What Would Happen if 20 Year Old Breast Implants Were Removed?

If the implants are removed with the capsules, the skin may retract enough to give you an acceptable outcome.  It depends on the anatomic factors.

                  Plastic
surgeons occasionally see women who request removal of their breast
implants.  In many cases these
implants have been present for many years.  Patients may request removal for a variety of medical,
surgical and aesthetic reasons.  In
your case, distortion of your breasts from capsular contracture may be a
contributing factor in your decision to have them removed. It’s not unusual for
women to be concerned about the appearance of their breasts following implant
removal.

                  In
any particular case it’s virtually impossible to know if breast sag will
develop without pictures or a physical examination.  The presence of a nipple areola complex that sits below the
infra-mammary fold, poor skin tone and a high ratio of implant volume to native
breast tissue volume all suggest that breast sag is likely. 

Breast sag following explantation
is more likely in patients who have had multiple pregnancies, have breast fed,
have had weight fluctuations and have had implants for
longer periods of time.  When
implants are large and placed on top of the muscle the incidence of breast sag
following implant removal is higher as well.

Your history suggests that a
capsulectomy will probably be required at the time of breast implant
removal.  This may cause flat saggy
unattractive breasts.  Under these
circumstances breast lift surgery will probably be necessary to address these
aesthetic concerns.

                  If
you’re considering removal of your breast implants, consultation with a board
certified plastic surgeon is appropriate. 
This surgeon should be able to indicate the magnitude of the breast
deformity caused by explantation.