I have made the decision to have my breast implants removed. Will I need a lift? (Photo)

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.
With regards to your specific question, without an in-person exam it is difficult to make a prediction. Much will depend how long they have been in place, how large, and how much you have changed over time. 
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
RealSelf Top 100
RealSelf Hall of Fame 

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. It is not unreasonable to remove the implants and then observe a waiting period of six months before the determination for breast lift or breast fat transfer 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. 

Dear Unrelated85,
It is hard to tell for sure how will your breasts look after you remove implants. You can remove the implants and wait some time to see the final shape of your breasts and then decide whether you'll need a breast 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

You will be smaller and have some excess skin. a lift could be considered after the removal. You could also have some skin tightening with radiofrequency, like Thermitight, with minimal scarring.

Thanks for writing,This is a hard question to answer because it is based on many factors. The quality of your skin, how much breast tissue do you have, how well do you think the tissues will shrink, what is the quality of your ribs and what is the symmetry of your ribs? To name a few. This conversation is best had with your plastic surgeon with an in person examination.Stephen M. Davis, MD, FACS
Certified: American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member: RealSelf Hall of Fame
VERIFIED: PLASTIC SURGERY

It is important to know your goals for surgery in order to best answer your question.  If you are wanting to look similar to your preop photos it is likely you will need some degree of a lift. When the implants are removed you will lose the upper pole fullness created by the implants and the breasts may look "deflated".  Your skin will retract to some degree as you heal.  One option is to have the implants removed and then wait.  If you are unhappy with the way the breasts look once you are healed you can return for a lift at a later time.

Whether to lift breasts at the same time as removal of breast implants is a decision that is best individualized.  Every patient starts out with different anatomy, different goals/expectations, as well as different  preferences.   
In your case, based on the information provided and the photograph, I do not think that breast lifting will be necessary.  However, given the positioning of the breast implants (and the breast asymmetry present), some "adjustments" of the breast implant capsules and/or tissues may be helpful when it comes to achieving improved symmetry after breast implant removal surgery.
 Some general thoughts regarding breast implant removal and the need for breast lifting may be helpful to you:
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.
 I have found in my practice, that when breast lifting surgery is definitely going to be necessary in order to achieve an aesthetically pleasing outcome, MOST patients prefer to have the breast lifting performed at the time of breast implant removal.   Most patients simply do not wish to undergo two operations, if avoidable.
   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. 
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.
 
 As you can see, there is much to consider (which is why nothing replaces individualized care,  centered on good communication and good judgment, provided by a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon). 
My best advice: select your plastic surgeon carefully. Make sure that he/she has significant experience achieving the types of outcomes you will be pleased with. Then, communicate your goals carefully, as well. Working together you will come up with a good plan to achieve your goals.  
  Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with.

Hi, thanks for your question
I usually find that removing implants in this scenario does not require an uplift and, looking at your pictures i am sure this would be the case for you.  the breasts should return approximately to the size they were before you had implants but remember that you are 10 years older so the elasticity and texture of your natural breast tissue will have changed so you will probably find that the breasts are have a slightly softer feel and appearance than your original pre-implant breasts.  It is possible to get some adhesion around the scar or internally combined with post surgical swelling - and this could cause an indentation but usually, over the course of 12 months post op, everything softens and settles and there is unlikely to be indentation in the long term.  It is not possible to guarantee this 100% however.
I should add that there is no current guideline or imperative to remove these implants unless you get swelling or shape or texture change in them.
I hope this is helpful