Requests for breast implant removal have climbed steadily over the past several years. Breast implant illness awareness, the 2019 Allergan textured implant recall, and growing concerns about long-term device health have pushed explantation into one of the more common consultations plastic surgeons now see. If you’re considering it, here are the questions people ask most — and the honest answers.
Explant Cost by Procedure Type
| Procedure | Surgeon Fee | All-In Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Simple implant removal only | $2,500–$4,500 | $4,000–$7,000 |
| Implant removal + capsulectomy (partial) | $3,500–$6,000 | $5,500–$9,000 |
| En bloc capsulectomy | $5,000–$9,000 | $7,500–$13,000 |
| Explant + breast lift | $7,000–$12,000 | $10,000–$17,000 |
| Explant + fat grafting | $7,000–$13,000 | $10,000–$18,000 |
What’s the difference between all these types of removal?
Good question — and it matters more than most people realize before their consultation. Here’s what each term actually means:
Simple implant removal: The surgeon takes out the implants while leaving most of the surrounding capsule (the scar tissue your body formed around the implant) in place. It’s the shortest surgery, the lowest cost, and it’s appropriate when there are no capsular complications and you’re not concerned about breast implant illness.
Partial capsulectomy: Some capsule tissue comes out along with the implant — usually the portions that are easiest to access or that look problematic. Middle-ground approach, middle-ground cost.
Total capsulectomy: The entire capsule is removed separately from the implant. More complete, longer surgery, higher cost.
En bloc capsulectomy: The implant and capsule are removed together as one intact unit, without opening or rupturing the capsule during the process. This is what most BII patients specifically request. It requires more surgical skill and more OR time. Not every plastic surgeon actually performs true en bloc — more on that below.
En bloc capsulectomy is technically more demanding than simple removal — it requires a surgeon experienced in the technique and adds significant OR time. Not all plastic surgeons perform true en bloc capsulectomies; some market their removal as “en bloc” when they’re actually performing total capsulectomy without maintaining the implant-capsule unit intact.
When researching surgeons for en bloc, ask: “Do you remove the implant and capsule as a single intact unit?” A surgeon who truly performs en bloc should be able to show you photos of the intact specimen. Expect to pay $7,500–$13,000 all-in for genuine en bloc with an experienced surgeon.
What will my breasts look like after the implants come out?
That depends a lot on how long your implants have been in, how large they were, and how much natural breast tissue you had to begin with. After years of skin stretching around large implants, significant deflation and sagging are common — especially if you’re in your 40s or 50s when tissue elasticity has already declined.
Many women opt to address this at the same time as removal. The two most common additions:
Breast lift (mastopexy): Added at the time of explant to reshape and lift the remaining breast tissue. Adds $3,500–$6,000 to the procedure cost.
Fat grafting: Some of the deflation can be addressed by transferring fat to the breast. Less volume than implants but natural. Adds $3,000–$6,000.
Re-augmentation: Some patients remove implants and then decide they want smaller implants rather than none. Complete removal plus replacement surgery runs $7,000–$14,000 total.
I’m removing for BII symptoms. Does the type of removal matter?
This is genuinely debated in the medical community, but the practical answer is: many BII patients and advocates strongly favor en bloc capsulectomy as the most complete removal, and the FDA acknowledges that some patients experience symptom relief after explantation. ASPS has published guidance noting that surgeons should take patients’ BII concerns seriously and discuss removal options honestly.
If peace of mind means getting the most complete removal possible, that’s a reasonable patient preference. Choose a surgeon who performs true en bloc and has experience with BII explantations specifically.
BIA-ALCL (breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma) is a rare cancer of the immune system associated specifically with textured-surface breast implants. It is not breast cancer. If you have textured implants and experience new-onset swelling, pain, or lumps around the breast, see your surgeon promptly. BIA-ALCL is treatable when caught early — typically with complete removal of the implant and capsule. If you have textured implants, this risk is worth discussing with your surgeon at your next appointment.
Will insurance pay for any of this?
Simple cosmetic explantation — removing implants you no longer want — isn’t covered. But some medically documented situations are:
- BIA-ALCL diagnosis: covered as cancer treatment
- Implant rupture with documented symptoms: may be covered
- Infection or significant complications: often covered
Check with your insurer with specific documentation from your surgeon before assuming you’ll pay out of pocket entirely.
Bottom Line
Simple explant: budget $4,000–$6,500 all-in. En bloc capsulectomy: $8,000–$13,000. If adding a lift or fat grafting, plan for $12,000–$18,000 total. Surgeon selection matters significantly for en bloc — choose a surgeon who performs it regularly and can clearly explain their technique. The growing community of BII patients has developed substantial resources for finding en bloc-experienced surgeons.