Explant of implants - is it possible to deflate implants to decide if they should be replaced?

Yes, frequently women who have implants will present with a desire to reduce their volume. This is most common in women whose breasts have enlarged over time. A way to help make a decision between explantation and replacement with smaller implants is deflation of the current saline implants. This is a very simple office procedure done under local anesthesia.

Hi Suzhutch! Great question! We commonly perform saline implant deflation prior to an implant exchange or removal. Deflation can give you a good idea of how much breast tissue you have to determine whether or not you will need extra volume from an implant to reach your size goals. Deflation is something we easily do with you awake in the office with little to no discomfort. Revision breast surgeries can be technically challenging, so I highly recommend seeking out a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in surgery of the breasts to help you acheive your aesthetic goals. Best of luck!

Hello!
Yes! So some surgeons will offer and in office procedure where we can deflate the saline implant and remove the shell in the office without general anesthesia only using local, like lidocaine. Little downtime as well. We close the incisions and see how the breasts heal and in a few months you can decide if you want implants with a lift or just a lift. Hope this helps!

Dear suzhutch1,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. 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, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

I frequently do explant with breast lift simultaneously. I do this because most times the excess skin requires a lift. The question is whether you want volume. Since you have saline implants, they can be ruptured and will determine the final volume. However, 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.

Hello and thank you for your question.
It is absolutely possible to deflate your implants before undergoing additional surgery. It can be easily done in the office and something I routinely encourage . Deflating the implants will give you a better idea of how your breasts will look after explanation and allow you to make a more informed decision about whether you would require replacement of the implants, a breast lift or a combination of the two. I've had patients who after deflation and skin retraction were pleased with the appearance of their breasts and decided on implant removal only. Good luck. I hope this helps.

Thanks for your question. Yes, this is a common way to see how patients feel living implant-less. Good luck!

Thanks for your question! Absolutely you can deflate your implants and then see how you feel prior to making any decisions. We do this all the time. Good luck!

Yes, it is absolutely possible to deflate saline implants prior to surgery. This can be done simply by aspirating the fluid out using a large syringe. This will not give a complete picture of what a lift without implant replacement will look like, as you are going to have a more deflated appearance than what would be achieved once a lift is performed. However, purely from a volume-standpoint this may help you make you decision.
Sean Fisher, MDAesthetic Plastic SurgeonSeattle, WA

Great question! Here’s how this usually works:
Deflating saline implants temporarily to see how your breasts look without volume can be done, but it’s not typically the best or most common approach for a few reasons:
1. Temporary deflation is possible — your surgeon can remove saline from the implant through the valve. This reduces volume and lets you get a sense of your breast shape with less fullness.
2. But implants are still physically there — even deflated, the implant shell remains, so your breast shape won’t be exactly the same as it would be without implants at all.
3. Tissue changes take time — after deflation, your skin and breast tissue need weeks to settle to get a clearer picture. This means multiple visits, and sometimes discomfort or unevenness while the tissue adjusts.
4. Two surgeries often still needed — if you decide to remove the implants entirely, you’ll usually need a second surgery for removal plus the lift (mastopexy). If you want smaller implants, that’s typically done at the time of implant exchange with lift.
What’s usually recommended?
• Consult with your plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and options.
• Often, surgeons will do a single surgery where implants are removed and a lift is done — if you want to see your natural breast shape beforehand, they might show you simulations or photos of similar cases.
• If you want to downsize implants with a lift, it’s often done in one operation: remove old implants, place smaller ones, and do the lift all together.
• Temporary deflation can be an option but it’s less common and might not give the full picture of post-removal breast shape.
Bottom line:
You can deflate saline implants to get a sense of volume reduction temporarily, but it won’t perfectly replicate implant removal. Usually, the best route is a careful surgical plan with your plastic surgeon to achieve your desired size and lift in one surgery.