How to Tighten Skin After Breast Implant Removal

Posted November 22, 2024 in Breast Implant Removal

Women get their breast implants removed for a multitude of reasons, from complications to a change in lifestyle or aesthetic preference. Many women do not want new implants replaced but worry about how their breasts will look after their implants are removed. This blog will discuss aesthetic breast concerns after breast implant removal, as well as various steps and treatments to help the breasts look youthful and rejuvenated. 

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How Will My Breasts Look After Implant Removal?

When you get a breast augmentation, the skin on your breasts will stretch to accommodate your new implants. It follows that when you get implants removed, often years later, the volume of your breasts decreases significantly. Depending on the size of your implants and the remaining natural breast tissue, this decrease in volume can create some negative aesthetic effects, including:

• Deflated, saggy, or misshapen breasts
• Loose skin with wrinkles
• Downward-pointing nipples and areolas

These issues may be exaggerated in patients who have larger implants and smaller breasts with less natural breast tissue.

Fortunately, there are a variety of approaches to the aesthetic concerns occasioned by breast implant removal surgery, from non-surgical treatments to transformative surgical solutions. It is best to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Brian Boyd to discuss your aesthetic goals and treatment options.

Non-surgical Treatments

Some patients wish to give themselves several months to a year to monitor how their breasts acclimate after breast implant removal surgery. After this time, some choose to pursue non-surgical treatments, which tend to have minimal downtime and natural-looking results.

• Ultrasound therapy uses ultrasound energy to penetrate the skin’s layers and promote collagen production. Over time, this treatment can produce some degree of skin tightening and mild lifting.
• Radiofrequency therapy is another advanced medical technology that has been proven to target mild breast ptosis (sagging).
• Microneedling is a form of collagen induction therapy (CIT). This treatment uses tiny needles to create micro-punctures in the skin, triggering collagen production and leading to tighter, hopefully firmer skin.

It’s important to be realistic about what non-surgical treatments can achieve. While they can produce stunning results over time, they cannot eliminate excess skin or drastically lift the breasts. In the case of moderate to severe tissue sagging, wrinkles, or drooping breasts, surgery will create the most significant improvements and is often more cost effective than multiple non-surgical treatments.

Surgical Solutions

Many patients choose to add another cosmetic procedure to their breast explant surgery to enhance their breasts. Combining procedures comes with significant benefits, including consolidated recovery times and transformative results. Three of the most popular procedures patients choose are breast lift, fat grafting, and the Mommy Makeover.

Breast Lift

A breast lift is a cosmetic surgery designed to restore the breasts to a more youthful appearance. During this procedure, incisions are made around each areola and usually down to the breast crease. This is the so-called ‘lollipop’ incision. Excess skin is removed, breast tissue is reshaped, and the nipples can be repositioned upwards to face forward. In cases where there is a great deal of extra skin, the lollipop may be converted into an ‘anchor’ by adding an incision to the breast crease. Reduction in the skin envelope results in firmer, more youthful, and elevated breasts. A breast lift is an excellent option following breast implant removal to eradicate the aesthetic concerns outlined above so you can feel comfortable and confident.

Fat Transfer to the Breasts

Fat transfer, or fat grafting, is a three-step process that takes fat from other areas of your body and places it in your breasts. The procedure starts by harvesting fat from other areas of the body with liposuction. Common donor sites include the abdomen, flanks, hips, and thighs. This fat is then processed, purified, and strategically injected into the remaining breast tissue for added volume that is long-lasting and 100% natural. This procedure has the added benefit of contouring areas of the body with unwanted fat pockets.

Mommy Makeover

A Mommy Makeover is a combination procedure popular with women who have children and want their pre-baby bodies back. Still, any woman can enjoy the transformative results of this highly customizable procedure. Common surgeries included in a Mommy Makeover include liposuction, a tummy tuck, and a breast lift. Like any combination procedure, a Mommy Makeover has the advantages of combined recovery times for multiple surgical procedures and a powerfully transformative aesthetic result.

During your consultation, you and Dr. Boyd can discuss your aesthetic goals and expectations and create a treatment plan tailored to you and your needs.

Recovery

Patients can take steps during recovery to tighten skin and improve the appearance of their breasts before further treatments or procedures.

• Follow your surgeon’s postoperative instructions carefully. If you have any questions, call the office for clarification. Adherence to aftercare instructions is key to proper recovery.
• Wear a surgical bra or compression garment. These garments speed the healing process, diminish swelling, promote circulation, reduce discomfort, and support the breasts as they begin to settle into their new shape.
• Get plenty of sleep. Your body accomplishes the most healing during REM sleep, so early recovery is a crucial time to get plenty of quality sleep, including short catnaps as necessary.
• Avoid strenuous activity. Overexertion can impair the healing process and lead to complications like bleeding, infection, and poor wound closure. Light walking, however, is encouraged to promote blood flow.
• Eat healthy and drink plenty of water. The nutrients in a balanced diet only enhance the healing process, while malnutrition can result in complications. Hydration and functional foods can support wound healing, skin elasticity, hormonal regulation, and more.

It’s important to remember that individual recovery processes vary, so aesthetic outcomes will also vary.

Want to Learn More About Breast Implant Removal in the South Bay?

If you want to have your breast implants removed for any reason, it’s important to consult a highly qualified plastic surgeon. Dr. Brian Boyd is a plastic surgeon with decades of specialized experience and hundreds of satisfied patients. To discover more about breast implant removal, schedule a consultation by filling out our online contact form or calling (310) 597-4734.