Breast implant removal (often called explant) and revision are surgeries many patients pay for themselves, and how they are described shapes who books and what they expect. This guide is for practice owners, patient coordinators and front desk teams: what FDA and MedlinePlus say about implant removal and revision, which claims to avoid, and how to turn requests into well-informed consultations.
- SearchAn adult looks for care near them.
- Your pageWhat you treat, who sees them, one way to book.
- Call or formThey call or send a request.
- Front deskBooks the visit and never guesses a cause.
- Clinical teamThe clinician decides the plan.
1. Know what removal and revision are and are not
FDA’s breast implants page says implants are also used in “revision surgeries, which seek to correct or improve the result of an original surgery.” FDA’s risks and complications page lists procedures a reoperation may include:
- implant removal, with or without replacement;
- removal or surgical release of the scar tissue capsule around the implant;
- scar or wound revision;
- repositioning of the implant.
For removal, FDA describes two main methods: taking out the implant alone and leaving the scar capsule, which “requires less surgical dissection and may pose less risk of local complications such as bleeding”, or also removing part or all of the capsule, sometimes called “en-bloc resection”. FDA says “You should discuss with your surgeon which method is best for your situation.” So never advertise one method as the standard or the safe choice for everyone.
FDA’s things to consider page says “Breast implants are not lifetime devices.” It also warns: “If you have your implants removed but not replaced, you may experience changes to your natural breasts such as dimpling, chest wall concavity, puckering, wrinkling, breast tissue loss, or other undesirable cosmetic changes.” Removal alone, removal with new implants and removal with a lift are different surgeries; the surgeon decides which is suitable. See how to get more breast augmentation patients and how to get more breast lift patients.
2. Keep claims in line with the risk information
Many explant requests mention breast implant illness (BII). Describe it only as the sources do:
- FDA’s risks page says “These symptoms and what causes them are poorly understood.” and “In some cases, removal of the breast implants without replacement is reported to reverse symptoms of breast implant illness.”
- FDA’s systemic symptoms page says “BII is not recognized as a formal medical diagnosis and there are no specific tests or recognized criteria to define or characterize it.”
- MedlinePlus, on breast augmentation surgery: “Some women report that symptoms improve after the implant is removed. Others do not.”
Describe BIA-ALCL as FDA’s BIA-ALCL questions and answers do: it is not breast cancer but “a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer of the immune system)”. FDA says the risk “is considered to be low; however, this cancer is serious and can lead to death, especially if not treated promptly”, and that the risk is higher with textured than smooth implants. FDA adds: “We are not recommending the routine removal of these or other types of breast implants in patients who have no symptoms.” So never sell removal as cancer prevention.
The implant labeling FDA approved in October 2021 includes a boxed warning. FDA’s labeling guidance recommends that it tell patients that implants are not lifetime devices, that complications become more likely over time and some need more surgery, that implants are linked to BIA-ALCL (more common with textured implants, and deaths have occurred), and that implants have been associated with systemic symptoms.
FDA’s risks page says “There is no guarantee that you will have a satisfactory cosmetic outcome from any reoperation.” Avoid “detox”, “toxic implants”, “cure”, “reverse your symptoms”, “get your health back”, “risk-free” and “scarless”. Better: “your surgeon will discuss what removal can and cannot do”.
3. Answer first-call questions honestly
- How much does it cost? Give a clear starting price, say what it includes (surgeon, facility, anesthesia, follow-up visits) and that new implants, capsule removal or a lift affect the total.
- Does insurance pay? Do not promise coverage. FDA says “Some insurance companies do not cover implant removal or implant replacement, even if there are complications and even if the first implant surgery was covered.” Coverage varies by plan, so the practice checks each patient’s plan.
- Will removal fix my symptoms? “We cannot promise that. Some patients report their symptoms improved after removal and others do not. The surgeon will go through this with you at the consultation.”
- Who is the surgeon? Give the surgeon’s name and real credentials. Let callers check them with the state medical board.
Leave screening to the surgeon. Your intake form can ask when the implants were placed, the implant type and manufacturer if known (from the patient device card or operative notes), current concerns, past breast surgery and medicines. Pass any report of persistent swelling, a lump or pain near an implant to the clinical team promptly. The surgeon decides whether someone is a candidate and whether removal, replacement or a lift is suitable. Front desk staff only collect the answers. Use the new patient phone script for the rest of the call, and book the consultation, not the surgery, while the caller is on the line.
4. Plan the consultation and recovery
FDA tells patients to “Talk to your surgeon about the benefits and risks of surgical options before making an informed decision.” If new implants are planned, the patient decision checklist must be reviewed with the patient first; see the breast augmentation guide.
Ask your surgeons for written notes on each option (removal alone, with capsule removal, with new implants, with a lift): anesthesia, return to work and exercise, and follow-up visits. Share them with callers early. Aftercare depends on the surgery; the surgeon gives exact instructions.
5. Price, finance and follow up
- Self-pay patients may be entitled to a good faith estimate; see the good faith estimate guide.
- If you advertise a discount, follow advertising prices and specials. Avoid deadline pressure on a surgical decision.
- If you offer financing, follow the patient financing guide.
- Before-and-after photos need written authorization and honest comparisons; see before-and-after photos. FTC guides treat a patient’s result as typical unless you disclose what patients can generally expect.
- Follow up after the consultation without pressure; see consultation to treatment. Track removal and revision requests separately, from request to consultation to surgery.
Where MediLeadGen fits
MediLeadGen sends practices requests from people interested in cash-pay elective treatments. Each request goes to one practice only, with the person’s consent naming that practice, at a fixed price per delivered request.
See how it works for practices
Questions practices ask
How do we get more breast implant removal and revision patients?
Answer requests quickly, give clear prices and what they include, introduce the surgeon by real credentials, keep claims in line with FDA’s risk information, and book a consultation where the surgeon can assess the patient and discuss removal, replacement or a lift.
Can we say implant removal cures breast implant illness?
No. FDA says these symptoms and their causes are poorly understood and that BII is not a formal medical diagnosis. Some patients report improvement after removal and others do not, so do not promise that removal will relieve any symptom.
Can we advertise implant removal to prevent BIA-ALCL?
No. FDA does not recommend routine removal of breast implants in patients who have no symptoms. Pass callers who report persistent swelling, a lump or pain near an implant to the clinical team for evaluation.
Does insurance cover breast implant removal?
Coverage varies. FDA notes that some insurance companies do not cover implant removal or replacement, even when there are complications. Check each patient’s plan, and do not promise coverage in ads or on the phone.
General information for practice teams, not legal or clinical advice. Check device labeling, FDA requirements, state rules and your advertising with counsel and your clinicians. Last reviewed October 2026.