BREAST IMPLANT REMOVAL FAQ

Although you can make an appointment to see Dr Ling without a referral, it is recommended you obtain a referral from your local GP to claim Medicare rebate for the consultation and surgical fees. It is also recommended that you organize with your GP an ultrasound of both breasts to assess for implant complications. 

When you come for your first appointment please obtain and bring the following 

• Referral letter 
• Medicare card
• Private Health Insurance information 
• Copies of relevant test results including blood tests and imaging
• Implant ID card - if you have misplaced this, please contact your primary surgeon’s rooms or the hospital you were operated in for a copy of your operation notes 
• A list of your medications 
• A list of questions: prepare a list of questions you wish to ask, as it is easy to forget what you wanted to discuss once you are at the appointment
• Feel free to bring a support person

The Initial Consultation Fee is $210.00. For Pensioners and Health Care Card Holders the Initial Consultation Fee is $170.00. Subsequent consultations within 12 months are bulk-billed. Consultation fees are payable on the day of your consultation. 

A valid referral from your general practitioner or specialist is required to obtain a Medicare rebate for the consultation fee. The practice will electronically submit a claim on your behalf to Medicare and you will receive the rebate within 24 hours.

Dr Ling sees new patients for explant surgery in rooms in Gosford, Woy Woy and Kanwal. 

Breast milk is made inside the breast by the milk-producing glands (lobules) and carried by fine tubes (ducts) to the nipple. Surgical procedures that cut across (and damages) the lobules or ducts can interrupt the exit route for milk via the nipple or the capacity of the breast to make a full milk supply.

Explant surgery involves an incision in the inframammary fold (lower fold of the breast) and removing the implant and its capsule from either behind the breast tissue and/or pectoral muscles. This technique leaves the breast tissue intact so it does not interfere with the ability to breastfeed. 

Note: some women will have breastfeeding difficulties regardless of a history of breast surgery.

Dr Ling has performed numerous explant surgeries. Some women have decided to share their explant journey publicly on Instagram (please note these posts are not solicited or sponsored by Dr Ling). 

The list of breast implants cancelled from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) can be found on this page: List of Cancelled Breast Implants

For patients with private health insurance, the cost starts from $8500. There may be additional costs related to hospital excess and pathology services. You will be able to claim a portion of the fee (approximately $1000) back from your private health insurance. Dr Ling does not participate in Gap Cover for this procedure. You may also be eligible for financial reimbursement from the implant company. 

For patients without private health insurance, the cost starts from $13,000. There may be additional costs related to pathology services. You will be eligible to claim a portion of the fee (approximately $800) back from Medicare. 

A non-refundable deposit of $1000 is required at the time of booking for surgery, and full payment is required 2 weeks prior to surgery. 

If your health insurance covers item number 45551, your theatre and accommodation fees will be covered. This is regardless of the reason you are having explant surgery (e.g. breast implant illness or implant rupture). There will be additional costs related to the surgeon’s and anaesthetist fees and hospital excess (depending on your level of cover). 

You may be eligible for financial reimbursement if you are having your implants removed for rupture, capsular contracture (grade 3 or 4) or BIA-ALCL. You will need to contact the implant company directly for an assessment of your eligibility prior to your surgery. Make sure you have your implant ID card ready.

Contact Details

Allergan 

1800 252 224 

Warranty Information 

Mentor

1800 252 194

Warranty Information

Nagor

ukvigilance@gcaesthetics.com

Explant surgery is available through the public system, however, Dr Ling has retired from public practice. (Updated 01/09/23)

The ATO website states: "You may be able to access your super if you are temporarily unable to work or need to work fewer hours because of a physical or mental medical condition. This condition of release is generally used to release insurance benefits from a super fund. ... Contact your super fund to request access to your super due to temporary incapacity."

After explant surgery, most people with desk jobs can return to work after 2-3 weeks but people with more physical jobs (especially repetitive arm movements) need 4-6 weeks off work. 

The removed capsules are always sent for pathology testing. 

If there are visible lymphocytes (white blood cells) seen in the histology stain, the capsule will automatically be tested for CD-30 and other stains that are positive in BIA-ALCL. If there are no lymphocytes visible, then CD-30 testing is not performed. Performing a CD-30 test on a sample that has no visible lymphocytes cannot return a positive result.

All implants have a small amount (5-10cc) of fluid around them. Pathology testing requires a minimum of 10cc for a definite positive test, and 20cc is better. It is very rare to see BIA-ALCL with any less than 50cc of fluid.

Yes, Dr Ling routinely takes photos of the capsules and implants. Please inform us if you would like the photos released to you. 

NSW law states that your breast implants are yours by rights of purchase, but that the surgeon and hospital need to return them to you “adequately decontaminated”. Your implants can be returned to you either decontaminated with betadine or resterilized. Please inform us if you would like your implants returned to you prior to your procedure.