How to estimate size after explant and lift? (Photo)

Unfortunately, you have not told us your bra size.  If you are 32 or 34, each 100 cc of implant removal corresponds to 1 cup size change.  If you are 36 or 38, each 200 cc of implant removal corresponds to 1 cup size change.  From this, you can determine what your bra size will be after removing your implants.  The technique I recommend is explantation and lift using The Bellesoma Method.  The implants are removed, your breast tissue is reshaped creating upper pole fullness, elevated higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage.  Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained, if not injured during your previous surgery.  Later, fat transfers can be performed if additional volume is desired.      Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

The smaller the implant and the less the amount of time it has been since placement, the greater the chance the breasts will return to their preoperative state. It is very difficult to predict breast size following explant b/c breast implants and weight fluctuations over time tend to thin tissues, cause a decrease in size, and create more droop.  
Usually removing them and performing the lift at the same time makes the most sense as some patients clearly need a lift and only want to go through one surgery.  If you are borderline, it is not unreasonable to remove the implants and then observe a waiting period of six months before the determination for breast lift is made. This will give your breasts time to bounce back and your PS time to determine what type of lift, if any, is needed.

Your plastic surgeon will be your best resource for this, however you can get a sense of how much tissue will be left by measuring the pinch of tissue above and on both sides of the breast. At the end of the day, there really is no way to accurately predict what will be left, you'll only know once the implants are out and everything is healed. Best of luck! 

The downsides of removal are primarily aesthetic.
It is difficult to make 100% accurate predictions following explant. There are a number of factors to consider including age (the breast changes over time irregardless of augmentation), weight change, skin stretch and residual elasticity.
Following removal, one can expect:
-Loss of volume- Not an exact correlation between pre- and post augmentation due to the changes over time. You may be bigger or smaller than you remember.
-Ptosis/sagging-Ptosis develops over time and may be worsened by the presence of an implant. If a patient has pre-explant sagging, removal is likely to worsen this to a certain extent. If there is no ptosis, it does not necessarily mean there will be no ptosis after removal.
-Skin laxity/stretch- There is inherent skin elasticity which will allow for some measure of snap back. However, the greater the volume differential pre- and post- the more likely there will be excess skin.
In my experience, it is usually a safe assumption that there will be some changes post removal which oftentimes may necessitate further operative intervention (i.e. lift), however this is often a function of size and length of time post op. Small implants which have only been in place for a short period will lead to an improved response/recoil post removal. Whereas larger implants which have been in for several years will often necessitate a lift.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).
Donovan Rosas MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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Thank you for sharing your question and photographs.  Without being able to feel your tissues to account for the volume of the implant and surrounding scar capsular contracture tissue it is impossible to know what size you would be.  Your breasts will approximate your original breast size prior to augmentation and most likely a little smaller than that.  Hope this helps.

That is a difficult question to answer without an in office exam.  However judging by your photos your breasts appear to be more implant than breast tissue.  With saline implants we can deflate them in the office very easily and give an accurate account to the patient of what she would be left with after removal and lift.  With silicone implants it is rather difficult but we can get a pretty good idea with an exam.  Also some volume can be added with fat transfer after removal and lift.
I would recommend you see a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.
Hope that helps.

Dear SelfLoveToo,
It is hard to predict the size of breasts after implants removal and lift. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

To best estimate the amount of natural breast tissue you have I encourage you to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon near you.  The longer that an implant is in place and the larger the implant volume, the more effect it will have on natural breast tissue.  Weight gain or loss can also impact the amount of natural breast tissue that is present.

Thank you for the question.  Nothing will replace in-person evaluation when it comes to providing you with good advice.  One way to decide whether or not you will be pleased with the results of breast implant removal surgery alone would be to ask your plastic surgeon to show you photographs of what he/she anticipates your breasts will look like after the procedure.
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.  
 I hope this helps. Best wishes.

Your surgeon who examined you can give you an idea of how much actual breast tissue you have, and how much volume is implant. Your own tissue has been stretched with the implant and your breast tissue has been thinned somewhat.