Breast implants aren’t always forever.
Some people get implants and keep them for decades. Others eventually decide that, for one reason or another, they’re ready for a change.
Whether because of changing aesthetic preferences or problems with the implants themselves, many people choose to have their implants removed.
If you’re interested in breast implant removal but aren’t keen on replacing them, you may be worried about what your breasts will look like.
Dr. Mark Bosbous has helped many patients in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area remove their breast implants. During that time, he’s answered many questions about the process and its consequences.
One of the most common questions is simply, “What will my breasts look like after I remove my breast implants?”
The answer is a bit complicated. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.
What Happens to Your Breasts When Implants Are Removed?
When you augment your breasts with implants, they expand to meet the added volume. This means that when breast implants are removed, the breasts lose the volume that the implants provided.
However, by the time you’ve removed your implants, the skin and tissue surrounding your implants have changed considerably. Consequently, your breast volume will go back down to what it was before — but your breasts probably won’t look the same as they did prior to your augmentation.
How your breasts will look depends on a few factors. The main factors involved are the size of your implants, the amount and quality of your remaining breast tissue, and the scar tissue surrounding the implants.
Someone with small implants and naturally fuller breasts may notice only modest changes. In contrast, someone with large implants and little natural breast tissue may notice a much starker difference.
Will Your Breasts Sag After Implant Removal?
This is one of the most common questions that people have about breast implant removal.
The answer is: They might.
As noted above, implants add volume to your breasts, causing the surrounding skin and tissue to stretch to accommodate them. After removal, your skin may tighten around your smaller breasts — but it doesn’t always tighten enough to fully get rid of sagging.
As a result, someone who has had their breast implants removed may now have flatter, looser, or lower breasts than they did before.
How much your breasts may sag following implant removal depends on a few different factors. Age, skin elasticity, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight fluctuations can all influence how one’s breasts look after implant removal.
It should be noted that sagging is not inevitable. Some patients remove their implants and notice only minimal sagging.
If sagging is a concern, discuss the issue with a surgeon like Dr. Mark Bosbous. During this discussion, a surgeon may recommend methods or additional procedures to minimize sagging.
Are There Other Issues That Can Come With Breast Implant Removal?
Patients who have removed their breast implants have occasionally reported other issues.
For example, some patients say that their breasts look somewhat empty or deflated after removal. Others experience visible wrinkling, dimpling, or irregularities in their breast contour.
All of that said, these changes aren’t necessarily permanent.
The time following your surgery involves a lot of recovery — and through that process, the shape of your breasts will continue to change.
After breast implant removal, it may take up to a year to see the final results of the surgery. While your breasts may not return to their original fullness, some patients find that their breasts settle into a shape they’re happy with as they heal.
Should You Get a Breast Lift After Implant Removal?
Some patients who are concerned about sagging choose to pair their breast implant removal with a breast lift.
This is a procedure that removes excess skin and reshapes remaining breast tissue.
While this procedure does not replace the volume provided by an implant, it can change the shape of the breast to meet a patient’s desires.
Alternatively, some patients may choose to have a breast lift paired with a fat transfer, or simply a fat transfer by itself. This is where fat harvested from one part of the body is added to the breast, increasing volume.
No matter which procedure you choose, the best first step is a consultation with a skilled plastic surgeon. If you’re interested in breast implant removal in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, reach out today.