Aesthetic Result After Breast Implant Removal?

If you do not want another implant inserted after your implant removal, the final result depends on the amount of breast tissue you have and the size of the implant.  Since you have a natural "B" this is favorable compared to having no natural breast tissue. If your implant is very large this will potentially create more sagging.  The safest was to deal with this situation is to remove the implants and then 6-9 months later, if needed, perform a breast lift.  The reason to wait is to allow the tissues to shrink and contract- and you may be able to avoid a breast lift and additional scars.  If you attempt to remove the implant and do the lift at the same time, the breast tissue can change and your final result may look different than the result you had on the operating room table.

Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in this type of breast surgery.

Best wishes,

Dr. Bruno

After breast implant removal, your aesthetic result will largely depend on the size of your implants, the amount of natural breast tissue you have, and the condition of your skin. If you have a reasonable amount of natural tissue, as you mentioned (at least a B cup), the appearance may not drastically change, although you could experience some loss of fullness, particularly in the upper breast area. Larger implants in comparison to your own tissue might result in some sagging, especially if the skin has stretched over time. Skin elasticity is a key factor: if your skin retains its firmness, you may not need additional procedures like a breast lift. However, if the skin has lost some of its elasticity (or with time/age), you may notice a deflated or saggy appearance after the removal.
Some plastic surgeons recommend waiting 6 to 9 months after implant removal before deciding on any further procedures, such as a breast lift, to allow your breast tissue time to shrink and settle. This gives you the chance to assess the final shape before committing to more surgery. If the sagging is significant or the results are unsatisfactory, a breast lift may be necessary to restore firmness and lift to your breasts. To achieve the best outcome, it's important to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon who can provide personalized advice and discuss potential procedures based on your aesthetic goals.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Good day! Generally speaking, our skin will stretch overtime and it will largely depend upon the patient's age, weight, and other factors prior to explantation, such as implant size, pregnancy or breastfeeding. It is quite a long time ago so your skin may have stretched and might sag. However, it is hard to assess without an in-person examination. It is best to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon regarding this concern and discuss detailed information, your goals and realistic expectations. Best of luck! #RealSelf100

Unfortunately, implant
removal involves a series of aesthetic trade-offs.In many patient’s, implant removal will
result in relatively normal looking breasts.In other cases where skin tone is poor and the ratio of implant volume to
native breast tissue volume is high, breast sag may occur following implant removal.Under these circumstances, a breast lift
procedure may be indicated.It’s virtually impossible to know what your breasts will
look like following explantation without pictures or physical examination. For this reason, it’s important to consult a
board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this area.This surgeon should be able to perform an
appropriate evaluation and formulate a treatment plan that addresses your
anatomic findings and achieves your aesthetic goals.

There are so many factors that will effect the ultimate outcome and appearance of your breasts following implant removal. These include:

1.Age (yes, over 40 does mean less elasticity/contractility than a 25 year old but usually more than a 60 year old)
2.Size of implant
3.Number of years implant is in place
4.Over or under the muscle placement
5.Length and duration of nursing while implants are in place
6.Natural volume of breast tissue


In summary, it is my experience that If you go with a conservative volume implant (that is a subjective and not objective term) relative to your breast tissue, it is likely that you will have some loss of upper fullness with implatnt removal but not a drastic amount of sag (ptosis).

I have prepared a video on youtube entitled Breast Augmentation Overview in which I show the consequences of two patients who have undergone implants removal:

1.Scroll to 1 min into the video and you will see a 40 year old who underwent implant removal 1 year after placement. I do not have the pre implant photos because the augmentation was performed elsewhere and the patient preferred to have me remove the implant rather than the initial surgeon

.
2.Scroll to 1 min 30 sec into the video and the second patient is a 42 year old who had implants in place for 20 years.

Occasionally, it is obvious that a person will need a lift and implant removal and replacement can be performed simultaneously although there are some concerns about the circulation to the nipple areolar complex. I generally prefer a two stage approach with implant removal followed b 6-9 months of observation and then decide on a lift at that point in time. If there is a question about the need for a lift, saline implants can be deflated with a needle to get a rough idea bout the degree of sagging or droop (ptosis) followed by observation for 1-2 weeks to observe the effects of immediate contraction

It really depends on the proportion between you breast tissue and implant volume. If there is more breast tissue than implant and the implant is not very large you should have a good result after implant removal. If the implant is very big in proportion to the original breast size, a mastopexy might be necessary. You can also replace with another implant.