An en bloc capsulectomy procedure refers to the removal of an implant and the tissue that has developed around it to improve the patients overall health. This is not a purely cosmetic procedure for many patients. The patient may have to undergo this plastic surgery when the capsule around the breast implant has contracted or the implant has ruptured, in order to remove any problematic tissue.
Modern Body Contouring & Laser Center, led by board certified plastic surgeons Dr. Burton M. Sundin and Dr. Reps B. Sundin, provides breast implant removal to patients in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and surrounding locations.
Meaning of En bloc
The French word en bloc means in a single block or all together as one piece. The en bloc surgery is the procedure of removing the implant along with the scar tissue that has developed around the capsule as one block of tissue.
In some cases, this may be the ideal plastic surgery procedure because it reduces the chances of rupturing the implant or disrupting the capsule, either of which could result in the risk of silicone gel leakage. The exact surgical procedure undertaken will vary depending on several factors that the surgeon will consider during your consultation.
Factors to be Taken into Consideration
The following factors should be taken into account:
- Does the patient have textured silicone gel breast implants, and if yes, of which particular make?
- The type of incision and the location that could be used (most frequently inframammary incision, or in the crease below the breast) to access the area in the best possible manner.
- Has any portion of the capsule adhered to the surrounding tissues, in addition to the implant, because that may involve the additional risk of trying to separate the tissue from, the underlying ribcage?
Does the implant need to be replaced?
This is a personal decision of the patient. However, you need to keep in mind that that even in case of saline implants, the shell is still made of silicone. A large number of women decide to replace silicone with saline, or wish to have their breast appearance restored to their natural size with a customized surgery. If the patient has textured implants, saline or silicone, she may be interested in changing them with new smooth implants.
What is the Duration of the Procedure and Recovery Period?
En bloc capsulectomy can be performed as an outpatient procedure. The surgery takes about two to three hours. The recovery period for the procedure is usually seven to ten days. However, if your job involves strenuous physical actions, you might need to stay at home a little longer. This will depend on your overall health condition and the kind of strain or stress your job may demand.
Alternatives to Replace the Implant to Maintain a Shapely Profile
Some of the other options for recontouring the breast or adding volume to it are:
Breast lift with implant removal
A breast lift may have to be performed if the original breast augmentation surgery has caused the breast tissue to become loose over the years. In this situation, once the implants are removed, the natural breasts may appear saggy with nipples pointing downward. Breast lift surgery may be an ideal procedure in this situation to remove excess breast tissue, and restore a firmer and more youthful breast appearance.
Fat grafting with implant removal
Fat grafting involves using liposuction to collect fat from a donor area of the body, usually, the tummy, thighs or buttocks, cleaning it to separate the fatty tissue from other kinds of tissue, and then injecting it into your breast to enhance its size and shape. There are, however, two pre-conditions for fat grafting: (a) You must have enough fat elsewhere on the body that can be harvested for the procedure; and (b) There must be a suitable location in your breast area that has adequate tissue to inject the fat and support the graft.
Plastic surgeons at MBody receive patients from Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and nearby areas for breast implant removal.
For More Information
For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. Reps Sundin and Dr. Burton Sundin please visit
Serving Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Fairfax, Loudoun County, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Fredricksburg, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Maryland Richmond, VA and surrounding communities.
