Breast Implants: Q&A

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If You Get Breast Implants Removed, is a Lift Going to Be Enough?

...or would i need to get smaller implants?

I was going to just have a breast lift but instead had breast implants put in also about 5 years ago, and my surgeon lied to me and told me I would be 2 cup sizes smaller if I just got a lift, so i got the implants, now i am in a 34G!! I want to know if I just get the implants removed and get a lift will my breasts look ok?

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20 Doctor Answers | Asked by Jen3715 in Indiana

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Lift After Implant Removal

It really depends on the size of the implants you are removing and the degree of laxity (loss of elasticity) in the breast skin. If you were a candidate for a lift before your current implants, you probably would benefit from a lift when your implants are removed.

If you take out the implants, you may need to tighten up the skin

Jen, Unfortunately, if you have the implants removed, then you may need to tighten up the skin. Otherwise, your breasts may become ptotic (droop). If you have saline implants in now, have the surgeon deflate them percutaneously a few weeks before surgery. This will allow the skin to naturally contract and minimize the amount of lift you may need. It will also let you see what our breasts will look like without the implants. I hope you find this helpful. David Shafer, MD New York City more

Lifts and implants

Sorry your unhappy with your profile. Some of the important considerations are how big were the implants that were placed and how much ptosis (breast sagging) do you have currently and what is your final size goal? Removing larger sized implants tend to create more of an unattractive breast when not combined with additional procedures like lift or implant replacement. In addition, if you have a significant amount of sagging currently, removing implants that are even medium sized will... more

Options after breast explant

This is a question with too many variables to give a defininate answer to. I will give you some things to think about however. The final size of the breast will depend on how much natural breast tissue is present after the implants are removed, along with the skin and breast tissue removed with the mastopexy. If the breast size and shape are acceptable to you will depend on what you want to accomplish. What may be a great result for one person, may be unacceptable to another. The choice... more

Things to Consider When Removing Breast Implants

Breast implants can be used instead of a lift if the patient is looking for more volume and is not experiencing a high degree of sagging. It is hard to say if this was the right call without examining you prior to your surgery. When a patient undergoes breast augmentation, the skin and tissue is stretched to accommodate the breast implants. When the implant is removed this skin and tissue can create breast ptosis (sagging). Often time a breast lift is performed to remove the excess... more

Breast lifts may work well after breast implants

When large breast implants have been placed, the overlying breast and skin is stretched over the new volume. Removal of the implants can leave excessive extra tissue, and so a lift is often performed where some of the excess tissue is removed. If the tissues have been excessively stretched, however, this can be difficult without replacement of the large breast implants with smaller ones to occupy some of the former volume. While it will be best for you to consult with a board certified... more

Removal of implants may require a lift but not necessarily.

Most patients who have breast augmentation and later have the implants removed do not need a breast lift. Very few women, however, choose to have implants removed without replacement. Unless a lift is unavoidable, I prefer to remove the implants and let the patient decide if a lift is "necessary". This makes the process 2 stages, but only a small minority choose to proceed with the second operation.

Possible procedures to improve breast look shape and size

Based on the information you have provided, I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon regarding revisionary breast surgery. Photos would be helpful in determining what procedures you would most benefit from. Once you have decided what look you would like to achieve, then you can discuss your best and safest possible options. A lift alone may not provide any fullness and you may be dissapointed. For more information, check out before and after photos of... more

Breast Lift after implant removal

Hello, Breast implants can be removed and not replaced if there is enough breast tissue on both sides to make nice breasts. Older silicone implants might be a possible exception here as they tend to require more capsule work with removal. This is a question you will need to sit in front of a good surgeon to have properly addressed.

Appearance after removing breast implants and getting a lift

Hi Jen 3715, It sounds like this would be fine. The reason why is that given you wanted a lift in the first place, I assume you were OK with your breast size in a bra. I don't know what size implants you have. Assuming they are a reasonable size, say up to 450cc, and knowing you are a G cup, it seems very likely that you will be fine with removal and a lift. However, only after physical exam can your surgeon know for sure. Also, be very careful to discuss what size you were before... more

Breast Lift after implant removal

If you are not happy with the size of your breast implants and want to downsize, there a few ways of approaching the problem. The safest way involves removing your implants completely, then waiting about six months to allow the skin/tissues time to shrink and contract. Then, at a second stage you can undergo a lift (if needed) or insertion of smaller breast implants (if wanted). The reason to do the surgeries in a "staged" fashion is to improve the blood supply to the skin and... more

Breast Implant Removal

If breast implant removal is an option for you, the resulting breast will lack the volume that was created by the implants themselves. After explantation, a decision to perform a breast lift depends on the position of the nipple and the remaining breast volume.

You just need a good breast lift.

To Jen3715, Hi! It sounds like you have plenty of your own breast tissue. So you don't need implants. HOW the breast lift is done is very important. This is probably how I would do it. 1) The breast tissue needs to be moved up INTERNALLY without relying on pulling the skin. If the skin is just tightened, you get wide scars and a poor shape in the long term. 2) You should end up with a "lollypop" scar. 3) The scar tissue around your implants should be removed (capsulectomy).... more

Depends on What is Left!

What breast tissue you have , the amount of excess skin, AND the size and shape you desire determines what might be sufficient for you. If you have a reasonable amount of breast tissue with good skin elasticity, you may not require any procedures. There might be some ptosis(sagging), but you may be "OK" with it. If not a lift procedeure may be necessary. If there is reasonable breast tissue and poor skin tone, a lift should be sufficient. If there is not a good amount of breqast... more

It all depends on your own tissue and your expectations

Please understand that the superior pole fullness will mostly be lost without an implant. You will almost certainly need a lift and tightening of your skin envelope when the implants are removed. If you want to keep some volume in the upper pole you could go with a smaller implant rather than no implant. The more tissue you have to work with the better your surgeon can sculpt a nice result for you. Make sure you go to a plastic surgeon who does many breast lifts and whose photos look... more

Make sure the communication with your surgeon is very clear!

This is a very technical problem and more details will be needed to give you an accurate answer. However, the main point is what you really want following this procedure. If you are size 34G, removal of your implant will result in a very droopy breast with a lot of skin. The breast lift procedure will address these issues but you will not have similar upper pole fullness. In my practice, I had very few patients that elected to remove their implants completely and they ended by getting... more

It all depends on what you started with

My guess is that you started with a significant amount of volume to start with (say 34 C or 34 D), and the implants have now made you a 34 G. It is hard to give you proper advice not knowing the size you began with and the volume of the implants. However, some general principles apply. If you remove your implants and do nothing, you will be about the same size as before your surgery, but probably more saggy since you have been stretched by the implants. If you do a mastopexy (anchor... more

Results will depend on how much breast tissue is present

Your results will depend on the relative amount of breast tissue you have compared to the volume of your implants. After removing the implants and performing a lift, your breast volume is obviously dependent solely on the breast tissue remaining. In these situations I have used a portion of the "sagging" lower portion of the breast to rotate behind the breast mound during the lift procedure to essentially augment the breast, and therefore preserve as much volume as possible. Keep... more

Breast lift after implants

It really depends upon what volume of tissue you started off with. If you have a reasonable amount of breat tissue, then a breat lift alone will be fine. If you have a small amount of tissue, then you will probably need an implant again. Steven Wallach, MD

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Implant removal without replacement will render a pretty flat look

I recommend an implant with most breast lifts, even if it is only a small one. I envision the implant as a scaffolding around which you can then lift and form the breast. It is common to get a minor lift simply with an implant. I also tell my patients that the larger the implant the more the lift. However if you don't want a bigger breast then a smaller implant will do. Sounds like you got a large implant and now you don't want the volume. Removing the implant will lead to some sagging.... more