You can get your contraceptive implant removed at most of the same places that offer insertions: Planned Parenthood clinics, your OB-GYN or primary care doctor’s office, community health centers, and university health services. Any trained healthcare provider can perform the removal, which takes just a few minutes under local anesthesia. If you’re unsure where to start, calling your nearest Planned Parenthood or searching for a Title X family planning clinic in your area will connect you with someone who can help.
Types of Providers That Remove Implants
The implant (most commonly Nexplanon) can be removed by any provider trained in the procedure. That includes OB-GYNs, family medicine doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. You don’t need to go back to the same provider who inserted it, though having your medical records handy can speed things along.
If you don’t have a regular doctor, these are your main options:
- Planned Parenthood clinics offer implant removal at most locations and work on a sliding-fee scale if you’re uninsured.
- Community health centers (federally qualified health centers) provide reproductive health services based on your ability to pay. You can find one near you through the HRSA health center finder at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
- Title X family planning clinics are federally funded and serve patients regardless of insurance status or income.
- University or college health centers often perform removals for enrolled students, sometimes at no extra cost.
- Urgent care clinics occasionally have trained staff, but call ahead to confirm since this isn’t a standard urgent care service.
What the Removal Costs
Implant removal can cost anywhere from $0 to $300. Most private insurance plans are required under the Affordable Care Act to cover contraceptive services, including removal, with no out-of-pocket cost. Medicaid also covers the procedure in all states.
If you’re uninsured, Planned Parenthood and Title X clinics offer reduced fees based on income. Some patients qualify for free removal through state family planning programs. It’s worth calling the clinic ahead of time to ask about pricing and whether they accept your insurance or offer financial assistance.
What Happens During the Procedure
Removal is simpler and faster than insertion. The provider feels for the implant in your upper arm, cleans the skin, and numbs the area with a local anesthetic. You’ll feel a small pinch from the numbing injection, but the removal itself is painless. The provider makes a tiny incision near the tip of the implant and eases it out, usually with a small instrument. The whole process typically takes under five minutes.
The incision is closed with adhesive strips or skin glue rather than stitches. A pressure bandage goes over the site to minimize bruising. You can drive yourself home and go about your day normally.
When It’s Harder to Remove
In rare cases, the implant sits deeper than expected or can’t be felt through the skin. This can happen if it was inserted too deeply or has shifted slightly over time. A standard office removal won’t work in these situations.
If your provider can’t locate the implant by touch, they’ll typically order an ultrasound or other imaging to find its exact position. You may then be referred to a specialist center where radiologists, gynecologists, or surgeons have experience removing deep or non-palpable implants. These procedures use continuous ultrasound guidance, a technique where the provider watches the implant on a screen in real time while extracting it through a very small incision (about 3 mm). Even in complex cases, the procedure is done under local anesthesia and has a high success rate. If your provider tells you the implant is hard to locate, don’t panic, but do make sure you’re referred to someone with specific experience in difficult removals.
How to Prepare for Your Appointment
There’s very little preparation needed. Eat your regular meals beforehand and take any daily medications as usual. You don’t need to fast or stop any prescriptions. Bring a list of your current medications if you take anything for a chronic condition, and bring your insurance card if you have one.
Some clinics suggest bringing something to help you feel comfortable during the visit: headphones, a book, or a snack for afterward. Wear a loose-fitting or short-sleeved top so the provider can easily access your upper arm.
Recovery and Aftercare
Keep the gauze pressure bandage on for 24 hours and try to keep it dry. Once you remove the outer wrap, leave the small adhesive strips underneath in place and let them fall off on their own over the following days. Some bruising and mild soreness around the site is normal and usually fades within a week or two.
Watch for signs that the site isn’t healing properly: increasing redness, warmth, drainage from the wound, fever above 101°F, or chills. These are uncommon but worth a call to your provider if they appear.
Fertility Returns Quickly
Your body can release an egg almost immediately after removal, so pregnancy is possible right away. In studies tracking conception after removal, 20% of women conceived within the first month. About 63% were pregnant within six months, and 80% within a year. The median time to conception was roughly four to six months. If you’re not planning a pregnancy, start another form of birth control before or at the time of removal.
Replacing With a New Implant
If you want to continue using the implant, your provider can insert a new one in the same arm during the same appointment. The new implant is placed through the same small incision or a nearby site. Nexplanon is FDA-approved for up to five years, and it must be removed by the end of that fifth year. Scheduling a replacement visit before your current implant expires ensures continuous pregnancy prevention with no gap in coverage.