If you get breast implants removed, is a lift going to be enough?

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.

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... more

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... more

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. ... more

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... more

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... more

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... more

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... more

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

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... more