How much breast tissue do I have left? What will I look like after explant? (photos)

Once implants are removed, there will likely be flattening and drooping that can be corrected in large part with a breast lift.   As far as the volume that is attained, that is a bit difficult to predict given the period of time that you have had the implants thinning the remaining tissue.  No one can truly predict this as each soft tissue envelope will respond differently, but you may do well with just removal. If there is any doubt, explant using the original incision, followed by a period of several months of observation.  After 6 months or so a decision for a breast lift with or without fat transfer can be made.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Thank you for your question and for the photos. The decision to have the implants removed is difficult as the final cosmetic outcome of the procedure itself is not entirely predictable. As my other colleagues have mentioned, amount of existing breast tissue, consistency, skin quality, all have part in the final size / shape of the breasts. In terms of shape, a factor to consider is the current position of the nipple in relationship to the breast crease; if, on average, the nipple is higher than the fold, you might have an acceptable shape after the removal of the implants; if on the other hand the nipple is close to or lower than the breast crease, you might perceive your breast as low and very empty afterwards. The advice that can be provided without an accurate examination are limited and therefore I would recommend for you to see at least two experience plastic surgeons and explore all your available options. Best of luckAndrea Marando

After having implants for 14 years your skin will have stretched to some degree to accommodate the implants.  If you have good elasticity your skin may retract favorably, but you are likely to still have some drooping of the breasts.  One option is to have the implants removed and then allow the breasts to fully heal before deciding if you would like to have further surgery.

The fact that you have been told you have "good skin" without stretch marks is favorable when it comes to how much your breasts will "bounce back" after removal of breast implants.Generally speaking, what your breasts will look like after explantation depends on several factors such as: the quality of skin elasticity (the better the elasticity the better the skin will bounce back), the size of the implants used (the larger the implant the more trouble you may have with redundant skin), and the amount of breast tissue present at this time (which may have changed since the time of your breast augmentation).
Life experience since your breast augmentation procedure, such as pregnancy or weight gain weight loss, will potentially influence the factors discussed above. If you take these factors into consideration and apply them to your specific circumstances you may get a good idea of what to expect after the implants are removed.
 Patience is definitely indicated after removal of breast implants; it will take many months/year for the skin to “bounce back” and for you to see the final appearance of the breasts.
In "borderline" cases where there is doubt whether breast lifting is necessary or not, I advise patients to undergo explantation only and to give their breasts the benefit of the doubt  before deciding whether breast lifting would be beneficial.  
In your case specifically my best advice: select your plastic surgeon very carefully. Ask him/her to show you examples of previous patients (demonstrating what he/she expects your breast to look like after breast implant removal and breast lifting surgery.   Seeing these visual representations of what you might expect, will likely help you make an informed decision as to how to proceed.
 I hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello amj85,
Thank you for your question! It is impossible to predict exactly what your breasts will look like after explantation. However, after 14 years, the skin and breast tissue overlying your implants will have been expanded, resulting in stretching. Additionally, even a person with good skin will develop some degree of natural ptosis whether or not they ever had implants placed. While at 33 you are still very young, you will almost certainly notice loss of volume in the upper pole of your breasts and "sagging" of the now-attenuated and stretched tissue. That being said, you will likely retain some of your previous breast volume, but the chronically expanded skin will not have the same projection and "perkiness" as it did before surgery 14 years ago.