You can have previously injected silicone taken out so your breasts feel less tight and tender, softer, and closer to feeling like yourself again.
Breast silicone removal is surgery to take out liquid silicone (an oil- or gel-based filler injected straight into the tissue, not an implant) that was once pumped into the breast. Because injected silicone tends to seep through many layers of tissue, it cannot always be removed in full. Your surgeon will assess whether this is right for you based on a physical exam and imaging.
It starts with a consultation. Your surgeon will ask about the earlier silicone injection — the more you can remember, the better — then examine your breasts and may order an ultrasound or an MRI (a type of imaging that does not use X-rays) to see how far the silicone has spread. This step helps build a realistic plan for what can be taken out.
The surgery is usually done under anesthesia. The exact type depends on how extensive the procedure needs to be. You will talk this option through clearly before the day of surgery.
During surgery, your surgeon makes an incision and removes the liquid silicone along with the surrounding tissue that has soaked it up or scarred. Because injected silicone clings to healthy tissue, the surgeon sometimes has to take out some tissue to remove more silicone. Your surgeon will weigh removing as much silicone as possible against keeping as much healthy tissue as they can.
After cleaning out the surgical space, your surgeon may place a drain (a small tube that lets extra fluid escape) and close the incision. Some cases need more than one procedure to clear the remaining silicone gradually.
The goal of this surgery is to take out as much silicone as possible and calm your symptoms. Reshaping or resizing the breast is a separate matter, usually discussed at a later stage.
Recovery differs from person to person, depending on how much silicone is removed and how much the tissue is involved. The milestones below are rough estimates to help you picture the path, not fixed numbers.
Every surgery carries risk. Silicone removal has its own added challenges because injected silicone clings tightly to tissue. Your surgeon will talk through these risks honestly before you decide.
At The Gioi Dep, our surgeons approach each silicone-removal case with a careful pre-surgery assessment — a physical exam combined with imaging — to understand how far the silicone has spread before setting out a plan. This way of working helps you hold a realistic expectation from the start.
The team puts safety and clarity first. Your surgeon will explain what can and cannot be achieved in one operation, follow your recovery closely, and talk with you about the next steps if the remaining silicone needs to be cleared gradually.
Usually not in full. Liquid silicone injected into the breast seeps through and clings to the tissue, so your surgeon takes out as much as possible, but what has soaked in deeply may remain. More than one procedure is sometimes needed.
The surgery is done under anesthesia, so you feel no pain during the operation. Afterward you will feel pain and tightness in the breast for the first few days; your surgeon prescribes pain medicine to keep you more comfortable.
Many people return to light work within about 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the nature of your job and how quickly you heal. Heavy work and vigorous activity need to wait longer.
Yes. Any surgery leaves a scar at the incision. Your surgeon tries to place the incision in a discreet spot when possible, but how the scar heals still depends on your own body.
Because your surgeon takes out the silicone and sometimes the affected tissue too, the shape and size of the breast can change, and the two sides may not be as balanced as before. Your surgeon will discuss this with you beforehand.
You may, but it is usually a separate step after the tissue has healed and settled. Your surgeon will reassess the state of the tissue to discuss this option at the right time.
Share whatever you still remember. Your surgeon will rely on a physical exam and imaging such as ultrasound or MRI to assess things, so not remembering the details does not stop you from being seen.
Age is not the only deciding factor. What matters is whether your overall health is stable enough for surgery and anesthesia, and your surgeon will assess that together with you.
Some cases are resolved in one operation, but when the silicone has spread widely, your surgeon may suggest more than one procedure to remove it gradually. You will talk through this plan after the assessment.
If you notice increasing pain, the injected area firming up, the skin changing color, or the silicone seeming to move, arrange a visit so your surgeon can assess it.
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The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.