Breast Implant Removal with Lift
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Newport Beach, CA
Some women decide that they would like to remove their breast implants and not have them replaced (medically referred to as “breast explant”). In many instances, this would leave them with breasts that have no volume and have significant drooping. In these instances, having a breast lift when removing the implants may restore some volume and lift the breasts to a more youthful position. Learn more about Breast Implant Removal at our Newport Beach, Orange County office.
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Before and After Photos
Who is Breast Implant Removal recommended for?
A breast implant removal is anyone seeking to remove their current implants, whether it be due personal preference or medical necessity. A breast lift procedure is generally recommended for anyone that feels that either their nipples sit low on their breasts or their entire breasts sit low on their chests and would like the tissue elevated to a more youthful level.
Pre-operation
How can I prepare?
A patient can prepare for a breast implant removal procedure by beginning a vitamin protocol (provided by Dr. Bandy) to aid their body’s healing. We recommend accomplishing all house chores prior to surgery that would require a patient to lift anything over 5 pounds or push or pull anything heavy. During your pre-operative appointment (about 2 weeks prior to your surgery) our nurses will go over all necessary steps to prepare for your surgery.
Will anesthesia be administered?
Yes, the procedure will be performed under a general anesthetic.
Is painful?
Typically breast implant removal with lift is well-tolerated and minimally painful. Patients are prescribed a pain medication to minimize discomfort experienced.
What if I am sick before?
If a patient is noted to be sick prior to a procedure, it is advised to contact Dr. Bandy’s office immediately to discuss the best way to move forward.
How long before I see results?
Decrease in breast size and uplifting of the breast can be seen immediately, however, it takes 4-6 weeks or longer until the swelling decreases.
Post-operation
Is scarring expected after?
A breast lift will produce a scar. We aim for the scar to heal to a pencil thin line, however, each body heals differently. The coloring of a scar depends upon the natural color of the patient’s skin and how their own body heals. Our office sells and recommends a medical-grade silicone gel scar cream to apply to the incisions once fully healed to aid in reducing the appearance of the scar.
Can I drive home after?
It is always recommended to have someone assist you in getting home or to your recovery center. If a patient does not have anyone that can assist them at home, we do have a post operative recovery center that we work with that will pick up the patient from our facility.
Should I try avoiding touching the area after?
A patient will have surgical tapes covering their incisions and these tapes will remain in place for a few weeks. It is recommended that a patient not touch the incisions until they are healed.
What activity should I refrain from after?
Patients typically patients are required to avoid lifting more than 5 lbs within 1 week after surgery, and avoid lifting more than 15 lbs within 4 weeks after surgery. Also, patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity for at least 4 weeks.
Do I need to take any medication after?
A patient is usually prescribed an antibiotic and a pain medication. If a patient is undergoing a general anesthesia, sometimes they are prescribed an anti-nausea medication to combat any feelings of nausea that some patients experience after having a general anesthesia.
Costs
What is the average cost?
The cost for breast implant removal with lift surgery is dependent upon the complexity of the case. In order to obtain an accurate price quote for your surgery we advise meeting with Dr. Bandy for a consultation.
Are there financing options?
The patient has multiple financing options. For example, the patient can pay for the surgery on credit card, and make monthly payments back to their credit card. Additionally, CareCredit is a financing company specific for cosmetic surgery; patients can apply for CareCredit, and there are multiple options for CareCredit. Sometimes, patients opt to make payments directly to the office. This is a prepayment plan where a patient would pay until he or she pays the entire balance for the surgery; then, they would have their surgery.
Recovery
What is the recovery time and the healing process?
Recovery time depends on the extent of the implant removal, how much capsule work needs to be done, as well as the lift that is performed. Typically, implant removal with or without a lift is much easier than the initial breast augmentation.
Is there a post-operative recovery facility that you recommend?
We do have a post operative recovery facility that we refer our patients to in Orange County, CA and Los Angeles, CA. In these situations, they will be picked up by the post operative care facility from our recovery room and brought to the recovery center where they are recovered overnight, and then brought back the next day for their follow up appointment.
We are here to listen and address your concerns.Schedule A Consultation
– Dr. Amy Bandy, Over 20 Years of Experience
FAQ
Why should I have a lift?
With the weight of implants and with time, the skin does begin to sag and some women feel that a lift as well as a breast implant removal would be beneficial in order to restore a perkier bust. The extent of the lift would be dependent on the size of the patients breast implants as well as the quality of the patient’s skin and how much excess skin a patient might have.
Will I have enough breast tissue afterwards?
We like to remind women that with time, aging, childbirth and weight loss or gain, the natural breast tissue can change and may look bigger or smaller and a woman might be surprised that over the course of several years they might appear to have larger breasts than they did prior to having a breast augmentation surgery. Likewise, a woman that had sufficient natural breast tissue prior to their breast augmentation might feel that with having her implants removed completely she would be satisfied with her remaining breast tissue yet might be surprised that her natural breast tissue has decreased in volume. During the course of a breast implant removal and lift consultation, Dr. Bandy will try to determine how much natural breast tissue a woman has so that a patient may choose whether to remove her implants completely or exchange her implants for smaller implants. Many women with larger implants might choose to have an implant exchange to a smaller, more natural size which might also require a breast lift. The best way to determine which option is best for you, is to consult with a qualified Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, like Dr. Bandy to discuss your options and what is a realistic outcome.
Are there different types of Breast Lift procedures?
There are various types of breast lift procedures, ranging from a lift that is designed to elevate the level of the areola, to a breast lift that is designed to lift the entire breast, including the areola, higher on the chest. As no two patients are the same, the lift that is recommended depends upon what the patient is starting with and what they are wanting to accomplish.
What type of incision approaches are there for Breast Lift?
There are three main breast lifts. The first is the peri-areola breast lift, which is designed to lift only the areola from 1-2 centimeters. This type of lift does not tighten any breast tissue. The second is a lollipop breast lift, which has an incision around the areola and straight down to the inframammary fold. The third lift that is common is the Weiss pattern lift, commonly referred to as an “anchor lift”, which, like the lollipop lift, has an incision that goes around the areola, and straight down, however, continues to a horizontal incision within the inframammary fold.
