Breast Implant Removal Q&A
87%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
149 Reviews
Breast Implant Removalbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Breast Implant Removal Cost: $3,875

Learn about Breast Implant Removal

774 people and 317 doctors are talking about Breast Implant Removal

Get Free Email Updates

Does Breast Implant Removal Require Breast Lift Surgery?

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Enrique Etxeberria, MD
Question viewed 21,253 times
Tags: lift

i want to remove my breast implants. too big. if i do this will i most likely need a breast lift? is my skin stretched permanently as a result of implants?

33 answers to Does Breast Implant Removal Require Breast Lift Surgery?

+5

Breast Lift with Breast Explantation

We do not have sufficient information to answer this question correctly. During a consultation, a board certified plastic surgeon can undersand your needs, expectations, and lifestyle, and tailor breast enhancement solutions that best meet your objectives.
Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+3

Does Breast Implant Removal require a Breast lift?

Depending upon the size of the breast implant removed and the amount of your natural breast tissue, you may or may not need a breast lift or mastopexy. A thorough discussion with your plastic surgeon is necessary to understand your treatment alternatives, their risks and advantages.
Fredrick A. Valauri, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.drvalauri.com

+3

Most likely you will need some type of breast lift after removing breast implants

Depending on the size of your breast implant as compaired to the size of your native breast, usually it is necessary to perform a breast lift or mastopexy in order to prevent sagging of the breasts. In order to prevent loss of breast projection, it is a good idea to replace the implant with a smaller one and perform a breast lift.
S. Sean Younai, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+3

Implants can be removed without need for a breast lift

The need for breast lift after removal of breast implant depends on the following The Nipple distance from the sternum The position of the nipple in relation to the implant The number or severity of stretchmarks The length of time the implant have been there and The quality and resiliency of the skin You may be able to have the implant removed without needing to have a breast lift done. Without examination and pictures, it is impossible to guess..... more
Ali Sajjadian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.DrSajjadian.com

+2

Is a Lift required after implant removal?

Great question. The answer depends on your anatomy, the quality of your skin, and the size of your implants. In most cases, I would predict that there will be sagging after implant removal. The breast tissue/skin has likely been stretched by your implant. In these cases, if the patient no longer wants implants, perhaps a breast lift would be in order. You will need to be evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon to review your options.
C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2

Lift After Explantation

Sagging is possible, not definite, after removing implants. The important considerations include: the degree of sagging you had before implantation the degree of sagging you have before explantation the size of your implants how your skin has changed with aging your skin elasticity the ability of your skin to maintain tone after the implants are removed Sometimes the answer is obvious to the plastic surgeon; other times,... more
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+2

It all depends.

This is a very common question. It really depends on your breast, size of the implant and how long it has been there. The larger the implant and longer it has been in place, the more likely you would need some type of lift. If you began with minimal breast tissue, removing your implants and not replacing it with something smaller (to shape the breast) can give you a very deflatted appearence. The best thing is for you to be examined and have your surgeon review your old records to see... more
Scott R. Brundage, M.D.

Grand Rapids Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast implant removal may not require a breast lift

You will not necessarily need a breast lift after implant removal. The skin has some intrinsic elasticity that will allow it to contract after the weight of the implants are removed. If you were not droopy prior to your breast augmentation and your skin has good elasticity, you have a good chance of not needing a breast lift. I recommend waiting up to a year after implant removal to see whether or not you want or need a breast lift. Your doctor can give you a better idea after he sees you. more
Randy J. Buckspan, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast lift is not needed all the time

The need for a breast lift depends on many factors. Most importantly, how many years you had your implant and how much sagginess occured since that time. I removed many implants without the need for a lift. That will give a natural looking breast.
Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+2

Have them deflated and find out

I won't elaborate on the several other answers that were provided, as they are all accurate and sound advice. A consult with a board certified plastic surgeon may answer your question outright. However, if there is still any question after you have the consultation I will offer you a possible way to find out if you will need a lift after implant removal. The method will ONLY work if you have purely saline implants. If this is the case, then you can speak to your board certified plastic... more
Kenneth R. Francis, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

Depends on your nipple areola position and degree of skin laxity

The need for breast lifting depends on the relative position of the nipple areola and the inframammary crease below the breast. The closer they get to the crease or if they are at or below the crease, the more you need a lift to restore ideal breast aesthetics. So the true answer to your question is that it just depends on these factors. It might be obvious before they are removed that you do or don't need a lift, but sometimes there are marginal cases in which you just need to sse how... more
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+2

Down-sizing breast implants may be an option but you still may need a lift

It depends on how large of an implant was used and how stretched the skin-soft tissue envelope is. If you feel the implants are too big for you...you have several options. If you still want some degree of added fullness (more than before breast augmentation) than some degree of "down- sizing" of the implants would be recommended. Sometimes this will necessitate a breast lift (mastopexy) and other times it may not. It really depends on how much if any residual soft tissue laxity remains... more
James F. Boynton, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2

Bottom line: maybe, maybe not, but be prepared for a lift if it is needed.

It all depends………….. If you are unhappy with the size of your breast implants, having them replaced with smaller implants can be a very good option. Whether or not a breast lift will be needed is different from one situation to another. It all depends upon a number of questions: Is there skin laxity currently? How is your skin and tissue elasticity? How much are you decreasing the size of your implants? How long have you had your implants? Have you been... more
David B. Reath, MD

Knoxville Plastic Surgeon
+1

There is not only one option.

Thank you for your question. When yo decide to remove your breast implants, there is no only one option. If you decide to remove completely your implants, in most cases this will result in an excess of tissue that may requiere a MASTOPEXY. Not all mastopexy techniques leave the same residual scar (circumvertical vs circumareolar vs "Wise" pattern). In the other hand, if you desire some degree of down sizing of the implants, mastopexy can be minimal; and in very few cases it can... more
Enrique Etxeberria, MD

Spain Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implant Removal and Breast Lift Surgery

The short answer is not necessarily. It depends on the position of your nipple and areola, the elasticity of your skin, the amount of residual breast tissue, and how long your implants have been in - which can effect how well your skin will retract. You will certainly look and feel deflated. A breast lift will not correct the deflation, but can reposition your nipple and areola to a more aesthetic position and potentially enhance your overall breast shape, albeit at the expense of... more
Braden Stridde, MD

Federal Way Plastic Surgeon
+1

Removing your implants

What your breasts will look like after explantation depends on several factors such as: the quality of skin elasticity (the better the elasticity the better the skin will bounce back), the size of the implants used (the larger the implant the more trouble you may have with redundant skin), and the amount of breast tissue present at this time (which may have changed since the time of your breast augmentation). 
Life experience since your breast... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implant removal

The determination for a lift is very hard to determine without a physical examination. The criteria for a lift is if your nipple is below the infra-mammary crease. If you have large implants and have had large weight fluctuations or multiple pregnancies then the likelihood that you need a lift could be greater.
Bernard Shuster, MD

Hollywood Plastic Surgeon
+1

You had breast implants placed for a reason.

If your breasts were too small initially, and your implants were simply too large for your liking, smaller implants may solve the problem--BUT, if your breasts were borderline in need of a breast lift (mastopexy), and larger implants were chosen to try to fill your loose skin brassiere without the expense and additional scars of a breast lift, you may well need a lift depending on how much smaller (or none at all) your new implants are. The point is that everything depends on your anatomy,... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implants do permanently change your breast skin

You can expect your skin to be stretched to some degree after implant surgery (greater stretch with large implants, obviously).  Removing the implants will leave you with that same stretched skin, but it may "snap back" to some degree if you have decent elasticity.  Several factors will determine whether you need a lift when you have your implants removed: skin quality, size of the implants, amount of breast tissue remaining, and nipple position after implant removal... more
Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Lift after implant removal

Does breast implant removal require a breast lift?  NO it doesn't require a lift but often a breast lift is recommended to produce good looking breast. Cosmetic surgery is never required.  It's is always the patient's choice If your implant was large and the breast tissue left behind after the implant removal is minimal, you will most likely have deflated look, droopy breast.  If that is your case, then a breast lift is not necessary but would be... more
Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implant removal

Yout have not given us enough information: How big an implant, how old are you, what size bra do you wear, and how much do you weigh. All of thse are important in determining your outcome. If you have very large implants greater than 450 and you are a size 4 or 6, you most likely will need a lift. If your nipple is below the fold under your breast (inframammary fold), you will need a lift. You should consult a good plastic surgeon in your area. Check out where he trained and whether he... more
Gary H. Manchester, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.manchesterclinic.com

+1

Breast implants do stretch, but how much?

A breast implant stretches the skin and the breast tissue. The pocket created by the implant can make matters worse. If implants are removed, we can close the pocket with internal sutures that will also lift the breast. Is it perfect - No, but better than the alternatives.
Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Aesthetic result after breast implants are removed

The breast implants that had been placed have stretched out the tissue around them. When the implant is removed you will notice some sagging of the breast. If this displeases you, you may choose to have another implant put in its place or to receive a small breast lift.  
B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast lift surgery after breast implant removal

Breast implant removal will likely lead to a mismatch between breast volume and the overlying breast skin envelope. This will likely require breast lift surgery to tailor the skin to accomodate the new breast volume.
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implant removal doesn't always result in need for a breast lift.

Removal of implants for aesthetic dissatisfaction is decidedly uncommon in my practice.  Usually, the women have gained weight and their breasts have grown larger.  Removal of the implant restores the size they originally wanted.  Occasionally a life is aesthetically beneficial but it certainly is not necessary.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Lift might be needed after removing breast implants

You might. It depends on how much extra skin you have, how much breast tissue you have and where it is located (is it drooping). Another factor is how long the implants were in place and also what the condition of your breasts were before placement of the implants. This information, combined with a physical examination, will determine the answer. Unfortunately, many patients who have implants that are too large needed a lift in the first place but did not want the lift because of the scars... more
Tracy Pfeifer, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Every breast implant removal patient is different

Whether you need a lift after removal of breast implants depends on several things: 1) Amount of BREAST TISSUE you had before your augmentation. 2) Degree of SAGGING of your breasts. 3) Number of STRETCH MARKS within your breast skin. 4) Position of your NIPPLE & AREOLA in relation to the lower breast fold.
Kevin Brenner, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implant removal and Breast lift

If you have breast implants and want to have them removed, you may need a lift at the same time, or staged several months later. If your implants are saline, you could have them deflated in the surgeon's office (under local anesthesia), then wait 3-6 months to allow the skin to contract to determine if you need a lift at the time of implant removal. You may be fortunate after the waiting period of 3-6 months and if not need a breast lift--just explantation of your implants; thus avoiding... more
William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast lift required after breast implant removal?

The answer to your question is that it is very variable. Somw women do not need any lift.  Some may require a small lift, and still others may require a large lift. There are those that do not have enough tissue to even perform a lift.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Not always

Hello, The question of whether or not a lift is beneficial after removing breast implants relates to how much change the breasts will realize upon removing the implants. Some patients choose to have smaller ones placed and others want no implants at all. Some ladies have more breast tissue than when they first had their implants placed. This is probably due to weight gain over the years. Every case is different, but not all want or benefit from breast lift surgery. In the video clip I... more
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implant removal does not usually require a breast lift

If you had implants to try to correct sagging, then you probably will benefit by a breast lift when the implants are removed. But if you had small, relatively flat breasts with the nipples in a good position originally, then you don't need a lift.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implant removal doesn't require breast lift, but you may want to consider it

Depending on how long you have had the implants, the implant volume, and the amount of breast tissue you started with - these are the factors that will determine if you'll need a lift post-op. If you want the nipple position restored to the aesthetically correct position, then a breast-lift or 'mastopexy' is the procedure that a plastic surgeon can help you make a decision about. Your skin is 'stretched' by the implant- more accurately, the tissues you have... more
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question