Removing Saline Implants

I am 32 years old, 5'6'', 130 pounds, size 32C. I had 300/350 cc saline implants placed under the muscle 10 yrs ago. I had the surgery initially because my left breast was much smaller than the right. Now that I am older, I want to remove the implants but worried about how my breasts will look after surgery (saggy? etc). Should I go to a size B and make the transition slowly? Also which area of incision will make the smallest scar? Thanks...

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by 2949anon in CO

Doctor Answers (6)
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Breast implants can be removed with minimal scarring and good results.

I have learned serendipitously that although breasts look really bad and collapsed initially after implant removal without a lift, over several weeks, the skin contracts and they end up looking like breasts again. I have started offering this procedure, explantation only, to all of my patients who want implant removal, with the understanding that if the breast does not firm up enough to be pretty, we can do a lift then as a secondary procedure. A lift later usually involves smaller... more

Cosmetic Outcome of Removing Breast Implants

Breast implants progressively and permanently change the overlying breast. They exert pressure on the breast tissue above/below them causing disappearance of some of the tissue and stretch the breast skin causing sagging. This especially seen along the bottom part of the breast and is more pronounced with larger implants. Removal of breast implants results in a picture similar to that of a sail ship when the wind disappears - deflated, sagging sails. It is unlikely that long-standing... more

Difficult time choosing between implant removal (explantation) or downsizing to smaller implant

USe your existing scar and you may want to consider implant deflation with a needle to determine if you will be happy with the implant out or if you prefer a smaller sized implant replacement

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Removing implants

Whenever you remove implants after a long period of time, it is difficult to predict the final shape. If you go smaller you may need a lift.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Removing Implants

This will change the appearance of your breasts. Your breasts may not just be smaller but they may be lower on your chest with excess undesired skin. It is difficult to say if you will need a lift, this is something that we would need to do measurements on and an exam. Gradually decreasing your size will not really help either. Also when removing the implants after such a long time, you must also know that you may not have much of any breast tissue left. I... more

Removing Implants CAN Lead to Sagginess

When you have had implants for ten years, the chances of removing them and having the breast tissue rebound back are small. Some women will undergo a lift afterwards to remove the excess skin, but it can leave you fairly flat chested. Alot of women simply downsize to a smaller implant instead of fully removing them to try and avoid the need for a lift. I hope this helps.