Have you been considering breast implant removal, but worry about how your breasts will look afterwards? You’re not alone. I’ve consulted with many women who express this very concern. They fear that removing their implants will leave them with sagging, deflated breasts, and they’ll lose the full, shapely appearance they’ve grown accustomed to.
I understand these concerns well. Having breast implants can significantly change the appearance of your breasts, and it’s natural to wonder how they will look after the implants are removed. The idea of your breasts changing again can understandably cause some apprehension. However, you should know that implant removal doesn’t necessarily mean you have to compromise on the appearance of your breasts.
With appropriate surgical techniques, it may be possible to maintain breast shape and volume, even without implants. One such technique is auto-augmentation, a procedure that repurposes your own natural breast tissue to support your breast shape after implant removal. In this post, we’ll detail the changes you can expect in your breasts after implant removal and the options you have.
What Happens to Your Breasts After Implant Removal?
One of the most common questions I hear from women considering breast implant removal is, “What will my breasts look like after the implants are gone?” It’s a valid concern, and one that I understand can cause a lot of anxiety.
The truth is, when you have your breast implants removed, your breasts will likely look and feel quite different than they did with the implants in place. This is because the implants took up space in your breast tissue and stretched out your skin to accommodate their size and shape. Once that volume is removed, your breast tissue and skin may appear looser and less full than before.
Some of the most common changes women notice in their breasts after implant removal include:
- Excess or lax skin: The skin that was once filled out by the implants may now appear loose and deflated, especially in the upper part of the breasts.
- Loss of volume and fullness:Â Without the implants taking up space, your breasts will likely look smaller and less full overall.
- Flattening of the upper breasts:Â The upper pole of the breasts (the area above the nipple) may appear flat or concave, as this is often where the implants provided the most projection.
- Downward-pointing nipples:Â As the breast tissue settles after implant removal, the nipples may start to point downward rather than forward.
- Altered breast shape:Â The overall shape of your breasts may look different, as the implants likely created a rounder, more projected appearance than your natural breasts. Often, the reason you decided on implants in the first place.
Now, I know reading about these changes may make you feel discouraged or even scared about going through with implant removal. It’s completely understandable to feel attached to the way your breasts look with implants, especially if you’ve had them for many years.
But here’s the thing – these changes, while significant, are totally normal and expected after implant removal. Your body is simply adjusting to no longer having the artificial volume and support of the implants. It’s a natural process that every woman goes through after explant surgery.
And there are things we can do to help manage these changes and create an optimal breast appearance, even without the implants. In many cases, the skin will retract and tighten up on its own over time. And with techniques like auto-augmentation, we can redistribute your own natural tissue to restore some volume and shape to your breasts.
Options for Addressing Breast Appearance Post-Implant Removal
If you’re considering breast implant removal, you may be wondering what your options are for maintaining breast appearance after surgery.
One of the most effective techniques I use is called auto-augmentation. This involves carefully preserving and repurposing your own natural breast tissue to restore some shape and volume to the breasts after implant removal. Instead of simply discarding any loose skin and tissue, I carefully reshape and reposition this tissue to reconstruct and recontour the breasts. Auto-augmentation uses your existing tissue to add volume and projection to the breast without the use of implants.
Another option to consider is a breast lift, also known as mastopexy. This procedure focuses on removing excess, lax skin and lifting the remaining breast tissue to a higher position on the chest wall. A breast lift can be a good choice if your primary concern is skin laxity and downward-pointing nipples, rather than a significant loss of volume. By tightening and reshaping the breast skin, a lift can restore the appearance of an uplifted breast shape, although it won’t add fullness.
Some women also inquire about replacing their current implants with newer ones after removal. This is known as breast implant revision surgery. If your goal is to maintain a similar level of fullness and more or less the same size as your current augmented breasts, new implants are certainly an option. However, it’s important to carefully consider your reasons for removing your implants in the first place. If you experienced complications like capsular contracture or implant rupture, there’s a chance these issues could recur with new implants. Additionally, if the appearance or feel of implants is no longer desirable to you, replacing them may not align with your ultimate goals.
So, what can you expect your breasts to look like with each of these options? With auto-augmentation, most women maintain a reasonable amount of volume and shapeliness in the breasts, with a gentle upward slope and elevated nipple position. A breast lift without auto-augmentation will yield breasts that are smaller and less full, but with a lifted nipple position. Replacing your implants will give you the most fullness, but the breasts may lack the soft, natural feel of breasts without implants.
Ultimately, the right approach depends on your unique anatomy, goals and preferences. What works for one woman may not be the best choice for another.
Breast Implant Surgery Before and After Images
Auto-Augmentation after Breast Implant Removal
So, you may be wondering, what exactly happens during an auto-augmentation procedure? Allow me to walk you through the process.
First, I’ll carefully remove your breast implants and if necessary, the surrounding scar tissue capsule that your body naturally formed around the implants. This is a delicate process that requires focus and attention to detail to support all the capsule tissue being removed while preserving the maximum amount of your natural breast tissue.
Once the implants are out, I’ll take a good look at your remaining breast skin and tissue. Now, here’s where my approach differs from many other surgeons. While some may simply discard any loose or excess tissue, I see it as valuable material that we can use to reshape your breasts.
Using surgical techniques, I’ve gained through years of experience, I’ll carefully fold and stitch this excess tissue underneath your nipple and areola. By doing this, I’m able to fill out the upper part of your breast that often looks a bit empty or flat after implant removal. It’s like adding some gentle padding to assist the contours of your breasts.
But auto-augmentation does more than just add volume. By strategically placing and securing the tissue, I can also give your nipples a subtle lift and adjust their forward projection. This means your nipples will have an uplifted look, pointing slightly upwards rather than downwards. It’s a small detail that can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your breasts.
Now, the amount of excess tissue available for auto-augmentation can vary quite a bit from person to person. It depends on factors like your unique anatomy, the size of the implants you had, and the natural elasticity of your breast skin. But in most cases, there’s enough tissue to work with to make a noticeable change in your breast shape.
Results after Implant Removal with Auto-Augmentation
Your breasts will likely have a natural teardrop shape, with more fullness in the lower pole and a gently sloping upper pole. The nipples generally have a slight upward tilt. Overall, the breasts should look natural and proportional to your frame, with no obvious signs that implants were ever in place.
It’s important to have realistic expectations, however. Auto-augmentation cannot completely replicate the fullness that implants provide, especially in the upper pole. Your breasts will be smaller than before. There may be some visible skin laxity, although this often improves over time. Scars are unavoidable, but I take care to try and place incisions where resulting scars will be well-concealed.
Recovery after Breast Auto-Augmentation
Immediately after your procedure, your breasts will be bandaged and supported with a surgical bra. There will be some bruising, swelling and soreness, but this is managed well with prescribed pain medication. Most patients take 1-2 weeks off work to rest and recover at home.
In the initial weeks after surgery, your breasts will likely sit high on the chest and appear quite firm and swollen. This is normal after auto-augmentation, as the repositioned tissue needs time to soften and settle. Expect your breasts to gradually develop a more natural shape and softness over the first 2-3 months post-op.
While recovery is progressive, it takes time for your breasts to completely settle into their final shape – typically around 6-12 months. At this point, you can better evaluate your surgical results. Touch-up procedures are rarely needed but can be performed if necessary to fine-tune your breast shape after you are fully healed.
FAQs about Breast Appearance after Implant Removal
Â
How will my breasts look after implant removal?
Some heaviness or dropping of the breasts is normal after implants are removed due to loss of volume and excess stretched skin. However, techniques like auto-augmentation can help manage heaviness and preserve an uplifted breast shape by repurposing your own natural tissue.
How much smaller will my breasts be after implants are removed?
This depends on factors like how large your implants were, how much natural breast tissue you have, and your skin quality. In general, expect your breasts to be 1-2 cup sizes smaller than when you had implants. Auto-augmentation can preserve some fullness, but your breasts will still be smaller than before.
What if I don’t have enough tissue for auto-augmentation?
Most women have enough excess breast tissue after implant removal to allow for some degree of auto-augmentation. However, if you lack sufficient tissue, you may be better suited for a breast lift alone to remove loose skin and reshape your breasts.
Can I get my nipples resized during implant removal surgery?
Yes, nipple reduction can often be performed at the same time as your implant removal and auto-augmentation procedure. This is a good time to address any nipple concerns you may have.
Will I need additional procedures in the future after auto-augmentation?
Auto-augmentation uses your own tissues to enhance your breast shape, so the results designed to be long-lasting. Unless you experience significant weight fluctuations or go through pregnancy, you likely won’t require additional breast shaping procedures after implant removal with auto-augmentation.
How noticeable will my scars be after implant removal and auto-augmentation?
Any time we make incisions on the body, some scarring is inevitable. However, I am always careful about scar placement. In most cases, I can use the same incisions from your original breast augmentation, so you won’t have any additional scars. These are typically located in the inframammary fold (the crease beneath the breasts). I will also provide you with detailed scar care instructions to help your incisions heal optimally.
Will my breasts be uneven after implant removal?
It’s quite common for women to have some degree of breast asymmetry, meaning one breast is slightly different in size or shape than the other. In many cases, this asymmetry was present before you had implants and was masked by the implants’ volume. So, when the implants are removed, you may notice your natural asymmetry becomes more apparent. Rest assured, some degree of asymmetry is completely normal and does not typically require correction. However, if your breasts are significantly uneven after implant removal, we can use techniques like auto-augmentation and fat grafting to address symmetry. In more pronounced cases, a concurrent breast lift can be performed on one side to better match the other breast.
If you have any other questions, I’m always happy to discuss them further in a personalised consultation.
Further Reading
- Read Dr Mark Kohout’s Procedure Page on Breast Implant
- Read Dr Mark Kohout’s Procedure Page on Breast Lift
Medical References
- Fat Grafting and Auto-Augmentation Mastopexy After Breast Implant Removal: Technique and Evaluation of Outcomes Using BREAST-Q
- Breast Implant Removal: What to Expect, Surgery & Recovery – Cleveland Clinic
- Safely Shaping the Breast After Implant Removal and Total Intact Capsulectomy Using the Mammary Imbrication Lift and Fixation Technique
- Imaging Features Following Breast Explant Surgery
- What Can We Learn from Breast Implant Explantation: a 28-Year, Multicenter Retrospective Study of 1004 Explantation Cases