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Should I Have Implants Replaced or Removed Entirely?

asked 1 year ago by england4835 in england
Latest answer by Anureet K. Bajaj, MD
Question viewed 507 times
Tags: 400-449cc, B cup, removal, replacement

I had 400cc implants ten years ago and a lift. i was a 34b and went to a 34dd. Now I want to have the implants removed and go back to a B cup. Will i need to have another set of implants to get a B cup or just a lift?

21 answers to Should I Have Implants Replaced or Removed Entirely?

Removing breast implants after augmentation and lift

Although it is certainly complex and hard to sort out what's what in a given patient after 10 years, there are a few things that can be figured. In my opinion and experience, breast implants are just pillow volume and they don't lift the breast when they're put in and the breasts don't fall or sag when they're taken out. If the implants were properly sized and positioned to begin with they shouldn't have affected anything about the breast itself or what was... more

Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant Removal

Based on your description, implant removal is likely to give you the B cup that you desire. Without seeing you in person, it's hard to say for certain, but I might recommend the implant removal and breast lift. However, an in-person exam might change my mind because if you have little breast tissue left, you could end up smaller than might be desireable. This can be determined by a physical exam, so it would be best for you to meet with a trusted, board certified plastic surgeon in... more

Deason Dunagan, MD
Huntsville Plastic Surgeon

Implant removal: what to expect

Removing implants after 10 years will leave your breasts different than they were 10 years ago. Having had impalnts will have stretched your skin, some of the fat volume is not lost, plus you have to account for normal body aging. Typically a patient like you will need a lift to leave the breasts normal looking. Sincerely, Martin Jugenburg, MD

Martin Jugenburg, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant removal.

I would probably advise you to have the implants removed and an uplift and see how you feel with the breast volume that you have. If you are unhappy with it, you can always have implants put in as a second stage.

Jonathan J Staiano, MBBS
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant size reduction

It all depends on the condition of your breast tissue, skin, etc. If your breasts are overly stretched, have severe thinning and/or striae (stretch marks), removal without replacement can get complicated by a poor outcome and further lack of satisfaction on your side. It is best to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon with adequate experience in breast revision surgery. Sometines switching to smaller implants is a more desireable option to achieve the best outcome. Good luck. more

S. Daniel Golshani, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Breast tissue compression

Dear England, After ten years of having breast implants, it is highly likely that your previous breast tissue volume of a B cup has been compressed to something less than that now. So, if you wish to maintain a B cup you will probably need a small implant. Good luck! see video

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast contouring, #BreastAugmentation, #Breastlift, #mastopexy

Dear England 4385 Thank you for your question. The answer is not easy- but- removal of the implant will result in a significant size reduction of your breasts AND the breast lift will make your breasts look smaller even if NO tissue is removed. SO, you may want a small implant. With Warm Regards, Trevor M Born MD

Trevor M. Born, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Back to a B

You ask a complex question because the relationship among the factors that determine breast size and shape cannot be determined from your question. If your skin quality has remained the same without any loss of elasticity and the amount breast tissue has not changed with age, then in all likelihood an implant removal(explanatation) and lift (mastopexy) will be sufficient. If what you desire is a higher,fullerl breast with a tighter and more youthful appearing skin envelope,... more

Richard J. Wassermann, MD, MPH
Columbia Plastic Surgeon

Should I Have Implants Replaced or Removed Entirely?

If you were a 34b prior to surgery, and you want to return to a B cup, it is quite possible that you will still be a B after removal without another implant. However, if you have lost a significant amount of weight since your surgery, or you have had children and breast fed, your breasts could be smaller than a B cup. If you have saline implants, it is possible to deflate the implants before surgery so that you can get an idea of how much volume of your own natural breast... more

Amy T. Bandy, DO
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant removal options

It is impossible to tell what you need with out an examination. However, after a previous Mastopexy and 400 cc breast implants, my guess is that you will need another breast lift and a small implant to achieve a perky 34B again. Since, at a 34 chest, 400 cc’s corresponds to about 3 bra cup sizes, it may be possible to simply do the Mastopexy and still have a reasonable sized breast. However, frequently after an implant of that size you may have had some breast tissue atrophy. If that... more

Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon

Removing implants

If you have implants removed more than likely based upon your pre=op size, you may not have enough tissue to lift and remodel to make it look nice. You may need an implant. Hard to say without an exam.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift With/Without Implant Replacement

No one can tell the answer to your question with certainty without examining you. My guess is that you will probably be pleased with a mastopexy alone without replacing the implants if you want to wind up around a B cup, especially if you have had some weight gain since your original augmentation. You should obtain a consultation with a plastic surgeon who can attempt to locate your original records which will also be helpful.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Removal of breast implants often requires a lift

Breasts change as a result of having implants, so removing them doesn't usually just go back to the same shape. Also, one of the reasons women have implants is because of some sagging. Often though replacing the implants with a smaller size may help avoid the lift or enable a minimal scar version to be done.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Predicting breast shape after implant removal

Predicting breast shape and size after removing an implant can be very hard to do. As you have already had one breast lift the nipple may stay up well, but the cup size will depend on the amount of compression of the natural breast tissue over time. It could go either way, though no harm in removing your present implants and waiting to see. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Implant Exchange

Without pictures or examining you in person, it is hard to give you specific advice. Oftentimes with removal of implants, it is necessary to perform a lift, as the breast tissue has been considerably stretched out. You may want to consider a small breast implant at the same time to improve upper pole fullness. The other option would be to have the lift and then at a secondary procedure have a small implant placed if necessary. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant removal

Without an examination it is hard to know. In general removal of implants can leave your breast looking deflated. Many women chose to have the implants removed and replaced with a smaller size and fore go a lift. On occasion just removal has given a satisfactory result as well. In general I would not guarantee a cup size and I would not in general rush to re - do a Mastopexy. These can often be done in a delayed fashion after the tissues have responded to the... more

Charles Perry, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

Explantation of implants

That is hard to answer. It depends on what has happened to your tissues over the last ten years, both from aging as well as from the effects of the implants. Implants will often cause conpression and atrophy of the surrounding soft tissue, as well as some remoding of the underlying ribs so simply removing the implants may not get you back to your original size. Each case has to be judged on its own merits. Robin T.W. Yuan, M.D.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Removing implants

Since it seems that you want to be smaller than you currently are, one option is to go ahead and have your implants removed and a lift. If you are unhappy with your size or wish to be larger, you can always have a small implant placed later. Discuss your options with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Anureet K. Bajaj, MD
Oklahoma City Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant removal or replacement?

Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, even if I had the opportunity to examine you, it would not be possible to predict exact cup size after breast implant removal. What your breasts will look like after removal 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... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

To replace or not to replace? That is the question.

Answer: This is a difficult question to answer without a photo. The answer will depend on how much snapback your skin has and how much sag you are willing to tolerate. If your implants are saline, you can have your plastic surgeon deflate them by puncturing them in the office under sterile technique. The implants will slowly deflate over several weeks after that. Then, you will know how much of your own breast tissue you have left and how much sag you have. You... more

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Remove Implants?

As many of my colleagues have metioned, you do have several choices to choose from. My approach in this situation is to simply deflate your implants and let your breast tissue "shrink" around them. You will then get to see what you will be like without them and can then decide if you need smaller implants (to provide some volume if you find that you don't like what you see) or a revision of your lift or simple office surgery removal of your implant shells (it is a... more