Breast Implant Removal Surgeon in Chicago, IL

It is important to know not only if your surgeon is board-certified, but that they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Straka is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has been certified since 1999.

Dr. Straka is a member of The Aesthetic Society which is recognized as the world’s leading professional organization of ABPS board-certified plastic surgeons who are solely dedicated to the art, science, and safe practice of aesthetic surgery and medicine. The Aesthetic Society is a selective and highly-qualified group of aesthetic plastic surgeons, representing the best in the aesthetic specialty. The Aesthetic Society membership represents the gold-standard of innovation and expertise in aesthetics around the world. ASAPS membership is a valued and respected privilege for a select group of board-certified plastic surgeons. Only about one-quarter of all board-certified plastic surgeons have met the requirements to be included as a member of the Aesthetic Society.

This means that if there is a problem, either during or after surgery, the doctor can admit you to a nearby hospital for any care you need. This is important because it shows that your surgeon has met all the hospital requirements that would demonstrate they are a safe and ethical surgeon. Dr. Straka has hospital privileges at Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital which is nearby his surgical center if needed.

It is critical that your operation be performed in a safe environment with experienced, trusted personnel. Dr. Straka performs his procedures in his AAAASF fully accredited surgical center in his office. This accreditation means his operating room meets the same strict requirements as any hospital operating room but is much more private and convenient for his patients. Dr. Straka’s OR team is very experienced as the two nurses that work with him in the OR have been working in this field for over twenty years and his team of anesthesiologists are all experienced, board-certified M.D.s, not nurse anesthetists like many other surgeons use.

It is important that your surgeon has a vast amount of experience and expertise in the proper techniques in breast implant removal. Dr. Straka typically performs explant surgery 3-4 days per week and has been performing successful en bloc capsulectomy since the original silicone breast implant controversy in the 1990’s. Relatively few surgeons have been performing this technique for as long as Dr. Straka.

To properly remove the capsule from the muscle and chest wall takes time. To remove both capsules completely will take approximately 2-2.5 hours. An explant with a lift will take approximately 4 hours. Dr. Straka performs these procedures under general anesthesia with the patient completely asleep and cared for by a board certified M.D. anesthesiologist.

BIA-ALCL is a type of lymphoma associated with breast implants. Typically, these cases will present with a large fluid collection around the implant (seroma). If this occurs, it is recommended to get the seroma drained first and tested for CD30 to rule out ALCL. That should happen prior to the capsulectomy. If you have a textured implant and your surgeon finds a lot of fluid around the implant or a mass on the capsule it should be tested for CD30 to rule out ALCL. Dr. Straka is very familiar with BIA-ALCL and its treatment. Dr. Straka does offer CD30 testing of any fluid around the implant or the capsules themselves.

You will be put asleep with a combination of Propofol and gas anesthetic. With the MTHFR gene it is recommended to avoid Nitrous Oxide. Dr. Straka does not use Nitrous Oxide for any cases.

Dr. Straka offers to test every capsule removed for breast cancer. For patients concerned about breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), the capsules can be tested for CD30 as well. CD30 is a test performed by an outside lab to look for signs of BIA-ALCL. Some patients want the implant tested for other microorganisms such as mold or fungus. Dr. Straka can test the breast implant pocket spaces and/or fluid within the saline implants for these microorganisms. He will have a discussion with every patient to determine if those tests should be ordered.

The implants will be returned to the patient if they desire. Otherwise, they are disposed of as per Dr. Straka’s usual surgery center protocol.

Dr. Straka always uses drains for these procedures. Once the capsule is removed there is normal body fluid that enters the space from where the breast implants had been removed. Dr. Straka prefers all that fluid to come out of the breast pocket to allow for quicker healing of that space. The drains will typically stay in place between 3-7 days. Typically less for implants above the muscle and longer for patients who have had several breast procedures or are breast reconstruction patients. The drains are removed once they are no longer draining much fluid.

Dr. Straka is not contracted with any insurance plans and therefore, our office does not submit insurance claims for this procedure. If the patient desires to file it by themselves Dr. Straka’s office will provide all the clinical notes, operative report, and codes used for the procedure.

Typically for removal of the implants, the scar will be in or near the breast crease. If you have an existing scar in this location Dr. Straka will use this incision and cut out the old scar.

Dr. Straka will give you a list of supplements to avoid including but not limited to Aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, and any other medications that could increase your bleeding risk.

Dr. Straka will typically see you between day 3-7 to take the drains out and remove any stitches (they are all dissolvable) and then 2 weeks after that. Then you will follow up as needed. The big limitation is no heavy lifting for several weeks. The breasts will go through a lot of changes over the first 4-6 weeks. Creases and wrinkles tend to smooth out during this time. Most patients are back to full activity without any restrictions between 6-8 weeks.

Dr. Straka understands the importance of removal of the capsules. He knows that is one of the reasons patients travel from all over the United States, Canada and other countries to come and see him. He promises each patient he will spend the time and energy to try to accomplish the goal of a complete capsulectomy at minimum and en bloc removal of the implant when at all possible.

Dr. Straka provides his patients with photos of the implants and capsules.