Question
Breast implant removal: does it require breast lift surgery?
i want to remove my breast implants. too big. if i do this will i most likely need a breast lift? is my skin stretched permanently as a result of implants?
Asked by: UB44
Answers (7)
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1
November 3, 2008
Not always
Hello,
The question of whether or not a lift is beneficial after removing breast implants relates to how much change the breasts will realize upon removing the implants. Some patients choose to have smaller ones placed and others want no implants at all. Some ladies have more breast tissue than when they first had their implants placed. This is probably due to weight gain over the years. Every case is different, but not all want or benefit from breast lift surgery.
In the video clip I linked here only one of the three patients had implants placed once again. They all had some kind of lift though.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKy-9m85blA2
October 28, 2008
Breast implant removal does not usually require a breast lift
If you had implants to try to correct sagging, then you probably will benefit by a breast lift when the implants are removed. But if you had small, relatively flat breasts with the nipples in a good position originally, then you don't need a lift.
3
October 28, 2008
Have them deflated and find out
I won't elaborate on the several other answers that were provided, as they are all accurate and sound advice. A consult with a board certified plastic surgeon may answer your question outright. However, if there is still any question after you have the consultation I will offer you a possible way to find out if you will need a lift after implant removal. The method will ONLY work if you have purely saline implants. If this is the case, then you can speak to your board certified plastic surgeon to request that he/she deflate one or both of the implants. The deflated implant(s) may be left in place for a few months to see how your breast(s) and skin respond to the loss of volume. After that time your plastic surgeon will have a better idea of your tissue characteristics and will be better able to guide you in your decision for either implant replacement alone, lift alone, a combination of both or simply removal of the implants.
4
October 28, 2008
Depends on your nipple areola position and degree of skin laxity
The need for breast lifting depends on the relative position of the nipple areola and the inframammary crease below the breast. The closer they get to the crease or if they are at or below the crease, the more you need a lift to restore ideal breast aesthetics.
So the true answer to your question is that it just depends on these factors. It might be obvious before they are removed that you do or don't need a lift, but sometimes there are marginal cases in which you just need to sse how things look with the implants out.
5
October 28, 2008
down-sizing breast implants may be an option but you still may need a lift
It depends on how large of an implant was used and how stretched the skin-soft tissue envelope is. If you feel the implants are too big for you...you have several options.
If you still want some degree of added fullness (more than before breast augmentation) than some degree of "down- sizing" of the implants would be recommended. Sometimes this will necessitate a breast lift (mastopexy) and other times it may not. It really depends on how much if any residual soft tissue laxity remains after changing to a smaller implant after a period of time for healing. Some patients may "meet criteria" for a breast lift (mastopexy) but are really happy with the breast appearance even with a small degree of laxity and leave the breasts just as they are.
If you are tentative about a breast-lift then I would simply do the down-sizing first and let everything "settle". After 6 months you can decide if you think you need a lift. If the breast is still droopy and the nipple position is low, then the liklihood is that you would need and probably want to have a breast lift.
If you know that you absolutely don't want implants any more then I would recommend simply to have them removed and wait and let everything heal; however, it is important to realize that if you decide on removal rather than down-sizing...you are more likely to need a breast lift in time.
Good Luck
James F. Boynton MD FACS
6
October 27, 2008
Bottom line: maybe, maybe not, but be prepared for a lift if it is needed.
It all depends…………..
If you are unhappy with the size of your breast implants, having them replaced with smaller implants can be a very good option. Whether or not a breast lift will be needed is different from one situation to another. It all depends upon a number of questions:
If you are unhappy with the size of your breast implants, having them replaced with smaller implants can be a very good option. Whether or not a breast lift will be needed is different from one situation to another. It all depends upon a number of questions:
- Is there skin laxity currently?
- How is your skin and tissue elasticity?
- How much are you decreasing the size of your implants?
- How long have you had your implants?
- Have you been pregnant since you have had your implants?
- And, were larger implants placed in the hopes of avoiding a breast lift in the first place? If the answer to the last question is yes, prepare yourself for a breast lift. You probably needed it in the first place.
How implants will affect the breast and overlying tissue over time is very variable. If the tissues have thinned out, and the skin has lost a lot of elasticity (due to time, weight loss, pregnancy, or the weight of the current implants) then a lift is likely to be needed. If on the other hand, tissue elasticity is good and the size difference in the implants is not huge, you may get by without a lift. But if the skin is already stretched out, it is unlikely to change with downsizing of the implants.
Talking with a board certified plastic surgeon who has a lot of experience with breast surgery, and who has dealt with this issue before, is your best bet. Ask specific questions about how things will look, where scars will be, and what size implants are recommended. It is helpful if you have your doctor’s notes from the previous surgery. Listen carefully to what your surgeon tells you. Make sure you understand what you are being told, and make sure it makes sense to you.
Bottom line: maybe, maybe not, but be prepared for a lift if it is needed. A better shape usually trumps longer scars.
7
October 27, 2008
Breast implant removal doesn't require breast lift, but you may want to consider it
Answer by Scott Sattler, MD
Depending on how long you have had the implants, the implant volume, and the amount of breast tissue you started with - these are the factors that will determine if you'll need a lift post-op.
If you want the nipple position restored to the aesthetically correct position, then a breast-lift or 'mastopexy' is the procedure that a plastic surgeon can help you make a decision about.
Your skin is 'stretched' by the implant- more accurately, the tissues you have 'above' the implant were thinned by the presence of the implant. One tactic your surgeon may suggest is to do the implant removal and mastopexy in two-stages.
First stage: remove implant. Allow you to see what your breast looks like in the un-augmented state.
Second stage: do the mastopexy if you don't like the look.
Alternatively, you could decide to do nothing- especially if you are happy with the way you appear in clothing. If you're unhappy with the nipple position and lack of breast volume post-op, then go for a mastopexy. Hope this helps. You really need to be examined by a plastic surgeon to answer this question.
Scott Sattler MD FACS
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12/28/08
i had breast implant surgery in 1990, then i had 4 children and after that i now have 6 children. I am getting a breast reduction and the on 2/17 and the doctor suggested that i remove my implants and he said i am a good candidate because i have plenty of extra skin. My concern is that i want to keep a size C cup and i still want to have the foxy look that implants give you. would that possible? and would my breast look perky after the reduction ? thanks.