What Is Breast Explant Surgery with Lift -- and Is It Right for You?
What Is Breast Explant Surgery with Lift -- and Is It Right for You?
Breast explant surgery with lift is a combined procedure that removes breast implants and reshapes the remaining tissue into a natural, lifted contour -- without replacing the implants.
Quick answer: what to expect from breast explant surgery with lift
- Implants are removed -- along with the surrounding scar tissue (capsule), if needed
- The breast is lifted -- excess skin is removed, tissue is reshaped, and the nipple is repositioned higher
- No new implants are placed -- the result relies on your own natural tissue
- Recovery takes 6 to 8 weeks -- with most patients returning to light activity within 1 to 2 weeks
- Results are long-lasting -- and eliminate the maintenance cycle of implant replacement
More women than ever are choosing to go implant-free. In 2023, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported over 41,000 breast explant procedures performed in the United States alone. But removal is only part of the story. When implants come out -- especially after years of wear -- the skin has often stretched and the breast tissue has shifted. Without a lift, many women are left with a deflated or sagging appearance that does not reflect how they feel. That is where the combined approach changes everything.
I am Dr. Jonathan Kanevsky, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon trained at McGill University and USC, with extensive experience performing breast explant surgery with lift for patients seeking a natural, implant-free result.
Understanding Breast Explant Surgery with Lift
At Aura Aesthetica, we often speak with women who feel over their implants. When we perform a breast explant surgery with lift, we are essentially performing two surgeries in one session: the removal of the foreign object (the implant) and the restoration of the breast natural architecture (the mastopexy).
The primary challenge after removing an implant is the footprint it leaves behind. Think of an implant like a balloon that has been inflated inside a sweater for a decade. When you pop the balloon, the sweater does not just snap back to its original size; it remains stretched and loose. In surgical terms, this presents as tissue laxity and a deflated appearance. By incorporating a breast lift, we can tighten that sweater, removing the excess skin and repositioning the internal tissue to sit higher on the chest wall.
Why Combine Implant Removal with a Mastopexy?
- Aesthetic Goals: Many women find that their aesthetic preferences have shifted toward a cleaner, more natural look. They want to feel light and proportional rather than augmented.
- Medical Necessity: Complications like capsular contracture (where the scar tissue around the implant hardens) or implant rupture often make removal a requirement.
- Lifestyle Changes: Large implants can interfere with an active lifestyle, causing back, neck, and shoulder pain. Many of our patients want to return to running or yoga without the physical weight of silicone or saline.
- The 10-15 Year Cycle: Most implants are designed to last about 10 to 15 years. Rather than undergoing another surgery to replace them, many women opt for a permanent, implant-free solution.
- FDA Recommendations: The FDA suggests that those with silicone implants undergo regular MRI or high-resolution ultrasound screenings (starting 5 to 6 years after surgery) to check for silent ruptures. Choosing a breast explant surgery with lift eliminates the need for this lifelong medical surveillance.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate?
You might be an ideal candidate if you are in good general health with a stable weight, have significant tissue laxity or breast ptosis (sagging) where the nipple sits at or below the breast crease, have realistic expectations about your post-surgical size (without the implant, your breasts will be smaller, but with the lift, they will be perkier), and are ready to commit to the recovery process to ensure your new contours settle beautifully.
Surgical Techniques and the Role of Auto-Augmentation
During a breast explant surgery with lift, we utilize various incision patterns depending on the degree of sagging. These range from the periareolar (donut) lift for mild cases to the lollipop (vertical) lift or the anchor (inverted T) lift for more significant transformations.
A critical component of our approach is capsule management. When an implant is placed, the body naturally forms a layer of scar tissue around it, called a capsule. In many cases, especially when there are concerns about Breast Implant Illness (BII) or contracture, we perform an en bloc capsulectomy. This technique involves removing the implant and the entire capsule as one single, unbroken unit, ensuring no materials from the capsule are left behind.
The Magic of Auto-Augmentation
One of the most exciting techniques we use is auto-augmentation. Instead of just removing skin, we reshape your existing native breast tissue to create internal volume. We tuck and secure the tissue in a way that provides upper-pole fullness -- giving you a lifted look using only what your body already provides. It is the ultimate way to achieve a well-sculpted appearance without foreign materials.
Achieving Natural Volume with Aura Fill and Lift
For patients who worry about looking too small after their breast explant surgery with lift, we offer a signature solution: Aura Fill and Lift. This involves lipofilling -- using gentle liposuction to harvest fat from donor sites where you might have a little extra (like the abdomen, hips, or thighs), then purifying and meticulously injecting that fat into the breast tissue. This provides subtle, natural fullness in the upper part of the breast, better cleavage definition, and the dual benefit of body contouring (liposuction) alongside your breast rejuvenation. You can learn more by exploring breast fat grafting.
Benefits and Long-Term Results of the Combined Procedure
The benefits of combining these procedures extend far beyond the operating room. Most of our patients report a profound sense of lightness and a boost in body confidence.
| Feature | Explant Alone | Explant with Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Breast Shape | May appear deflated or flat | Perky, rounded, and youthful |
| Nipple Position | May remain low or pointing down | Repositioned higher and centered |
| Excess Skin | Remains, potentially causing folds | Removed for a tighter, smoother look |
| Maintenance | None | None |
| Physical Comfort | Improved (weight removed) | Maximum (weight removed + better support) |
While the implants are gone forever, your body will still age naturally. Factors like gravity, future weight fluctuations, and hormonal changes can affect your shape over time. However, the internal support provided by the lift creates a much stronger foundation than simply removing the implants alone.
Navigating Recovery After Breast Explant Surgery with Lift
Healing is a journey, not a sprint. At Aura Aesthetica, we view Surgery as Ceremony, meaning we support your mind and body throughout the entire healing process.
- Days 1 to 7: This is the rest and nest phase. You will wear a supportive surgical bra and may have small drains to prevent fluid buildup. Most patients manage discomfort with prescribed medication and light walking.
- Weeks 2 to 4: Swelling begins to subside. You can usually return to a desk job and light daily activities, but heavy lifting (anything over 10 lbs) is still off-limits.
- 6 Months and Beyond: This is when the fluff and settle happens. Your breast tissue softens, the scars begin to fade from pink to thin white lines, and the final shape becomes clear.
Risks, Considerations, and Financial Planning
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks to consider. These include standard surgical risks like infection, bleeding, or issues with wound healing. Specifically for breast explant surgery with lift, there is a possibility of asymmetry (while we strive for perfect balance, natural variations in healing can occur), sensation changes (temporary numbness in the nipple or breast skin is common, though permanent loss of sensation is rare), and seroma (a temporary buildup of fluid that the body usually reabsorbs).
In most cases, breast explant surgery with lift is considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by insurance. However, if you have a documented implant rupture (specifically silicone) or severe capsular contracture causing physical impairment, some insurance providers may cover the removal portion of the surgery, though they rarely cover the lift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a breast lift always necessary when implants are removed?
Not always, but it is highly recommended for most. If you had very small implants for a short period and have excellent skin elasticity, your tissue might contract enough on its own. However, for the majority of women, a lift is the secret sauce that prevents the breasts from looking flat or sagging. During your consultation, we assess your skin quality and tissue volume to give you an honest recommendation. In some cases, we can even discuss a scarless breast lift if the sagging is very minimal.
What is the difference between a lift and fat grafting?
A lift repositions the tissue you already have and removes excess skin (addressing shape), while fat grafting adds new volume using your own fat (addressing size). Many of our patients choose to do both to get the best of both worlds: a perky position and a bit of extra volume.
Will my breasts look flat after the procedure?
This is the number one fear we hear. The answer is no -- provided the surgery is done correctly. By using auto-augmentation and nipple elevation, we restore a sense of roundness and projection. Your breasts will be smaller than they were with implants, but they will look like breasts, not a flat chest. The goal is proportional balance that fits your frame.
Conclusion: A New Chapter at Aura Aesthetica
Choosing to undergo breast explant surgery with lift is more than just a physical change; for many of our patients, it is a significant emotional and psychological milestone. At Aura Aesthetica, we do not just perform operations. We facilitate a Surgery as Ceremony experience, honoring your decision to return to your natural self through a holistic, mind-body transformation.
Whether you are in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, or Orange County, our team is dedicated to providing natural, well-sculpted results that help you feel like you again -- only lighter and more confident.
Book your Breast Explant En Bloc Capsulectomy and Lift consultation today and take the first step toward restoring your shape and your spirit.