Robert Whitfield MDAmerica's Breast Implant Illness Expert™

Can you explant without a breast lift?

17 Oct 2026 · 1 min

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1:21

In this segment Dr. Robert Whitfield MD explains how patients considering breast implant removal (explant) can decide whether a breast lift is necessary. He outlines the typical scar locations—around the areola, vertical, inframammary, or combinations—and emphasizes that patients’ preferences about scarring are discussed up front. He notes that if a patient has sufficient skin recoil and an acceptable nipple position, explant alone may be sufficient without a lift. The decision is framed as a personal, informed choice, with the surgeon providing information about expected outcomes. For patients with low-set nipples, Dr. Whitfield warns that removing implant volume often causes the breast tissue to settle lower, sometimes by up to a couple of centimeters (over an inch). He stresses the importance of explaining this potential change to patients so they can set realistic expectations.

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We also ask, you know, obviously each patient how they feel about scarring and indicate where the scars will be, either around the circle, down the front, underneath, or a combination of those. Now, some patients have enough skin recoil and acceptable nipple position not to need any kind of lifting procedure, and those patients are always obviously just like anybody. available to just do explant alone. The kind of desire to remove the device, heal, and allow the tissues to settle is always within everybody's own decision-making process. All we provide is the information so you can make a really— what you want to consider is the best informed decision. So in patients who have really, really low set nipple position, they are Obviously, maybe more concerned about it right off the front, and they will bring it up to me and ask, hey, you know, I'm really worried about this. Is this going to get worse? And usually when you take volume out, obviously the tissues will settle lower, sometimes up to a couple centimeters or over an inch lower. And so that can be something that you have to obviously upfront help explain to the patients.