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Surgical procedure · Perth, WA

Breast implant removal in Perth.

Breast implant removal (also called explant) is surgery to remove existing breast implants. It may be performed for medical reasons (capsular contracture, implant rupture, BIA-ALCL, suspected Breast Implant Illness), preference for implant-free breasts, or to convert to fat-transfer augmentation. Performed under general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital and regulated under the AHPRA July 2023 cosmetic-advertising guidelines.

Browse 37 clinics All clinics in Perth
Breast implant removal (explant) in Perth, WA — editorial illustration introducing AHPRA-registered cosmetic surgery clinics. Decorative; not a depiction of patients or results.

By the numbers — Perth

Breast implant removal in Perth — at a glance

Breast implant removal — Perth infographic Programmatic infographic showing the typical cost, recovery, clinic count and risk profile for breast implant removal in Perth. Data only; not a depiction of any patient or outcome. SURGICAL PROCEDURE · PERTH Breast implant removal · Perth TYPICAL AUSTRALIAN COST $8,000 – $18,000 Range scaled to $50k ceiling RECOVERY (FIRST 4 WEEKS) 21 days AHPRA-LISTED CLINICS 37 DOCUMENTED RISKS 9 covered in our editorial guide AHPRA-compliant directory C cosmeticsurgeryclinics.com.au

Numbers reflect this directory's coverage of Perth, WA at build time. AHPRA-compliant illustration only — no patient depiction.

Clinics offering breast implant removal (explant)

37 clinics in Perth

Premium and verified clinics appear first, then everything else. Each card links to the clinic's full profile.

Procedure guide

What is breast implant removal (explant)?

Explant surgery removes existing breast implants. The reasons range from confirmed medical complications (rupture, severe capsular contracture, BIA-ALCL) through to elective preference (no longer wanting implants, suspected BII, conversion to fat transfer). The choice of capsulectomy approach (no capsulectomy, partial, total, or en-bloc) depends on the indication and patient preference.

How breast implant removal (explant) works

Performed under general anaesthetic over 2–4 hours. Incisions are typically through the existing scars. The implant is removed; the capsule is removed in part or entirely depending on the indication. If mastopexy is added, that follows immediately. Drains are often used. Compression garment for 4–6 weeks.

Who is breast implant removal (explant) for?

Patients with implant complications, those who no longer want implants, or those with suspected BII. Smokers must abstain at least six weeks before surgery. The seven-day AHPRA cooling-off period is mandatory.

Perth context

Breast implant removal in Perth: market context

Perth is Western Australia's only city of scale for cosmetic and plastic surgery, which makes it the de facto state hub for everything from non-surgical injectables to complex revision plastic surgery. The market is moderately sized and stable, anchored by FRACS plastic surgeons in Subiaco, West Perth, and Nedlands, several of whom hold dual public/private appointments at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Hollywood Private. Cosmetic-only and combined non-surgical practices are concentrated in the CBD, Cottesloe, and Claremont. Perth's geographic isolation means patients more often choose a single, full-service practice rather than shopping across the city, which has produced longer-than-average doctor-patient relationships and stronger word-of-mouth dynamics.

Where surgery is performed in Perth

Major surgical venues used by Perth cosmetic and plastic surgeons include Hollywood Private Hospital (Nedlands), St John of God Subiaco, St John of God Murdoch, and Bethesda Hospital in Claremont. Several specialist plastic surgery groups also operate dedicated day-surgery suites in Subiaco and West Perth, typically ACHS-accredited. For complex or revision cases, ask whether your surgeon has a public appointment at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital — this is an indicator of integration with the WA tertiary care network.

Travel and access

Perth attracts almost all of Western Australia's cosmetic surgical demand, with patients flying in from Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, the Pilbara, the Kimberley, Albany, and Esperance. Practices that take regular regional WA patients usually offer extended consultation slots, written interstate-care plans, and coordination with regional GPs for post-operative care. Direct east-coast travel to Perth for cosmetic surgery is uncommon but does happen for surgeon-specific reasons. Allow at least 7–10 days locally before flying back to a regional WA base for surgical procedures.

Practical notes for recovery in Perth

Perth Airport is 25–30 minutes from the central clinic clusters in light traffic. Subiaco and West Perth are well served by the Fremantle line and frequent CBD bus services; the western suburbs (Cottesloe, Claremont, Nedlands) are best reached by car or train. On-site parking is widely available in Perth practices, including Subiaco. Perth's dry summer climate is generally favourable for incision care, although the very low humidity can mean dressings dry out faster than expected — discuss aftercare planning with your surgical team.

Cost factors

What drives the cost of breast implant removal (explant)

Explant alone: $8,000–$14,000. With mastopexy: $14,000–$18,000+. With fat transfer to breasts: add $4,000–$8,000. Medicare-pathway explant for medical reasons reduces out-of-pocket cost.

What breast implant removal (explant) costs in Perth

Itemised view of where the $8,000 – $18,000 typically goes. Quoted prices vary by surgeon experience, hospital, and case complexity — these shares are indicative.

Component Typical share Indicative range
Surgeon fee 50% $4,000 – $9,000
Anaesthetist fee 12% $950 – $2,150
Hospital or day-surgery fee 25% $2,000 – $4,500
Garments and supplies 3% $250 – $550
Follow-up and reviews 5% $400 – $900
Pathology, imaging, and other 5% $400 – $900
Total 100% $8,000 – $18,000

Source: editorial estimates based on Australian Medical Association advisory notes and publicly disclosed clinic schedules. Actual quotes will vary; ask your surgeon for an itemised written quote before paying any deposit.

Breast implant removal (explant) recovery timeline (Perth)

A typical recovery curve. Individual recovery varies — confirm specific milestones with your surgeon's post-operative plan.

Day 0 Day 5 Day 11 Day 21 Day 42

  1. Day 0

    Procedure day.

    No work No exercise

  2. Day 5

    Early recovery.

    No work No exercise

  3. Day 11

    Halfway point.

    Desk work OK Light only

  4. Day 21

    End of standard recovery window.

    Work OK Light only

  5. Day 42

    Final result and return to all activities.

    Work OK Normal

Recovery + practitioner

Recovery and downtime

Hospital stay typically 1 night. Compression garment 4–6 weeks. Most patients return to desk work at 2 weeks. Strenuous activity restricted 6 weeks. Final shape settles over 3–6 months.

Choosing a surgeon in Perth

Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) with AHPRA registration and significant explant experience. For BII or BIA-ALCL cases, look specifically for surgeons with en-bloc capsulectomy experience. Ask about combined mastopexy / fat-transfer experience.

Before you book

Red flags

Risk profile for breast implant removal (explant)

How the most-discussed risks for breast implant removal (explant) sit on a frequency-by-severity grid. All cosmetic procedures carry risk; the goal of this view is to help you ask better consent questions, not to dismiss any single complication as unlikely.

Frequency \\ Severity MildModerateSerious
Common — — —
Uncommon —
  • Visible scarring
  • Asymmetry between the two breasts
  • Significant change in breast shape — typically smaller and more deflated than pre-augmentation appearance
  • Need for combined mastopexy (breast lift) for shape correction
  • Wound healing problems
  • Need for revision surgery
  • Risks of general anaesthesia
 —
Rare — —
  • Bleeding and haematoma
  • Infection

Frequency and severity classifications are editorial summaries based on Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons consent literature and TGA / AHPRA guidance. Your surgeon should explain each risk individually as part of the formal informed-consent process — this matrix is a starting point for the conversation, not a substitute.

How to verify any cosmetic surgeon on AHPRA

AHPRA registration is the baseline credential check for any cosmetic procedure in Australia. The five steps below take roughly two minutes and are the single most important due-diligence step before paying a deposit.

  1. 1

    Open the AHPRA register

    AHPRA publishes a free public register of every registered medical practitioner in Australia. Open the official register — never rely on a third-party "verification" site.

  2. 2

    Search by name and "Medical Practitioner"

    Search by the practitioner's full name and select Profession: Medical Practitioner. The register returns active registrations only — if the name does not appear, do not proceed.

  3. 3

    Confirm the specialty (or its absence)

    Look at the "Specialty" field. A FRACS specialist plastic surgeon will list "Specialist Surgery — Plastic Surgery". Anyone who calls themselves a "cosmetic surgeon" without a recognised specialty is a general medical practitioner under AHPRA — that is a meaningful difference for surgical work.

  4. 4

    Check for conditions, undertakings, or restrictions

    The register flags any conditions on a practitioner's registration, including AHPRA undertakings or restrictions. Treat any flag as a reason to ask the practitioner directly what it relates to before booking.

  5. 5

    Verify hospital privileges separately

    Hospital privileges are issued by the hospital, not AHPRA. For surgical procedures, ask which accredited hospital or licensed day-procedure centre the operation will take place in, and verify the surgeon has admitting rights there.

Open the AHPRA register → How we verify our listings

FAQ

Common questions about breast implant removal (explant) in Perth

What is en-bloc capsulectomy?

En-bloc capsulectomy removes the implant together with the surrounding fibrous capsule as a single intact specimen. It is the recommended approach for confirmed BIA-ALCL and is preferred by patients seeking explant for suspected Breast Implant Illness, since theoretically all capsular tissue is removed. It is technically more demanding than removing the implant and capsule separately and may require longer scars and more drainage. Total capsulectomy (removing all capsular tissue, but not as a single block) is a slightly less demanding alternative.

What about Breast Implant Illness?

BII is a constellation of systemic symptoms (fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, autoimmune-like features) reported by some implant patients. It is not yet a formally recognised diagnosis in Australian medicine, but evidence is growing that a subset of patients see improvement after explant. Most experienced explant surgeons offer en-bloc or total capsulectomy for BII patients.

What about BIA-ALCL?

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma is a rare T-cell lymphoma associated almost exclusively with textured-surface implants. Confirmed cases require oncological management including en-bloc capsulectomy, possible adjuvant treatment, and ongoing surveillance. Most Australian surgeons moved away from textured implants from 2019 onward.

Will my breasts go back to normal?

Usually not completely. Breasts that have housed implants for years are often more deflated and lower than pre-augmentation, due to skin stretching and atrophy of natural breast tissue under the implant. Many patients combine explant with mastopexy (lift) and sometimes fat transfer to reshape the post-explant breast. Discuss this expectation explicitly.

Is explant surgery Medicare-rebatable?

Explant surgery may attract Medicare item numbers when performed for medical reasons (rupture, capsular contracture, BIA-ALCL). Cosmetic-only explant or explant for suspected BII may not. Discuss with your GP and surgeon.

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Breast implant removal in Western Australia

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