation. It also says silicone implant rupture is usually silent: MRI is the most effective way to find it, and ultrasound is an acceptable alternative for screening when there are no symptoms.
If you are well and worried about BIA-ALCL, the MHRA's expert group is direct: removal in people without signs or symptoms is not needed routinely. The MHRA's group describes removal to reduce that risk as done under general anaesthetic, which carries risks including infection and blood clots, and says total capsule removal is a very complex operation. It is unknown whether removing the whole capsule reduces future BIA-ALCL risk, and if the aim is to reduce that risk, another implant is not advised.
Expect a change in shape. The FDA says that after removal some people have dimpling, a concave chest wall, puckering or sagging, particularly with large implants placed in front of the chest muscle. Ask what is planned, including whether a lift is part of it.
How it is done in Türkiye
We could not verify a Turkish rule on which facility types or specialists may remove breast implants, and the register records authorisation and facility type, not which treatments a facility performs. What regulators elsewhere describe is what the operation involves: the surgeon chooses between implant-only removal and capsule removal, and when BIA-ALCL is a concern the fluid or tissue is assessed.
For BIA-ALCL, the FDA says evaluation typically involves a physical examination, imaging, and assessment of the fluid or tissue around the implant, and that a confirmed diagnosis may change the type of operation. The MHRA says most UK cases are diagnosed early and cured by removal of the implants with the surrounding scar tissue, with a small number needing more treatment. So ask whether fluid or tissue is tested and who sees the result.
Ask who the surgeon is, what their specialty is, and which facility will host the operation, and ask for the answers in writing.
What to check before you book
- Implant details. Ask whether your implants are textured or smooth, and their make, model, size and lot numbers. The MHRA notes that after UK implant surgery you should have a credit-card-sized implant card with these details; if you cannot find yours, ask the original clinic. Whether a Turkish clinic issues a card or records implants in a registry we could not verify, so ask.
- The operation planned. Implant only, partial or total capsule removal, with or without replacement, with or without a lift. Ask why this one for you.
- Testing. Ask whether capsule, fluid or tissue is sent for testing, and whether you get the report.
- Imaging. Ask what scan is done before surgery, such as ultrasound or MRI for rupture, and for a copy.
- Surgeon and facility. Check the facility type and authorisation number on the register and ask for the surgeon's title and specialty. See plastic surgery in Türkiye.
- Records. Ask for the operation note, the implant details removed, pathology reports and photographs. See medical records before treatment abroad.
What a package must state
- The planned operation: implants only, or with capsule, and whether anything is replaced or lifted.
- The surgeon, their specialty and the facility.
- The anaesthesia and the length of stay.
- Testing of tissue or fluid and delivery of the results.
- Drains, dressings and garments, and follow-up checks in person or remote, with dates.
- What happens, and who pays, if a complication needs treatment in Türkiye or at home.
- Implant details and a copy of the operation note.
Risks, complications and aftercare
The MHRA's expert group lists risks of general anaesthesia and surgery, including infection, sepsis and blood clots in the leg or lung. Total capsulectomy is very complex because scar tissue is attached to chest muscle and ribs; complications can be serious and include collapse of a lung, chronic pain and persistent fluid collections. Removal without replacement can change breast shape, as the FDA notes.
The joint statement of the UK plastic and bariatric surgery societies lists, among their concerns about surgery abroad, the risk of a blood clot from long-distance travel immediately after surgery and poor or no routine follow-up. Ask when it is acceptable for you to fly, who reviews your wounds, and how to reach the surgeon after you return.
If you have a breast implant and notice unexpected changes in size, shape or feel, the MHRA advises seeing your GP for referral to the local NHS breast unit; it does not matter where the implants were inserted. If a problem follows the removal operation itself, contact the clinic that did it.
Questions to ask in writing
- Which operation exactly: implants only, or with partial or total capsule removal?
- Will anything be put back, and will a lift be done?
- What are my implants (textured or smooth, make, size, lot) and will I get these details?
- Will the capsule, fluid or tissue be tested, and will I get the report?
- Who is the surgeon, what is their specialty, and which facility is it?
- What anaesthesia is used, and how long will I stay?
- What follow-up is included, and when can I fly?
- What happens if there is a complication, and who covers it?
Frequently asked questions
Should I have my implants removed to avoid BIA-ALCL?
The UK regulator's expert advisory group says it is agreed internationally that people with breast implants and no signs or symptoms do not need routine removal, because the risks of invasive surgery and anaesthesia are likely to harm more people than BIA-ALCL currently does. If you are worried but well, discuss it with your own surgeon.
Does the capsule have to come out too?
Not always. The US Food and Drug Administration describes removing the implant alone, which needs less dissection, or also removing part or all of the capsule, which is more extensive. A confirmed BIA-ALCL diagnosis can change which operation is needed.
What are the signs of BIA-ALCL?
The most common is fluid collecting around the implant, usually years after surgery: a fairly quick, painless increase in the size of the breast. Less often a lump or severe capsule hardening. See your GP and ask for referral to an NHS breast clinic.
What happens to my breast shape if I do not replace the implants?
The FDA says some people who do not replace implants have dimpling, a concave chest wall, puckering or sagging, especially with large implants placed in front of the muscle. Discuss what to expect and whether a lift is part of the plan.
Can I be seen by the NHS if something goes wrong after surgery abroad?
The UK regulator says anyone entitled to NHS treatment can be seen in an NHS breast clinic for worrying symptoms, wherever the implants were inserted. Whether the NHS offers further surgery depends on clinical need.
This page is an information service, not medical advice. Clinimora is an independent, patient-funded research service. It does not sell treatment, does not diagnose and does not recommend any clinic.