What Do Breasts Look Like After Implant Removal?

Breast implants aren’t forever—and they don’t have to be. If you want to remove your breast implants for any reason, this blog will give you a good idea of what you can expect from explantation surgery and its results.

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The Shift Towards Smaller Breasts

More and more women are deciding that their breast implants are no longer working for them and want a solution. While breast explantation or breast implant removal surgery has been around as long as breast implants themselves, many patients are still hesitant about this procedure, as it leaves some questions—like aesthetics—unanswered.

Below, we’ll walk you through the process of explantation, why some women want to undergo this procedure, and what your breasts can look like once your implants are removed.

Why Do Women Want to Remove Their Breast Implants?

Just like the initial decision to undergo breast augmentation, the decision to have implants removed is entirely unique to the patient. Some common reasons women decide to have their implants removed include:

• They no longer like the aesthetic
• They feel their appearance no longer reflects their lifestyle
• Their implants are cumbersome or uncomfortable
• They are experiencing breast implant illness (BII) symptoms
• Their breast implants need replacing, and the patient no longer wants the upkeep

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to have your breast implants removed—you may even have a reason that’s not on this list; the decision is entirely your own.

It’s a common misconception that breast implants are built for life—they’re not. At some point in her life, a woman with breast implants will likely need to replace or remove her breast implants due to the nature of the implant itself, not the patient’s doing. An implant can rupture, shift in the breast capsule, or be constricted by painful scar tissue called capsular contracture. Some patients experience symptoms like fatigue, pain, discomfort, anxiety, joint pain, brain fog, autoimmune disease symptoms, and depression—all symptoms of BII. Others decide that the size, projection, and shape of their breasts no longer suit their lifestyle or look anymore and simply want to be rid of their implants.

We can go on. The bottom line: If you have breast implants and you want them removed, you’re not alone. You have options.

Will My Breasts Look Deflated After I Remove My Implants?

While we can go on about why someone would want their implants removed, you’re probably wondering what your breasts will look like after the implants are removed—and rightfully so! Just because you want your implants removed doesn’t mean you don’t care about your appearance. Before we can discuss results, though, we’ll quickly walk you through the explantation procedure.

What to Expect From the Explantation Procedure

The premise of the procedure is: your board-certified plastic surgeon will remove your breast implants, preserving the integrity of the breast tissue, muscles, and skin as much as possible.

The breast implants can be removed in an en bloc technique, during which the entire breast capsule (the scar tissue around the breast implants) is removed in one piece so that no scar tissue or breast implant materials (such as silicone) remain. This is popular with patients who are experiencing BII symptoms, but it’s only possible if the breast capsule and implants are in good condition (ruptures may make you ineligible). Otherwise, the implants can be removed in pieces.

Your surgeon will carefully close the incisions, and the surgery will be complete.

What Results Can I Expect After Explantation?

After explantation, your breasts will be smaller. The skin may even be stretched, depending on your age, the size of your implants, and how much natural breast tissue you have. These are all factors in the appearance of your natural breast tissue after explantation.

For example, if you have large breast implants or you have gained weight over the years since your initial procedure (which is very common), your breast skin may have expanded to accommodate these changes. If you are older or have poor skin elasticity (also very common), you may feel that your breasts are deflated or sagging after your procedure. It all comes down to your individual case: the size of your implants, the length of time they were in your body, the location of the breast enlargement incision, the integrity of your breast tissue and skin, and the amount of scar tissue and contracture around the implants.

Many women are ecstatic to have their breast implants removed, especially if they experience adverse reactions to their implants. Breast implant explantation is NOT a cosmetic procedure. However, there are still options for having aesthetically pleasing and comfortable breasts.

Dr. Halpern’s Explantation Techniques

Explantation can leave the breasts deformed. For this reason, Dr. Joshua Halpern invented the 3-dimensional recruitment lift. After undergoing an explantation, it is not uncommon to have depression deformities, stretched breast skin, and droopy breasts. Because of Dr. Halpern’s artistic background, he developed an innovative technique to preserve breast soft tissue and use the excess skin as a breast volume filler. This technique minimizes excess skin, enhancing the shape and perkiness of the breasts. He commonly performs this procedure with the explantation. By incorporating his Finesse Technique®, the majority of Dr. Halpern’s patients experience minimal discomfort and a much quicker recovery compared to traditional techniques.

Interested in Explantation in Tampa, FL?

Dr. Joshua Halpern is an award winning, experienced plastic surgeon, having served the community of Tampa for over 25 years. If you want to be free of your breast implants and feel confident with your results, don’t hesitate—call Dr. Halpern today at (813) 872-2696 or fill out our contact form to get started.