Houston En Bloc surgeons? En bloc capsulectomy is not a simple procedure. It poses challenges to surgeon and patient alike. First, it is more difficult to perform than standard implant removal. In many cases, I find doing an en bloc capsulectomy to be more physically demanding than doing microsurgery! It takes more time, more difficult lighting, more effort to retract adjacent tissue, and more meticulous attention to detail. The capsule can be less than a millimeter thick and can be easy to tear. In order to “get around” it, a larger incision must often be used than was made to place the implant. In addition, the capsule must be teased away from the adjacent tissue (which may be breast, muscle, or rib), which can cause more damage to structures left behind. Patients are more sore than after simple implant removal and are more likely to have bleeding. To prevent fluid from accumulating as a result of the additional trauma, I leave drains in place, which are also a nuisance. Finally, if the implant is replaced, the lack of scar tissue left behind can make it more difficult to control where that implant ends up.
As such, en bloc capsulectomy is usually only called for in very specific circumstances, such as patients with BIA-ALCL or those with a ruptured implant. For other patients, it is unnecessary because we can still remove the implant and its entire capsule with a “complete capsulectomy” implant removal procedure. When patients express concern about removing all tissue that has been in direct contact with their implants, I typically recommend a complete capsulectomy. (In fact, I recommend this method for all of my breast implant removal patients.) This approach results in both the implant and capsule being completely removed from your body, in one operation—just not in one piece. With this technique, I lift the tissues off of the capsule up to the midway point and then make a small incision in the capsule through which I remove the intact implant. Next, I clamp the capsule closed and remove it. This allows the capsule of scar tissue to collapse slightly so I do not have to make such a large incision. An en bloc capsulectomy is most appropriate when a silicone implant rupture has occurred so as to avoid the contents of the implant leaking into other parts of the body. Similarly, in cases of BIA-ALCL, a non-Hodgkins lymphoma that has been associated with breast implants, the capsule should be removed en bloc to ensure the cancerous cells are no longer in the body. Read even more details at https://www.enblocsurgeons.com/region/los-angeles-california/.
Can I get new breast implants after an en bloc capsulectomy? Understandably, many patients facing an en bloc capsulectomy for capsular contracture or implant rupture are concerned about losing the look they have become used to over time. Fortunately in most cases, a new implant can safely be placed after an en bloc capsulectomy. An alternative to having new implants placed is a technique called fat grafting. This procedure uses a patient’s own fat from elsewhere on her body and transfers it to the breast, increasing the volume and producing a more pleasing contour. Candidates for fat grafting must have enough fat to harvest, so this procedure may not be ideal for every patient. You may also benefit from a breast lift after capsulectomy and implant removal. Dr. Schwartz and his caring team are committed to helping patients achieve their ideal outcome and have a long list of available treatments, techniques, and procedures at their disposal to accomplish this. Whether you are looking to return to a more streamlined and natural contour after your capsulectomy, or you are hoping to maintain the augmented look you already had, Dr. Schwartz will tailor a custom surgical plan to best meet your goals.
Recently, I have been hearing a lot of questions about breast implant removal through en bloc capsulectomy. This type of explantation is key for some women, while other patients can get similar benefits from other implant removal methods which have less associated risk. To help you understand more and find the best breast implant removal technique for you, I’ll answer some of the most common questions here. What does en bloc capsulectomy mean? When breast implants are placed, your body naturally forms scar tissue around the implant. This is a normal and expected response and, because of this, all breast implants have what we call a “capsule” around them. Discover additional information at https://www.enblocsurgeons.com/.