Robert Whitfield MDAmerica's Breast Implant Illness Expert™

Does explant and lift remove the nipple?

16 Oct 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:16

In this live‑stream segment Dr. Robert Whitfield MD addresses a common patient question: whether the nipple‑areolar complex (NAC) is removed during an explant‑with‑lift procedure. He explains that his technique never detaches the NAC; instead, he keeps it attached to its native tissue, preserving its blood supply and sensation, and repositions it as needed. Dr. Whitfield also outlines that he will discuss incision options, nipple positioning, and scar planning, emphasizing that the information is for educational purposes only and that each patient requires an individualized in‑person evaluation before any surgical plan is finalized.

Chapters

What happens to the nipple and areolar complex during explant? I want to go over the incisions, the nipple position, and scar planning. I'm Dr. Whitfield. So let's get rolling tonight. We want to answer— you know, I get these questions all the time from women who come see me and we have calls with, and they're nervous to ask if they remove the implants and do a lift, do I actually remove the nipple complex and take it off and on? And I don't. In the explant lift procedures I perform, the answer is obviously, as I just alluded to, no, we don't do that. I keep the nipple areolar complex attached to the tissue source and reposition it rather than removing it and putting it back on. That is my standard way I preserve the blood supply to it and minimize risk to sensation changes that way. We want to explain how we go through this decision-making process, and this is for education only. Everybody needs to be seen, um, if they're going to get a procedure done like this. I can't determine that, uh, from a live stream. So we gotta just clarify how we're gonna speak about it.