Breast Implant Removal in Winnipeg, at First Glance

Serving Patients Across Canada for 25+ Years

Why Remove Breast Implants?

There are a variety of reasons why a patient chooses to have their breast implants removed – different sense of aesthetics, change in lifestyle, not wishing to worry about potential for future surgery or issues with implants.

Although most issues with breast implants can be corrected through a variety of techniques and procedures, some patients may still wish to have them removed. Whatever the reason, our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons are here to help.

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Elevating Natural Beauty

Everyone deserves to feel confident and comfortable.

The First Glance Aesthetic Clinic & Surgery Centre is a place to treat yourself and feel good. It’s about enjoyment, enhancement, the appreciation of aesthetics, and the art of self‐expression.

A reflection of kindness, compassion, and understanding.
Our mission is to nurture the human spirit — and elevate natural beauty — one person, one procedure, and one transformation at a time.

Your Custom Breast Implant Removal Plan

When it comes to aesthetic surgery of any kind, there’s no such thing as one size fits all. Every patient has her own unique surgical needs.

Whether you are interested in a subtle natural look or dramatic bombshell results, your Breast Implant Removal surgery will be fully customized according to your existing anatomy, unique surgical requirements, and desired aesthetic results.

Breast Implant Removal Surgery

Breast Implant removal is performed under general anesthetic and usually takes between 1.5-3 hours. During the surgery, the original incision scar in the breast crease (inframammary crease/fold) is reopened. The incision is often made a few centimeters longer depending on the size of the original scar.

Unfortunately, if the original incision was made in the areola or in the arm-pit they typically cannot be used again due to difficulty visualizing the breast implant capsule and desire to limit damage to overlying breast tissue. A partial capsulectomy is performed at the time of breast implant removal to allow for proper healing and to minimize complications. Surgical drains are always placed after the procedure for 3-5 days.

Depending on the size of the implants being removed and/or a patient desire to limit loose skin or a sagging breast, breast Implant removal surgery is often combined with a breast lift. If a patient desires a more natural way to augment the size of their breast, fat grafting can be performed at the time of breast implant removal.

Partial Capsulectomy or Total Capsulectomy

Which is right for me?

Breast implant removal surgery typically involves removal of the breast implants and a partial removal of the capsule (a thin film produced by your body around any foreign body) that forms around the implant. A partial capsulectomy is typically only required to allow for proper healing and to minimize complications. Scientific literature also suggests that the capsule disappears after the implant has been removed as it occurs in response to the implant.

A total capsulectomy is sometimes chosen or suggested in rare instances by the surgeon. These uncommon circumstances include removal of very old implants in which calcification of the capsule occurs or in cases in which textured Biocell implants have been placed. These Biocell implants have been associated with the development of Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA -ALCL) in 1 in 3000 patients. The main sign of this occurring is a sudden swelling in one of the breasts after having had the implants for many years. There is no scientific evidence to date that suggests that total capsulectomy without symptoms reduces a patients’ lifetime risk of developing this rare cancer and therefore the choice to undergo a total capsulectomy is personal.

Regardless of the type of capsulectomy, the capsule removed is always tested for the presence of abnormal cells or cancer.

What is Breast-Implant Illness (BII)?

Breast implant illness is a term that has been given to describe a rare autoimmune condition that maybe associated with the presence of breast implants. Scientific research is being conducted in this area to determine if or what maybe the cause of a patients’ symptoms which may include feeling unwell, a lack of energy, joint/muscle pain as well as a number of other symptoms not involving the breast itself. The reason for further research is due to environmental (pollution, ground water contamination, pesticides) and genetic causes for a patients symptoms rather than the breast implants themselves being the culprit (medical causes and blood tests are typically normal).

Despite these medical findings, many patients choose to have their breast implants removed along with a total capsulectomy (removal of the entire capsule). Some patients do find relief of their symptoms once the implants are removed, however not all patients receive resolution of their symptoms. The decision to perform a total capsulectomy in this group of patients is a personal choice. It is important to know that scientific literature supports that once an implant is removed, the capsule slowly over time disappears unless calcified.

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What is an “en bloc” capsulectomy:

The term “en bloc” capsulectomy is often used interchangeably with a total capsulectomy; however, this term should only be used in reference to a cancer operation in which normal tissue is also removed in addition to the tumor. There is no reason to remove normal breast tissue in a non-cancer situation.

Are there any risks to performing a total capsulectomy?

If the implants were placed above the muscle in the sub-glandular or sub-fascial plane, a total capsulectomy is relatively safe to perform. However, if the implants are located under the muscle, removal of the posterior capsule which lies on top of the ribs can be quite difficult. Risks can include but are not limited to chronic pain to the intercostal nerves, lung injury, blood vessel injury.

Before And After Photos

Explore our Before and After Photo Gallery to see Breast Lift results delivered by our Board Certified Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgeons. You can also view more Before & Afters on FG’s Instagram and Facebook profiles.

Photo Gallery