AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2100 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Organizations belong to ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery); ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons); ACS (American College of Surgeons); Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York
Question Hello Dr Engler. I wasn't sure if you had received my email so I wanted to try to reach you again. I am having my implants removed at about 15 weeks post op. My PS said he would perform it under a "local" and the capsules would not be removed. I just wanted another opinion before I go into this. Do you feel this will be okay? Are there any problems I could have in the future with the capsules being left in? Thank you so very much for your time and advice!
Answer Hi Lisa,
I did respond to you but it apparently did not get to you.
It depends on how thick the capsule is. If it's very thin it may be fine just to remove the implants, but, if it's present to any significant degree, it may be advisable to remove at least part of the capsule. For implants above the muscle, I would typically remove the entire capsule; if they are below the muscle then just the anterior (front) half (since the back half is too close to the ribs).
That's my general approach. I cannot, of course, tell you or your surgeon what to do in this specific situation, and I'm somewhat uncomfortable advising you, since the implants are coming out so early.
That being said, I wish you (and your surgeon!) the best.
However, I think that, at this point, you should work things out with your surgeon, and not rely on advice via this format. I'm not going to reasonably be able to help with further issues.
