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Breast implant removal (explant surgery) in Istanbul
For women who want their implants out because of hardening, rupture, symptoms they link to them or a change of mind: what removal involves and how the breasts may look afterwards.
- Operation time Varies with the capsule work and any lift
- Hospital stay Hospital or day surgery; an adult with you the first night
- Time in Istanbul At least 5–7 days before flying home
- Back to work Individual; agreed with your surgeon
What is breast implant removal?
Breast implant removal, or explant surgery, takes out breast implants without replacing them. Depending on the reason, leaked silicone and some or all of the scar capsule around each implant are removed too, or the capsule is left in place. It can be done alone or with a breast lift, usually under general anaesthesia. Healing takes a few weeks, and the final shape can take up to a year to appear.
What it can do
- Remove hard, painful, ruptured or unwanted implants
- Remove part or all of the capsule, or leave it
- Lift the breasts in the same operation
- Reshape your own tissue to restore some fullness
What it cannot do
- Return the breasts to how they looked before implants
- Fully reverse tissue thinning from long-standing implants
- Promise that symptoms you link to implants will improve
Is it right for you?
The reasons vary and the decision is yours. Suitability is confirmed at an in-person examination, with imaging where needed.
Usually a good fit if
- Hardening or pain from capsular contracture
- A rupture or leak shown on imaging
- Symptoms you link to your implants, once other causes have been looked into
- Simply no longer wanting implants
- Good health, a stable weight, no smoking and realistic expectations
Better to wait or consider alternatives if
- Lymphoma worry as the only reason, with textured implants and no symptoms: regulators do not advise removal for that alone
- Expecting removal to resolve particular symptoms; improvement is reported but uncertain
- Smoking that you cannot stop around surgery
- A health condition that slows healing, not yet under control
Techniques
The key decision is the capsule, the scar tissue around every implant; the right option depends on why the implants are coming out.
Implant removal only
The capsule is left in place. This needs less dissection and may lower the risk of bleeding and damage to nearby tissue.
Best for
Soft capsules with no sign of disease
Partial or total capsulectomy
Part or all of the capsule is removed with the implant, for example when it has hardened or is causing pain.
Best for
Capsular contracture
En bloc removal
Implant and capsule come out in one piece. For BIA-ALCL, a rare lymphoma linked to implants, removing the whole capsule is the treatment, and the capsule and any fluid are sent for laboratory testing.
Best for
Suspected or confirmed implant-related cancer
Removal with a lift
A breast lift removes stretched skin and raises the nipple; your own tissue can be shaped into flaps for some fullness.
Best for
Stretched skin after removal
Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker
Specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery
- Specialist training: Dokuz Eylül University
- Medical degree: Trakya University
- Health tourism authorization: ST-2657
- Dr. İlker speaks English and Turkish.
How Dr. İlker approaches breast implant removal
Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker is a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, trained at Dokuz Eylül University. The decision is yours; the consultation helps you understand what removal involves and how your breasts may look.
After an in-person examination and any imaging, the capsule plan and any lift are agreed in writing before surgery.
- Your reasons heard Pain, rupture, symptoms or not wanting implants: each needs a different conversation.
- History and imaging first Scans and your implant card show what is there before removal is planned.
- An honest picture You hear how much breast tissue you have and whether a lift may help.
- Alternatives compared Prefer to change implants rather than lose them? Implant revision is compared too.
The operation, step by step
The usual sequence; details depend on your capsule plan and any lift.
-
Assessment
Your breasts are examined and imaged; fluid or a lump that appears late is sampled with a needle and tested for CD30.
-
Agreeing the plan
You and your surgeon agree the capsule plan and whether to add a lift.
-
Anaesthesia
Usually general anaesthesia; intravenous sedation is sometimes used.
-
Removal
Through an incision in the breast fold or at the areola, the implant is removed and the capsule treated as planned.
-
Lift and closure
Any lift follows. Incisions are closed, a drain may be placed and a support bra or compression garment goes on.
Your days in Istanbul
Travelling to Istanbul? Plan around your examination and the wait before flying; your personal plan sets the dates.
-
Examination and imaging
Before surgery
Arrive early enough for your examination, imaging review, blood tests and marking before surgery day.
-
Your operation
Surgery day
You go home the same day or stay overnight; an adult should be with you the first night.
-
Rest close by
The first days
Rest, take short walks and wear your garment; no sightseeing, swimming, sunbathing or alcohol yet.
-
Clearance to travel
Before you fly home
UK NHS guidance advises not flying for 5–7 days after breast surgery. Leave with written aftercare and a contact.
Recovery, day by day
Healing takes a few weeks, but the breasts keep changing for months; timings are typical.
- Day 1
Dressings and garment
You wake with dressings, a support bra or compression garment and possibly a drain.
- Days 2–3
Short walks
Soreness and swelling are expected. Care for any drain as shown and avoid heavy lifting.
- Week 1
Before you fly
Keep wearing your garment as advised. Wait 5–7 days after surgery before flying.
- Weeks 2–4
Swelling easing
Healing continues over several weeks. Return to work and exercise when your surgeon agrees.
- Months 2–3
Shape changing
The breasts keep settling and may look flatter or softer; your remaining tissue largely decides the result.
- Month 6
Scars maturing
Scars gradually fade, and the breasts continue to settle.
- Month 12
Final shape
The final appearance can take up to a year to show, and scars keep softening.
Contact us straight away if you notice
- Shortness of breath, chest pain or an irregular heartbeat: call emergency services
- Rapid, painful swelling of one breast
- Fever, or spreading redness and warmth
- Discharge from a wound, or a wound that opens
- Pain or swelling in one calf
In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
Aftercare at home
- Wear your support bra or compression garment as instructed.
- Care for any drain and dressings as shown, and keep follow-up appointments.
- Protect the incisions from force, rubbing and stretching while they heal.
- Avoid alcohol, sunbathing, pools and the sea in early recovery.
- Once healed and allowed, use silicone gel or tape and SPF 30+ on scars.
Risks and how they are reduced
Removal carries general surgical risks, plus a change in shape that is part of the outcome. The UK MHRA notes that removal is complex and riskier than the original operation.
Imaging, a capsule plan matched to your reason for removal, stopping smoking and careful aftercare lower the risks. Suspected lymphoma calls for laboratory testing of the capsule and fluid.
| Risk | How often |
|---|---|
Change in breast shapeBreasts may look flatter or looser, with dents or puckering, especially after large or long-standing implants placed above the muscle. | Varies |
Bleeding, infection and blood clotsBleeding into the breast (haematoma) usually appears in the first 24 hours. Infection, seroma, leg clots and anaesthetic reactions are also possible. | Uncommon |
Further surgeryOne operation does not always give the ideal result. After removal with a lift, one large series reported revision surgery in 4.63%. | Uncommon |
Sensation, scarring and painNipple and skin sensation can change. Scars can widen or thicken, and persistent pain is possible. | Varies |
Leaked siliconeA leaking implant can affect the result, and silicone that has spread beyond the capsule may need more extensive surgery. | Varies |
Results and how long they last
The final shape can take up to a year. It depends on the implants removed, how much breast tissue remains and the capsule. Results vary from person to person.
Some women report symptoms such as tiredness, 'brain fog', joint and muscle pain or rashes that they link to their implants, often called breast implant illness. The causes are unclear and there is no diagnostic test. Many women report improvement after removal, but the evidence is not controlled and a link is unproven, so improvement cannot be promised.
How long it lasts: With no implant left there is no device to monitor or replace, but your breasts will still change with age and weight.
With any surgical or interventional procedure, results vary from person to person. We recommend a detailed consultation with your doctor before any procedure.
Before and after
Before and after photos are shared only with patients’ written consent. You can ask to see examples during your consultation.
Before and afterQuestions to ask at your consultation
Take these to any surgeon you see — including us.
- What do you expect my breasts to look like afterwards?
- What do you recommend for the capsule, and why?
- Will tissue or fluid be sent for laboratory testing?
- Would a lift help, and should it be done at the same time?
- Where will surgery take place, and who gives the anaesthetic?
- Whom do I contact after I fly home?
What shapes your plan and quote
Prices are not published. After your assessment you receive a personal written plan stating what is and is not included.
- How much of the capsule is removed
- Any lift or tissue reshaping
- Laboratory testing, if needed
- Anaesthesia, hospital stay and imaging
- Your length of stay in Istanbul
We do not publish prices: every plan is personal and is written for you after your assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What will my breasts look like after implant removal?
They are often flatter or looser than with implants, and dents or dimpling can appear. The result depends on the size of the implants, how much breast tissue you have and the state of the capsule. A lift can help if the skin has stretched.
Can I have a breast lift at the same time?
Yes. Removal and a lift can be done in the same operation. In one surgeon's series of 841 patients, complications occurred in 4.76% and revision surgery in 4.63%. Women who had already had two or more lifts were much more likely to need revision.
Do I need an en bloc or a total capsulectomy?
It depends on why the implants are coming out. For confirmed BIA-ALCL, the implant and whole capsule are removed. For symptoms often called breast implant illness, studies found similar improvement whether the capsule was fully removed, partly removed or left.
Is it a problem if the capsule is left inside?
Usually not, if it is soft and shows no sign of disease. Leaving it means less surgery and may lower the risk of bleeding and tissue damage; in one study it did not reduce symptom improvement. If an implant-related cancer such as BIA-ALCL is suspected, it is removed.
Will my breast implant illness symptoms go away?
No one can say for certain. In one prospective study, 88% of women reported at least partial improvement a year after removal. A link between implants and these symptoms has not been proven, and researchers note that expectations can influence symptoms, so it helps to decide with realistic hopes.
Is there a test for breast implant illness?
No. There is no test that confirms it. Your doctor first looks for other causes of your symptoms, such as rheumatological conditions, so that nothing treatable is missed. Your symptoms are taken seriously, and the decision about removal remains yours.
I have textured implants but no symptoms. Should they come out?
The US FDA and the UK MHRA do not recommend removal because of BIA-ALCL risk alone if you have no symptoms. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons leaves the choice to you after a personal discussion, bearing in mind that removal has risks of its own.
What happens if my implant has ruptured?
A ruptured implant should be removed as soon as reasonably possible. If silicone has spread beyond the capsule, more extensive surgery may be needed. You can choose removal alone or new implants, and the capsule plan is agreed with you.
How long is recovery after explant surgery?
Healing usually takes a few weeks, and swelling eases gradually. The final shape can take up to a year to appear. Return to work, driving and exercise depends on what was done, so your surgeon sets these dates with you after the operation.
When can I fly home after implant removal in Istanbul?
UK NHS guidance advises not flying for 5–7 days after breast surgery, because surgery and air travel both raise the risk of blood clots. Book your return flight with that margin, leaving time for a final check-up before you leave.
Medical informationThe information on this page is general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a diagnosis or treatment. Every surgical and interventional procedure carries risks, which will be explained to you in detail during your consultation. Whether this procedure suits you can only be decided after an in-person examination and assessment. We encourage you to also seek independent advice from your own doctor before deciding.
A conversation, at your pace.
Considering having your implants removed?
Tell us why you are considering removal and share any scan reports; we will explain the options.
- Nef 22 Ataköy, D Blok, Kat 1, Daire 36, Çobançeşme E-5 Yanyol Cad. No:22, Bakırköy / İstanbul
- Monday to Saturday, 10:00–18:00
- +90 542 280 27 51
- Dr. İlker speaks English and Turkish.
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