Injected Breast Silicone Removal
You can have previously injected silicone taken out so your breasts feel less tight and tender, softer, and closer to feeling like yourself again.
Is this right for you?
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.
This may be a good fit if
- You once had liquid silicone injected into your breasts and now feel pain, tightness, lumps, or distortion
- You notice the injected area has become firm, the skin has changed color, or the silicone seems to have moved from where it started
- You understand that the main goal is to ease your symptoms and remove as much silicone as possible, not to create a new breast shape
- Your overall health is stable enough to go through surgery and anesthesia
This may not be right if
- You have an active infection or uncontrolled inflammation in the breast area — this needs to be treated and settled first
- You expect all of the silicone to come out, or your breasts to be restored to exactly how they were, in a single operation
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding, or you have an uncontrolled medical condition that makes surgery unsafe for you right now
How it works
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.
Realistic expectations
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.
What this will not do
- This will not promise to remove all of the silicone — what has seeped deep into the tissue may remain
- This will not lift or reshape the breast with an implant during the same silicone-removal operation, unless this is discussed separately and your surgeon finds it suitable
- This will not fully restore the breast to how it was before you were injected
Recovery
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.
- The first few days
- You may feel pain, swelling, and bruising. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medicine and explain how to care for the incision and the drain, if you have one.
- The first 1 to 2 weeks
- Many people return to light work within this window, depending on the nature of your job and how quickly you heal. The drain is usually removed once the fluid eases.
- Around 4 to 6 weeks
- Swelling settles and you gradually return to more vigorous activity as your surgeon guides you. Avoid heavy lifting and hard exercise until you are cleared.
- Around a few months
- The tissue keeps softening and settling. The final shape takes time to take form, and your surgeon may schedule follow-up visits to keep an eye on things.
Risks & safety
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.
- Not all of the silicone can be removed; what remains may still cause symptoms or call for further procedures
- Bleeding, a collection of blood (hematoma), or a collection of fluid after surgery
- Infection of the incision or within the surgical space
- Scarring, raised (hypertrophic) scars, or uneven skin in the treated area
- Changes in sensation in the breast skin and nipple, which may be temporary or lasting
- Changes in the shape, size, or balance between the two breasts after the silicone and tissue are removed
- Risks related to anesthesia
How we do it
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can all of the silicone be removed?
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.
Will it hurt?
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.
How long will I need off work?
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.
Will it leave a scar?
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.
How will my breasts look after the removal?
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.
Can I have a breast augmentation with an implant later?
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.
I do not remember exactly what was injected — does that matter?
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.
Am I too old for this?
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.
How many operations are needed?
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.
When should I come in to be seen?
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.
The next step
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
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.