Seasons of Change: Are Your Implants Ready?

Life’s biggest challenges can often include ‘change’. No matter how exciting or difficult the transition, we all enter decades of our life where we may want things to feel and appear a little bit different.

For some women, that can mean a new breast size through augmentation, a breast lift and even implant removal. Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville surgeons Mary Gingrass, MD and Melinda Haws, MD help women of all ages achieve their desired look, regardless of age or season in life.

By Mary Gingrass, MD, Melinda Haws, MD
and Beverly Brooks
The Plastic Surgery Channel

Reasons for Implant Removal

“A lot of our patients say, these implants were great at one time, and now I’m not so sure I want them,'” says Dr. Gingrass. “I might want them removed along with a breast lift.”

What may be a wonderful size in the beginning, may be a much different story for a woman in her 40’s or 50’s! Many changes can occur down the line that have a significant impact on an augmentation.

“We do revisions all the time to make sure our patient’s implants match the stage in their life,” says Dr. Haws.

Body Changes After Children

After child bearing and breast feeding, breasts can deflate making the appearance of an augmentation appear differently than pre-baby. Gravity over decades compounds these changes, altering the look that once you once were happy with.

It can be as simple as blouses no longer fitting or finding a properly fitting swimsuit. The aging process, gaining/losing weight, and the ever-present effects of gravity cause breasts to change, making implants appear possibly less desirable than they used to be.

I Want a More Natural Look

What a patient may have desired in their 20’s and 30’s may not be what they’d like later in life. Decreasing size, or simply opting for a more natural look will make patients’ appearance age-appropriate.

If implant removal is an option, and depending upon the the amount of a patient’s natural breast tissue, they may or may not need a breast lift or mastopexy. This procedure brings the breasts back up to a youthful position, dialing back the wear and tear done by breastfeeding and gravity.

 

Aging Implants

Implants have been around for a while — since the 1960’s. Some women have had their implants for more than 20-30 years and their bodies have gone through significant changes. Consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon to fix these issues has never been better. New technology – whether it be 3D imaging or better implants – and more precise surgical procedures offer the best atmosphere to have a breast augmentation.

“Most of these women were pleased with their implants when they were younger and thinner”, says Dr. Gingrass, “now they feel the added breast size makes them look ‘thick’ and no longer accentuate their figure.”

An update to your appearance may be just what you need to get back to that happy relationship with your body.