Will breasts sag if I decide to explant?

Often when removing implants the breasts will return back to their initial shape. They may look more droopy  depending on how long you have had them and whether or not you have lost weight or had children. They may look a little wrinkled for a couple months but then they slowly will regain their natural shape.

The most important factors that will determine if you will require a lift after explant are:
1) SIZE of your current implants.
2) Amount of BREAST TISSUE that you had before.
3) TIME interval since your augmentation.
4) Degree of BREAST SAGGING that has occurred since your augmentation.
5) POSITION OF YOUR NIPPLE in relation to the lower breast fold.

The likelihood of sagging after breast implant removal (explantation) depends on several factors:
Implant Size and Duration: Larger implants and long-term use tend to cause more stretching of the skin, which can lead to sagging once the implants are removed.


Skin Elasticity, Age, and Genetics: If your skin is elastic, it may retract more after implant removal, helping your breasts return to their natural shape. In contrast, less elastic skin can result in more sagging. As you age, skin and breast tissue naturally lose elasticity, increasing the chance of sagging.
Breast Tissue and Volume: If you have a smaller amount of natural breast tissue or if the implants replaced a lot of your natural tissue, the loss of volume after explantation may cause the breasts to appear deflated or sag.


Other Factors: Previous pregnancies, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, and the position of your nipples before implantation can all influence the outcome.


Some women may opt for a breast lift (mastopexy) during explant surgery to reshape and tighten the skin for a firmer, more youthful appearance. Others may use fat transfer or simply let time pass to see how the skin naturally contracts. Each individual response to explantation can vary significantly. It is important to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon who can customize your surgical plan and determine the best technique for you based on your individual anatomy and goals.


Dr. Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHS
Harvard, Johns Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Educated
Double Fellowship Trained
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon
New York, New York

Thank you for your question. Implant removal can lead to sagging which is expected by patients depending on various factors. I would advise you to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for a detailed examination to discuss all possible treatment options and what your expectations are. 

Implant removal can lead to breast sagging. The severity depends on a number of factors, including original breast volume, ptosis, implant size, how long you've had the implants in, skin quality, etc. The breast tissue will rebound somewhat and the skin can contract. If you have saline implants you can preoperatively deflate the implants to see how the tissue is going to respond and then make a decision about proceeding with a breast lift at the time of implant removal. If you have silicone implants, then you need to have them removed first before you can assess the soft tissue volume changes. See a board certified plastic surgeon who can give you all of your options. 

The volume of the breast of course always diminishes after implant are removed and this can make someone feel more 'saggy' after such a surgery.  Everyone is a bit different and your skin elasticity depends on a few factors--  how large the implant size, aging, genetics, weight loss, how your own breast tissue has changed.  Women with great skin tone and small implants may look very much like their preop breast after implant removal.  Some of it is an unknown and many times I remove implants with a wait and see approach.  Fortunately I do not remove implants very often but in those patients, I find that few return for a lift.  In fact, no recent patient of mine has felt the need to undergo a lift even if they agree that their breasts look a little sagging after explantation.  They may feel that it is age appropriate and do not feel inclined to do anything further.

Hi! Technically, there will be excess skin from when your breast accommodated the size of the implants. So, yes, the breasts will be smaller and sag after explantation. However, the shape and size of the breast will be unpredictable. It still varies greatly between patients because age, genetics, environment, skin elasticity, etc. will affect the results.
There are other options such as breast lift, California Lift or natural breast augmentation (performed with fat grafting) if you are not satisfied with the result after explantation. It is best to consult your surgeon regarding this concern. #RealSelf100

How your breast will appear after explant depends on several factors including size of implant and how long you have had them. Many patients do fine with a simple explant, while others may need a lift as well. Many patients opt for fat transfer to the breast during the explant to maintain volume without implants. For more information on combined explant and fat transfer see the attached link.

Hello and thank you for your question.
In general, the answer to your question is yes. Depending on the size of your implant will depend on the degree of sagging that will occur after removal. Women who have had large implants for many years will exhibit the most dramatic degree of postoperative sagging when their implants are removed.
This phenomenon occurs due to the significant stretching of the tissue that occurs over the course of months to years that causes atrophy of the breast tissue and stretching of the skin. Once the implant is removed there is a loss of volume in the breast pocket which results in a flattened appearance to the breast and a downward drop of the nipple areolar complex.
Hope this helps answer your question. All the best!
Alex Zuriarrain, MD, Plastic Surgery

Hi there,
Without having any informations or seeing any photos of your current conditions, it's impossible to predict or advise any likely expectations of the cosmetic consequence of your breast explantation.
It really depends on your intrinsic tissue quality, size of your current implants and how long they've been inserted and stretching your breast skin envelope. Factors such as weight fluctuations, multiple pregnancies as well as your current breast dimensions and nipple positions can all contribute to the degree of "sagging" that may result post breast implant removal without any implant replacements.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes
Ellis Choy

This is a great question and unfortunately there is not one correct answer. Generally, the longer the implants have been in and the larger the implant size, the more likely a lift will be needed. Consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will help determine what is best for you.