Explant Surgery
Total capsulectomy with PCR molecular testing on every removed capsule — over 2,000 procedures performed.
ViewBoard-Certified Plastic Surgeon · Austin, TX
Every procedure. Every condition. One surgeon who treats both.
Dr. Robert Whitfield is one of the only board-certified plastic surgeons in the country who combines advanced surgical technique with a deep understanding of the autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that drive breast implant illness. Below is the complete index of procedures he performs and conditions he treats — each backed by peer-reviewed research, PCR-tested outcomes, and the SHARP Method recovery protocol.
Robert Whitfield, MD · Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon · Past President, Aesthetic Education Research Foundation
Last updated: July 2026
Surgical Procedures
What procedures does Dr. Whitfield perform?
En Bloc Capsulectomy
Removal of the implant and surrounding capsule as a single intact unit, preserving the capsule boundary for pathology and PCR analysis.
ViewCapsulectomy
The surgical removal of scar tissue capsule that forms around breast implants — techniques, terminology, and what to expect.
ViewCapsular Contracture
When scar tissue hardens around an implant, causing pain, distortion, or rupture. Baker Grades, biofilm mechanisms, and surgical treatment.
ViewFat Transfer
Natural breast restoration using your own harvested fat — performed simultaneously with explant surgery for immediate volume replacement.
ViewBreast Lift Without Implants
Mastopexy without implants — reshaping and lifting natural breast tissue after explant or for patients who want to avoid implants entirely.
ViewHolistic Mommy Makeover
A comprehensive body transformation combining explant, fat transfer, and body contouring — designed around the SHARP Method recovery protocol.
ViewBreast Reduction
Surgical reduction for physical relief and proportion — addressing back pain, skin irritation, and posture issues caused by excess breast tissue.
ViewTuberous Breast Correction
Correction of constricted or tubular breast shape using tissue release, fat grafting, and reshaping techniques without implants.
ViewNo-Cut Facelift
Non-surgical facial rejuvenation using advanced energy-based devices — skin tightening and volume restoration without incisions or general anesthesia.
ViewBII & Associated Conditions
What conditions does Dr. Whitfield treat?
Breast implant illness is not a single diagnosis — it is a constellation of autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurological conditions triggered or worsened by breast implants. Dr. Whitfield evaluates and treats the full spectrum of BII-associated conditions, not just the implants themselves.
Breast Implant Illness
A comprehensive guide to BII — what it is, how it develops, and what the research shows about the immune response to silicone and saline implants.
ViewBII Symptoms
The most common symptoms reported by women with breast implant illness — fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, hair loss, and autoimmune markers.
ViewBII Diagnosis
How BII is evaluated — lab panels, imaging, symptom scoring, and the diagnostic process Dr. Whitfield uses with every patient.
ViewBII Treatment
The treatment pathway centered on total capsulectomy and the SHARP Method — preparation, surgery, and engineered recovery.
ViewHashimoto's Thyroid Disease
The link between breast implants and Hashimoto's thyroiditis — autoimmune thyroid dysfunction triggered or worsened by silicone exposure.
ViewSjogren's Syndrome
Sjogren's symptoms in BII patients — dry eyes, dry mouth, joint pain — and how explant surgery may reduce autoimmune burden.
ViewMast Cell Activation Syndrome
MCAS and its connection to breast implant illness — histamine intolerance, flushing, GI distress, and immune dysregulation.
ViewPOTS & Dysautonomia
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in BII patients — how implants may trigger autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
ViewAutoimmune Disease
The research connecting silicone breast implants to systemic autoimmune disease — lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease.
ViewImplant-Associated Cancers
BIA-ALCL and other implant-associated cancers — risk factors, screening protocols, and surgical management.
View