Most breast implant removal myths fall apart once you see how explant surgery is performed today. Removal is a planned choice many women make for their own reasons, and the technique used shapes how the capsule is handled and how recovery feels.
At Executive Plastic Surgery, breast implant removal is our primary focus. Dr. Shaher W. Khan, Plastic Surgeon, is double board-certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and General Surgery. He developed his own approach to explant surgery, called The Khan Procedure™. Below, we correct the misconceptions that come up most often so you can make your decision with accurate information.
Breast implants are not lifetime devices. Over time, many women start to reconsider whether they want to keep them. Some have symptoms they believe may be connected to their implants. Others had a prior removal that left capsule tissue behind. Many simply want to live without implants.
Patients travel to our Bloomfield Hills and Northridge locations from across the United States and from other countries for this surgery. You can learn more about that process on our out-of-town patients page.
There is no single answer that fits every patient. The right choice depends on your health history, your symptoms and your goals for how your body looks and feels. A consultation with Dr. Shaher W. Khan gives you a clear picture of your options before you commit to anything. Some want to reduce what they carry in their body. Others feel their implants no longer match their lifestyle. A desire to be implant free is a valid reason on its own.
Explant surgery is a planned procedure with careful safety measures built in. The Khan Procedure™ is performed under deep sedation known as Twilight Anesthesia, which supports patient safety and a smoother recovery. Dr. Shaher W. Khan also uses techniques that keep blood loss below 5 cc. Every capsule is sent for pathology, including CD30 analysis, and for microbiology cultures. This full workup means you know what was found.
This fear keeps many women from exploring removal. The Khan Procedure™ includes a natural pseudo-lift technique that restores a natural breast contour. It does this without a separate lift procedure or additional incisions into the breast tissue itself. En bloc removal is also performed while avoiding new breast incisions.
Many women expect weeks of drains and discomfort. The Khan Procedure™ uses a drainless technique, so patients go home without surgical drains. Twilight Anesthesia also contributes to a smoother recovery. Dr. Shaher W. Khan gives you specific recovery guidance based on your own surgery.
Removal techniques differ in a meaningful way. Some approaches take out only the implant. Others remove the implant and the entire scar tissue capsule. The Khan Procedure™ follows the 100/100/0 Rule™, which is photographic proof that 100% of the implant and capsule are removed, 100% of the time, with 0% of the capsule left behind. High-definition photos and video document each surgery.
Women who report symptoms deserve to be taken seriously. Dr. Shaher W. Khan is a Breast Implant Illness Specialist who treats these concerns as real. Breast implant illness is a diagnosis of exclusion. That means other conditions, such as thyroid issues or low iron, are ruled out first. You can read more on our breast implant illness page.
Coverage rules differ from plan to plan, so a blanket "never" is not accurate for every patient. Our office provides explant surgery on a self-pay basis. Our team will answer your payment questions directly when you reach out.
The goal of The Khan Procedure™ is complete removal of the implant and capsule as one system, followed by a thorough workup. The specific technique depends on your anatomy and history. Here is how the main options differ.
En bloc capsulectomy removes the implant and the surrounding capsule together as one intact unit. The capsule stays closed during removal. Dr. Shaher W. Khan performs this whenever surgically appropriate.
A total capsulectomy removes the implant and the entire capsule of scar tissue around it. Rather than leaving the capsule in place, the full capsule is separated and removed.
Residual capsule targets scar tissue left behind after a previous implant removal. This leftover tissue can hold inflammatory cells, silicone particles and calcifications. Removing it addresses what an earlier surgery did not.
Your consultation is a conversation about your health history, your symptoms and your goals. Dr. Shaher W. Khan reviews which removal technique fits your situation and explains how the pseudo-lift may restore your natural shape. You leave knowing what your plan involves.
On surgery day, The Khan Procedure™ is performed under Twilight Anesthesia. Every capsule goes to pathology and microbiology, and the surgery is documented in high definition. Because the technique is drainless, recovery begins without surgical drains. Our team stays in contact with you through each follow-up visit.
Online forums are full of breast implant removal myths, and they can make a clear decision feel harder. Focus on questions that lead to facts:
Clear answers to these questions tell you far more than secondhand stories. You can learn about Dr. Shaher W. Khan’s training and focus on our Meet Dr. Khan page. The Khan Procedure™ removes the implant and capsule as one system, uses a drainless technique and restores shape through a pseudo-lift without additional incisions. Accurate information lets you decide with confidence.
About the Author
Dr. Shaher W. Khan, MD
November 9, 2026
Learn more about breast implant illness, breast implant removal, or meet Dr. Shaher Khan.
