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Will I Have Sagging Breasts After Explantation?

asked 3 years ago by msq in CA
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 1,404 times

I went from a 34B to a 34D. My implants are under the muscle and saline. My weight has gone down slightly, from 130-120lbs, I am 5'8", and 28 yrs old. My breasts were very perky to begin with, so I am hoping that when I remove the implants, I won't have too much sagging. What do you think? Should I just put something smaller in? I really don't want any implants at all, but if I will have a lot of sagging, I will be willing to do it. Thank you.

13 answers to Will I Have Sagging Breasts After Explantation?

Difficult to predict

It is difficult to predict whether or not your breasts will sag after the procedure, and in these cases, the options for preventing the sag including replacing the implants with smaller ones and/or performing a breast lift, either at the time that your larger implants are removed or as a seperate procedure. You will need to sit down and speak with your plastic surgeon about all of your options and together design a plan that works best for you. In short, however, it will be very difficult... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

You will not have significant sagging after explantation.

To msq, Hi! Based on your description, definitely no sagging. You re young and your tissues are very elastic and will snap back. Also you were perky before. Some other thoughts: 1) The real question is why explantation? In my practice, this so rare. You might be very happy with a revision using smaller implants. Be sure you are doing the right thing. Get another opinion. 2) If you have a tiny bit of sagging when the implants are removed, you can have an internal (scarless) lift... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant explantation

It is difficult to predict what the breasts will look like after removing implants. Putting a small implant back may be a good idea.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast explantation cases vary

Hello, These cases vary but younger patients tend to get away without lift surgery and/or implant replacement more often than older ones do. What does your surgeon say? Is he or she recommending replacement and/or a lift?

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

The facts about implant removal

There are several issues to consider when you are contemplating implant removal. Some of these issues are subjective and some are physical changes. Subjective: - By now you have probably grown accustomed to your new size. Once the implants are removed, the size of your breasts will likely "seem" very small. Objective: - During the time that the implants were in your body, they were pressing on your breast tissue. This can cause a small degree of loss of breast tissue making the... more

A. Peter Salas, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Difficult to predict breast sagging after explantation

Its difficult to say what the breasts will look like. If you went from a B to a D, then, maybe. If you don't want implants then why not remove them and wait till you see what the final shape is. You can then make an informed decision.

Michael Weinberg, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Chances are you will do fine

Implants that are under the muscle tend to protect the breast skin from a lot of stretching. If you have not had any pregnancies over this time period and only 10- pounds of weight loss you will probably do very well. One option to consider is to deflate the implants and see what happens since you are going to change them one way or the other. Once they are completely deflated you will get a good idea as to what your final appearance will be. This way you will be able to make a... more

Marcus L. Peterson, MD
Saint George Plastic Surgeon

Hard to predict

It is very hard to predict without examining you or seeing pictures. However, just based on common sense, if you are removing volume (the implant) from the breast, then the remaining skin and tissue will have less support and may sag. This is something you really need to consider before...

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

No prediction possible

Based on the information you give, no one can really give you an accurate prediction of what will happen of if you will be happy. Sagging can occur in different manners and what you will accept or not tolerate for your breasts may or may not correlate with the different types of sagging. You can only ask yourself if you prefer no implant to no sagging. If you can tolerate a little sagging and value the fact of not having implants to worry about, you might be fine with removing them.... more

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

Confused

MSQ, You didn't mention why you don't want implants at all or how long they have been in. Have they served their purpose? Do you have complications? If they have been in for many years then your breast tissue is certainly compressed and your breast skin is certainly stretched, two factors that will add to sagging. Your weight loss of ten pounds will also contribute to breast sagging if a proportion of your breast is fat. Consult with your board certified plastic surgeon for a more... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

www.francisnyplasticsurgery.com

Depends on what your 34 B initial breasts looked like

Hello I think a lot depends on the quality of your skin before surgery, whether you have had children or not, and what you are willing to accept to live without implants. Our experience in removing implants within the first couple of years (not many elect to do this) is that the breasts return pretty close to the initial state. As long as you have not had intervening weight gain/loss or a pregnancy, I would guess you would be somewhat looser but not particularly saggy (if you were not... more

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

Only your doctor can predict this

If you go to an excellent plastic surgeon with lots of breast experience, they should be able to give you a prediction of what will happen. The more of your own tissue you have, the greater the weight and greater the chance of sagging needing a lift. The implants don't hold you up however, and they can prevent or perform a lift, they just add volume.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Small chance for sagginess after implant removal

Hello, It is hard to tell without examining a picture. But in general, it depends on how long you had the implants, skin elasticity, etc. Most commonly, people will go to a small implant. You could also choose to take them out first and see what happens. Hope that helps.