I want to get my implants removed but have some concerns

Question

I got a breast Aug 3 weeks ago & want to get them removed as this was a mistake & truly just not for me. I was a A cup & for 250CCs silicone I am 25 years old. I want to get them removed at 8 weeks, will they bounce back to what they were before? How can I minimize the drop & fluff process so my breasts go back to the way they were. I am debating between IV anesthesia & local as well, any advice on that? I do not want to go under again as I am scared.

Shaher W. Khan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The sooner you remove your implants, the better chance for a natural appearance again. Your age, size of the implants, and helath all play a role in recovery. Usually younger patients retract better than older people due to the elasticity factor. As for anesthesia, I use twilight sedation. This is less harsh on the individual. Although, if needed, general anesthesia is avaialble.

Philip J. Straka, MD, FACS · Answer

Very good question!  The degree of fluffing and skin retraction is highly variable from patient to patient due to several factors such as patient age, the thickness of one's subcutaneous breast tissue, and skin elasticity, however, due to the fact that you are only 25 years old likely increases your chance of having better skin elasticity than an older patient. Also, since your implants have not been in place for very long and due to the fact that they are smaller implants, I feel it is more likely that your tissues will "bounce back to what they were before." You can likely minimize "the drop," referred to breast ptosis, by undergoing breast implant removal surgery sooner than later to minimize the time that the added weight of your breasts from the implants stretch your breast skin.   To answer your question about anesthesia, most breast implant removal surgeries that I perform are under general anesthesia, in part, to keep patients most comfortable during the procedure.  I would have you undergo evaluation by the anesthesia provider preoperatively to review those risks with you.  You can refer to my website (drstraka.com) to see examples of breast implant removal patients of various ages who have undergone breast implant removal. The best way to estimate what your breasts would look like after breast implant removal would be to undergo an in-office examination by a plastic surgeon who is very experienced at performing breast implant removal surgery.  These are procedures which I personally have performed for over 25 years. I wish you the best of luck!

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @lauielee652, thank you for your question. Generally an explant can be done 12 months after surgery.  The need for a lift depends on the specialized surgical technique. I always perform immediate cosmetic reconstruction with the patient's own tissue using the BRALAN Technique (Breast Reconstruction Anatomical Lift Augmentation).  It is always safer to use general anesthesia for a surgical procedure. Regarding general anesthesia, it has been used safely in hundreds of thousands of surgeries every day, with very few adverse effects. In fact, many studies have suggested that the use of general anesthesia for major procedures such as this may reduce the risk of complications compared to the use of local anesthesia. If you are considering a breast explant, consultation with a plastic surgeon experienced in this procedure is essential to ensure optimal results. I link you to a video to shed more light. Best regards.

Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), Member of the International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” (IFATS), Member of the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery (SCCP).

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear lauielee652,
you need to discuss this with your plastic surgeon as probably the best option is to wait until you are fully healed to see the final results. However, if you decide to remove implants earlier, there is a high chance that your breasts will have the same size as prior to surgery. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

I'm sorry you are unhappy with your breast augmentation.  As you've had your implants in such a short time and since they are conservatively sized, you should return to a look similar to your pre op appearance once you have fully healed from surgery.  Be sure to closely follow your surgeon's advice.

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I want to get my implants removed but have some concerns

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