Episode 17: What is Breast Explant Surgery?

Foreign Dr. Rob Whitfield, the board certified plastic surgeon specializing in explant surgery Breast implant illness is a topic that is not often talked enough about, especially in medical community, but is something that affects many women. In this podcast I will be discussing the latest research, treatment options and personal stories of women who have undergone explant surgery in an effort to heal breast implant illness. In this podcast, we'll explore the symptoms of breast implant illness and delve into the latest surgical techniques for explantation and the recovery process. Whether you are currently experiencing breast implant illness or are considering explant surgery, this podcast is a valuable resource for anyone looking to take control of their health and wellness. So let's dive in. Before we get started today, I wanted to tell you about a way you can speed your healing and to begin reverse aging in your body. Reducing inflammation is especially important for women with breast implant illness. In fact, one of the most important pre explant surgery steps we take is to get rid of as much inflammation in the body as possible. So I've created a special inflammation support bundle to give you everything you need to reduce inflammation as quickly as possible. Don't let inflammation hold you back. Visit drrobsolutions.com now and grab the inflammation support bundle today again, you can get it@drrobsolutions.com Robert Whitfield welcome to my Breast Implant Illness podcast and today's question is what is breast explant surgery? So explant surgery, what does that really, you know, entail and what's its purpose? So for explanting an implant, the way I approach it is I want to take everything out in its entirety and people seek me out for that reason. But really, why are they seeking explant surgery? So my typical client is someone who has had placement of a device either for cancer reconstruction or cosmetic purposes, who is experiencing symptoms associated with breast implant illness like anxiety, depression, brain fog, dry eyes, headache, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, nerve pain down their arms or legs, joint pain, muscle pain, GI issues. You know, maybe it's heartburn related, maybe it's abdominal bloating or swelling after eating, constipation or diarrhea, sometimes just abdominal pain. So there's a plethora of reasons. And then I may have someone experiencing no symptoms who just doesn't want a reconstruction anymore or an augmentation anymore. So there's lots of variability in why someone comes to see me, and a lot of times patients find me through what I offer in terms of Holistic rejuvenation at one time with fat transfer. Because I've done fat transfers, you know, really since 2000. The first one I did was probably in 1998, but. But in practice since the 2000s, I've. I've done them for cancer reconstruction and cosmetic purposes. So I'm very comfortable with technically what to do in terms of a fat transfer. And my process is refined, having done well over 1500 fat transfers. So for me, the type of anesthetic used during explant surgery is typically general anesthesia. The incisions and or locations depend on what we're doing doing and what the patient started with. So if the patient started with an incision in their armpit, I can't ever actually do resection of the entire capsule and the implant together in that position. So in that situation, it's really. Does the patient need a lift or desire lift or do they just want an explant? We'll get back to the show in a moment, but I wanted to share something that I think can really help you. You might not be aware, but part of my work as an innovator in the cosmetic surgery space is to create products that will give my patients the best possible outcomes and restore their health as quickly as possible. I can't tell you how critical it is for all of my patients to actively work to reduce inflammation in their bodies. We do this through diet and supplementation. In fact, I've created a special inflammation support bundle for my patients and now you can have access to it as well. One of the reasons this bundle is perfect for my patients is that so many of them have pill fatigue. It's just not going to work for them to have a handful of pills each day to reduce inflammation. So I made sure to include the liposomal version of many of the vitamins and minerals within the bundle. You'll still get the full absorption of these supplements in your mouth without having to go through your gut first in order to be absorbed. You can get the inflammation support bundle@drrobsolutions.com and begin to feel better when you make the supplements a part of your daily health routine. The website again is drrobsolutions.com I can't wait for you to get this help in your hands. So they just want an explant will typically go through the fold, so it's well hidden after surgery if the patient's desiring a lift. Typically for me, that's a vertical lift. Although we can do small periareolar lifts depending on the Necessity. And if they had a periareolar placement, then we try to obviously use that scar and remove the implant intact through that. And so that's more patient specific, but those are the routes and then the length of a surgery. For me, average explant's about two and a half hours. If we add a lifting procedure, it's a little over three typically. And if I'm doing a combination procedure where I'm removing fat to then be used as a fat transfer, those are, you know, usually between four and five hours. Normally. The. The reason I like to and want to use fat, it's your own tissue. It's been used for a filler for over 100 years and technically is straightforward from a process standpoint in my hands to not just provide volume enhanced, but really offset what can be some, you know, visual changes that the patient's not happy with in the cleavage area, the upper pole. So I really. I try to help patients really learn about fat transfers and understand them from my perspective so that they're not bothered by options. And many people have stubborn areas of fat on their love handles, inner outer thighs, abdomens that they want me to take care of anyway, so this becomes more of an avenue to do that at the same time. So I. I feel like those treatment options, whether it's lifting or reshaping or adding volume or doing all the above, really help, offset and offer options after explanting surgery that I can do simultaneously. The digit, you know, the decision itself to undergo explant is a very complicated one, and they need a lot of support from their family and friends and loved ones. I'm super happy if a significant other or spouse shows up to help support the patient who's desiring an explant because it's a difficult decision. It requires obviously, a lot of careful consideration on their part. And having a supporting significant other partner, spouse is, from my perspective, so valuable. It's much harder to go it alone. But I have many clients who have to do that as well. And we try to help, obviously, support them more and more emotionally. We have lots of resources and assets for that. If you're considering explant, please find somebody who performs explants to learn more about both your options and other options. Regarding, you know, the. If you would like enhancement, you know, with your own tissue or a lift procedure, and if you're right for those things, because I don't offer them to everybody. Everybody's different, and they have different levels of illness when I see them. If someone has a lot of inflammation then I don't do other procedures. I just try to help them through their explant and get them on the correct pathway based on our our program of HARP and testing and supplementation to get optimized for that procedure. Thanks for joining me today. I hope you found the information and stories shared on this podcast helpful and informative. Remember, taking control of your health and wellness is key to recovery from breast implant illness. If you're looking for additional resources and support, be sure to visit our online store Dr. Rob's Solutions at drrobsolutions.myshopify.com you'll find a wide range of wellness products and supplements to support your journey to recovery. From specially formulated detox supplements to personalized skincare products, we have everything you need to aid your recovery. Visit Dr. Rob's Solutions today at DrRobsSolutions.com thank you for listening and we'll be back with another episode soon. Remember, you're not alone in this journey and together we can overcome breast implant illness. Take care.