Ruptured Breast Implant Removal: How Explant Express® Reduces Operating Room Cleanup Time
Ask any operating room (OR) team that’s managed a ruptured silicone breast implant and you’ll hear the same word: messy. Silicone gel spreads quickly, coating gloves, instruments, drapes, and sometimes even reaches the operating room floor. When it spreads, it can be difficult to remove.
The challenge is chemical as much as procedural. Silicone is highly non-polar, meaning standard polar solutions such as saline are largely ineffective at breaking it down. The result is a time-consuming cleanup process that can extend instrument reprocessing and disrupt OR efficiency. Until recently, these challenges lacked a dedicated solution.
Applied Medical Technology, Inc.’s FDA-cleared Explant Express® changes that.
The Hidden Costs of an Improvised Procedure
Surgeons have relied on improvised techniques to remove ruptured silicone gel implants for nearly 40 years. Modified syringes, repurposed saline bottles, and manual extraction methods were among the few tools available. None were designed specifically for the task.
Each approach has limitations. Syringe-based techniques require repeated exchanges, increasing the risk of spillage during changeover and clogging suction lines. Bottle-suction methods rely on repurposed containers that must be sterilized before use, adding setup time and procedural complexity. Manual extraction presents additional challenges. It requires surgeons to scrape and scoop silicone gel through a small surgical incision, increasing procedural time and the risk of silicone gel contamination.
The consequences extend beyond the procedure itself. Silicone may reach the OR floor, creating a surface contamination issue that disrupts workflow and delays room turnover. Contaminated instruments may also require extended decontamination before resterilization, further reducing efficiency and delaying subsequent cases. The result: a longer, less predictable procedural workflow for the entire staff.
“Traditional explantation techniques can be time-consuming and messy. Explant Express® was designed to reduce operating time and help maintain a clean surgical field — without disrupting existing workflows.”
— Joseph Harr, surgical sales manager, Applied Medical Technology, Inc.
Containment at the Source
The Explant Express® breast implant suction retrieval device connects directly to standard OR wall suction and seals against the implant shell with its annular nozzle. Vacuum pressure removes silicone gel as a cohesive mass within seconds, minimizing contact with the surgical field.
The device is designed to contain silicone at the source instead of addressing contamination after it occurs.
After extraction is complete, the silicone remains contained within a separable chamber, ready for inspection, disposal, or manufacturer return. This minimizes the need to manage silicone-contaminated materials and helps streamline post-procedural workflows.
Faster Rooms, Simpler Days
Less contamination means less cleanup. Less cleanup means faster room turnover.
Surgeons who have incorporated the Explant Express® into their workflow consistently describe a more streamlined procedural experience — not only during implant removal, but also during postoperative cleanup and room reset.
A Purpose-Designed Device for a Longstanding Challenge
Designed for compatibility with both smooth and textured implant shells, the Explant Express® integrates into established OR workflows without requiring additional setup or specialized training. It simplifies silicone containment and reduces cleanup burden while maintaining procedural familiarity.
For surgical teams seeking a more controlled and efficient approach to ruptured breast implant removal, it offers a straightforward alternative to improvised techniques.
Learn more about the Explant Express®.
