Resources for Explants

There are a number of people who have never heard of explant procedures, or if they have then they simply aren’t sure what is involved in having an explant performed.  For those who wish to learn more about explants and explant procedures, there are a number of resources which are available both on and offline; the trick comes in knowing where to look for them and what you should be looking for.  Below you will find some basic guidelines on how to search for explant information resources and which resources are more likely to give you the information that you’re looking for.

One of the first places that you might consider looking for explant procedure information is the internet, but there is a lot of information online and only a small portion of it pertains to what you’re looking for.  It is recommended that you perform several different searches for a variety of search terms, including “implant removal”, “explant surgery”, and “explant information.”  Many of the results that you find may detail a procedure unrelated to explant surgery, as the term “explant” has more than one meaning; even when you locate information on explant surgical procedures you might not be able to make much sense out of it because there is also a lot of technical information related to explant surgery from medical journals or implant manufacturers.  Though it may take some searching, information gathered via the internet will be much more abundant than that which you will find elsewhere.

Another good choice when trying to locate information on explant surgery is to contact the office of a cosmetic surgeon in your area.  In many cases their office will have pamphlets or other handout information on breast implant removal and explant procedures that will explain the basics of the surgery and may also offer different options for how the surgery can take place.  Unfortunately, many of these handouts tend to be relatively simple in nature and while they give an overview of the procedure they may not give the depth of information that you’re looking for.  You might also wish to speak with a surgeon directly with any questions that you might have, though depending upon the surgeon you might have to make an appointment and could possibly even be charged for an office visit.

A third option that you might not consider is your local public library, or a campus library if you happen to live close to a college or university.  While the amount of information that is available on explant procedures may vary from one library to the next, you may be able to find a wealth of information without having to sort through all of the unrelated topics that you would find on the internet or the time and possible expense of consulting a doctor directly.  Many libraries also carry subscriptions to a number of medical magazines and journals which can provide even more information on explant surgery and might even be privy to new techniques that local doctors aren’t even aware of.

Depending on where you live, you might also have an opportunity to locate a support group for individuals who have already undergone explant surgery or at least get in contact with someone who has been through the procedure.  One of the best ways to see if there is any such group in your area is to visit local health departments, community centers, and mastectomy supply stores and ask about this possibility.  Should you visit a cosmetic surgeon in search of information, you might also want to ask in their office as they would likely be able to refer you to such a group as well.  If there aren’t any support groups active, then you might still have the option of being put in contact with someone who has undergone the surgery so that you can learn firsthand what the benefits and risks are based upon that individual’s experience.