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How to Prepare for Explant Surgery

Posted October 16, 2025 in Explant Surgery

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This blog discusses explantation surgery, or breast implant removal surgery, why some patients opt to remove their breast implants, and how they can best prepare for their procedure.

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Table of Contents

What Is Explant Surgery?

Explantation or implant removal surgery is a cosmetic procedure aimed at removing a patient’s breast implants permanently. There are a variety of reasons a woman chooses to remove her implants, including breast implant illness (BII) symptoms, aesthetic, natural health, and functional reasons. 

Additionally, explant surgery can be performed alone or in conjunction with another procedure, such as a breast lift or, as popularized by Dr. Strawn, the full correction explant surgery. During the full correction explantation, Dr. Strawn removes both implants in an en bloc capsulectomy (if possible), then repairs the inner muscles and tissues, restores a youthful position to the breasts with a breast lift, and finally restores natural volume to the breasts with fat grafting.

Top Tips for Explant Surgery Prep

If you’re considering removing your breast implants, you’re not alone. More and more women today are opting to go natural, removing their silicone and saline breast implants for a variety of reasons, including: 

  • Capsular contracture
  • Rupture
  • Breast Implant Illness (BII)
  • Rippling or implant shifting
  • Pain and discomfort
  • Uneven breast implants
  • Implant malposition
  • Wanting to get back to a natural look
  • Having “tried everything else to feel better”

Some find that their implants no longer suit their aesthetic, or they’re tired of the physical constraints large implants can cause. In any case, explantation, or implant removal, is an elective procedure designed to safely and permanently remove a woman’s breast implants. 

As with any other surgery, there are things you can do as a patient to prepare for your explantation, ensuring the best possible outcome.

1. Diagnostic Testing

During your consultation, Dr. Strawn will discuss your medical history with you and may request additional testing, such as blood work. This is essential in determining your eligibility for the procedure, so it’s an important part of your surgery prep. 

Because this procedure deals with removing breast implants, Dr. Strawn may take an ultrasound of your breasts to determine the quality and integrity of the breast implants. This service is free at Scultura Plastic Surgery. It can be very helpful in assessing whether the implants are in poor condition, ruptured, or bulging, as this may determine if Dr. Strawn needs to adjust his surgical techniques.

2. Adjust Medications

Along with medical diagnostics, Dr. Strawn may require you to stop taking certain medications or pause them until after surgery. Blood thinners and certain supplements can affect blood clotting and wound healing or cause complications during surgery itself, so it’s important to provide a complete list to Dr. Strawn during your consultation.

3. Ask for Help

Most explantation patients remark that their implant removal surgery is a much easier recovery than a primary breast augmentation. However, you’ll still need some help for the first few days after surgery. Explantation requires general anesthesia, so you’ll need someone to drive you home after surgery and stay with you the first night or so as you recover. 

You’ll be sore and bandaged initially, so expect some limited mobility, especially when trying to raise your arms or bend over. You may need someone to help you prepare meals, care for young children, or care for pets. We recommend you have someone help you out for at least two to three days after your procedure, as your discomfort and swelling will be at their peak.

4. Prepare Your Home

You want your home to be ready for your recovery period before you have your procedure. This can include whatever you’ll need to have a safe and comfortable experience: pre-made meals, extra cushions and pillows, meal replacement shakes, plenty of water, prescriptions filled, etc. Some patients invest in comfy recovery clothes, especially zip-up sweaters, as it is difficult to raise their arms during recovery. Extra cushions and pillows are helpful when you sleep, as sleeping with your head and chest elevated can significantly reduce early swelling. 

Stock up on snacks and everything you need to be home for a week; you don’t want to get restless!

5. Take Time off Work

Most patients are ok to return to regular activities, including work, anywhere from one to four weeks after surgery. This timeframe can vary depending on the specifics of the procedure, as well as the patient’s natural healing process and the nature of their work. If a patient works at a desk job or one that doesn’t require too much activity, a week off can be sufficient, whereas someone who has a more physically demanding job may require more time off. If you’re unsure, discuss this with Dr. Strawn during your consultation. 

6. Get Healthy

You often hear about achieving your goal weight in preparation for body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck, but being at a healthy, stable weight is ideal for all surgical procedures. We recommend preparing your body for surgery with a healthy (not strict) diet paired with a regular exercise regimen. We don’t mean you need a full overhaul, just that you should maintain a healthy lifestyle in preparation for the procedure to aid in recovery and make the process smoother. 

Want to Learn More About Explantation Surgery in Newport Beach, CA?

Call Scultura Plastic Surgery today at (949) 612-7231 or fill out the contact form to learn more about the explantation procedure, recovery, and results, or how Dr. Strawn can help you achieve your breast goals.