Women seeking breast implant removal are often concerned about how they’ll look after surgery. The words “deflated”, “flat”, and “drooping” may come to mind.

But the good news is, none of these words need to describe your breasts after implant removal. While volume will certainly be lost with this procedure, your breasts don’t have to look like pancakes once you heal. There are several additional procedures we can perform, when necessary, to give your breasts the look you want.

Breast explant surgery is simply a procedure to take out your breast implants. Every woman is different, so each patient will then have to contend with her own unique breast tissue and anatomy to figure out what her next steps should be.

Some patients opt to leave their breasts alone. Many patients’ breasts will go back to their original size and shape once healed from surgery. Others opt for a breast lift or a breast fat transfer. Some end up getting new implants down the line.

The truth is, there’s no single right answer. However, to help you navigate your way through the process of having your implants removed, we do suggest starting by looking at some breast explant before and after photos.

Here’s what you should notice as you peruse these photos.

3 Things to Notice About Before and After Breast Explant Photos

1 – Patients often look “more natural” after implant removal.

Once implants are removed and the incision sites have healed, most patients find that their breasts go back to their regular size and shape. For many, this is an improvement.

It’s not uncommon for women to decide they want bigger breasts in their 20s or 30s, only to change their mind once they get older. They may have found extra-large breasts attractive at a younger age, but now, they want a more natural look, suitable to their current season of life. Without their implants, they’re able to fully appreciate the breasts they naturally have, and they can find new clothes and styles to fit their current figure.

Of course, for some women, having implants removed isn’t a choice. Those who’ve struggled with breast implant illness or an implant rupture or leak may need to have their implants removed right away for their safety. This can be a shock for many and a financial strain as well. Check out our blog “Does Insurance Cover Breast Implant Removal?” to learn more about how to pay for a surgery like this.

2 – Scar lines down the bottom half of the breasts usually mean the patient got a breast lift.

Almost all of the time, when a woman has a scar line down the bottom half of each of her breasts, it means she underwent a breast lift. Sometimes, a breast implant removal and lift can be performed at the same time. Other times, they are performed as distinct procedures, months apart.

A breast lift is a good option for women who no longer want implants in their body, but do want their breasts to look good. When implants are removed, however, and there is not a lot of natural fat and breast tissue left, the breasts will sag and look flat.

A lift simply props the breasts up more, and sometimes the areolae and nipples are also raised higher. The procedure can create amazing results, but it does leave a scar line down the lower center of each breast.

As a side note, some women who have a scar line down the lower half of their breasts have had breast reduction surgery.

3 – Not all women have enough of their own breast tissue to work with once implants are removed, so they get a fat transfer.

Lastly, you’ll notice that some women may have their implants removed, but once they’ve done so, their remaining natural breast tissue is quite minimal. For some, this may be totally fine. But for other women who are unsatisfied with their natural amount of breast tissue, they may want something to supplement the size of their breasts.

Some women opt to get new implants. Perhaps you had quite large implants to begin with and you didn’t like their size, so you have them removed. In this case, you can get smaller implants. If you don’t want implants at all, however, you do have another option. It’s called a fat transfer breast augmentation.

This procedure uses your own body fat to add to the volume of your breasts. So, in effect, we are using liposuction to remove excess fat from, say, your abdomen. We then transfer that fat (by way of injection) to your breasts where it will adhere and act as natural fat to plump up and volumize your breasts.

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Breast implant removal can be a confusing procedure for patients as initial breast augmentation surgery is far more common and talked about. If you have questions about breast explant surgery cost, the process and technique or who makes a good candidate for this procedure, we can help.

We invite you to learn more about breast implant removal and to see some of our before and after breast explant photos in person. Please contact our office today and book a consultation with female board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ashley Steinberg. We look forward to your call!