Weight Loss After Explant? (photo)

Question

Dear doctors, I have gained weight in the ~10 years since my implants. They started a 34c after aug and are now a 34 DD. if I explant and then lose weight (hopefully ~10 lbs or ~10% fat--I'm 5'4 and 145 lbs), what are the ramifications? Could weight loss in the first year after explant cause negative aesthetic results? Thank you.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

No one can truly predict this as each soft tissue envelope will respond differently, but you may do well with just removal.  Weight loss will likely cause further deflation.Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of breast implant removals, breast  augmentation revisions, and breast augmentations each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's  website  before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can  deliver the  results. 	Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Hayley Brown, MD, FACS · Answer

Your scenario is a very common one. It is normal to experience breast size changes with age for many reasons including weight fluctuation or hormones. It sounds like you definitely do not need your implant any longer. I would advise implant removal; simultaneous breast lift can be performed to tighten up the breast tissues so that your breast is perky and youthful looking after implant removal. Many women weight fluctuate by 10-15 lbs. These relatively small weight fluctuations in my experience do not significantly change the results. However, if you tend to notice breast size changes with your weight fluctuations, and you loose a significant amount of weight after your surgery (lets say 20 lbs or more), there is always a chance of a size decrease or even some mild sagging. You never know what the future may bring. It is normal to have breast appearance changes from aging, gravity, weight fluctuation, pregnancy, hormones, etc, whether or not surgery is performed. It would be helpful to know your current implant size, and a physical exam would be the best way to give you more specific advice. But based on the information you have provided, you sound like a great candidate for implant removal with simultaneous breast lift if desired, and I would expect good longevity associated with the procedure.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If you have  explantation it is very difficult to predict how the breasts will respond in terms of final shape. With weight loss in addition it will more than likely deflate the breasts even more.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

After having the breast implants for 10 years, and weight gain, many changes has occurred in the breast. The changes in volume, the sagging (Ptosis) of the breast, changes in the skin, the pressure of the implant on the breast tissue, all these factors has to be taken in consideration. Idealy if you want the explant before loosing the weight, then do the explant, no lift till weight has stabilized, and breast has healed and stabilized. Once that happens then re-evaluate as to the needs of a breast lift. If you do the breast lift and loose a lot from the breast you may need a revision of the lift.

Steven Svehlak, MD · Answer

It is likely that over the years and with weight gain, your breast tissues have become less supportive and have stretched. Once an implant is removed there may be some retraction of the breast tissues, but it is likely that you will have deflated, droopy looking breasts. Weight loss may even increase the deflated, droopy look. You will have to decide if the look and shape of the breasts are acceptable. You may want to do a lift with possibly smaller implants to get some perkiness back. One thing I suggest to patients, ONLY if they have saline implants, is to have their implants percutaneously drained with a needle and some local anesthesia in the office. The patient will then have an instant assessment of what their breasts appear with none of the fullness an implants gives. Then, a better informed decision can be made to either just remove the implants, with or without a lift. Or possibly going with a smaller implant. Hope this helps. Thanks for the question

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

I don't think we can give you a specific answer for what might happen in the future, but we have the occassional patient with your scenario and they are usually quite happy with the results once the implants are removed because with the weight gain has come more natural breast volume and the implants are no longer necessary.

Weight Loss After Explant? (photo)

Answers (6)

More Breast Implant Removal Questions

How Long is Recovery for Breast Implant Removal Without Replacement? (photo)

On July 17th, my surgeon removed both of my 35-yr old Dow Corning double-lumen silicone gel implants?

Is There Such a Thing As Tissue Recoil After Breast Explant Without Replacement Implants and if So How Long Does It Take?

Dent After Explant; Permanent? (photo)

How Long Will my Nipples Stay Inverted After my Explant? It's Been 8 Weeks...

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS