I'm 48 with silicone implants for over 15 years having them removed by the NHS, how are my breasts going to look?

Question

Hi I'm 48 with silicone implants for over 15 years having them removed by Nhs due to pain. Op booked for APril, excited about having them out but worried about how they are going to look after due to how long I had them in and the loose skin.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  Unfortunately without photographs it is difficult to offer definite advice but in most cases of 15 year old implants you will see some breast skin excess and tissue sagging once the implants are removed.  If significant you can have a breast lift performed at the same time as explant or can stage the procedures with a lift done in a second operation.  Hope this helps.

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. It would be difficult to give an absolute answer of how they will turn out.  It will take several months to see the final result. The answers to your questions depend on a variety of factors.  How large are your implants?  What is your skin like?  Do you have ptosis?  How long have the implants been in?  This will help determine if you need a lift or not.  There are options for the different types of incision lines as well.  Please tell your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon your concerns.Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D., F.A.C.S.Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Las Vegas Plastic Surgery

Kouros Azar, MD · Answer

How you will look is really going to depend on a number of factors: the size of your implants, the quality of your skin and how much natural breast tissue you have. Obviously, your breasts will look smaller. Your skin will probably sag. Whether this will bounce back on it's own or not is unknown. Your surgeon would have a better idea. If you are worried, you can always get a breast lift or some fat grafting to the breasts. Best of luck.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Your look after implant removal will be influenced by a few factors.  Some include the quality of your skin, the size of your implants, the length of time the implants have been in place, and the amount of natural breast tissue you currently have.  You can expect that the volume provided by the implants will be lost.  After 15 years the skin has probably loosened especially if you had larger implants, and you can expect some sagging.  You can consider having a lift at the time of the implant removal if you are concerned.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. Short answer: much will depend on your physical examination ( factors such as degree of breast ptosis, current position of breast implants,  assessment of breast skin quality/elasticity…).
Generally speaking what breasts 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.
In my practice, if a patient presents with "breasts in borderline position" or has doubts about breast lifting surgery, I suggest that they undergo breast implant removal only; breast lifting can always be done at a second stage, if necessary.
I hope this, and the attached link (dedicated to breast implant removal surgery concerns) helps. Best wishes with your decision-making and for an outcome that you will be pleased with long-term.

Sharline Z. Aboutanos, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. It is difficult to answer your question entirely without being able to perform an in-person examination. The size of the remaining breast tissue and the elasticity of your skin will determine how your breasts will look after the procedure. Once you have healed, you can return to your plastic surgeon to see if you are a candidate for a breast lift if that is a procedure you are interested in having. Good luck with your surgery.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

Online consultants do not have enough information or photos to give you advice.  Based on the information you have shared, I would recommend you have the implants removed.  Heal from the surgery, and reevaluate your breast a few months later to see if a lift is needed.

I'm 48 with silicone implants for over 15 years having them removed by the NHS, how are my breasts going to look?

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