Breast Implant Removal After 60: What Should You Do With Your Implants?

Medically reviewed by John L. Burns Jr., MD, FACS · Board-certified plastic surgeon · Dallas, Texas · Updated October 2026

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Women who chose breast augmentation in their 20s, 30s, or 40s may reach their 60s with a very different body, lifestyle, and set of aesthetic priorities.

The implants themselves may be older. The breast tissue may have changed with menopause, weight fluctuation, pregnancy, gravity, and normal aging. And perhaps most importantly, the look a woman wanted decades ago may no longer be the look she wants today.

This creates an important question:

What should you do with your breast implants after age 60?

There is no single correct answer.

Some women are perfectly happy with their implants and do not need surgery. Others may want to replace them, downsize, remove them completely, add a breast lift, or use fat transfer to restore a softer and more natural contour.

The key is to evaluate both the condition of the implants and the patient's current goals.

Breast Implants Do Not Last Forever

Breast implants are not considered lifetime devices.

That does not mean they automatically need to be replaced at a certain age or after a specific number of years. Many women have implants that remain intact and symptom-free for a long time.

However, as implants age, the likelihood of certain problems can increase.

These may include:

• Implant rupture
• Capsular contracture
• Implant malposition
• Bottoming out
• Increased breast asymmetry
• Changes in breast shape
• Thinning of breast tissue
• Rippling
• Changes in the skin envelope
• Increasing sagging around the implant

For women in their 60s, it is often useful to think of implant evaluation as part of a broader discussion about how the breasts have changed over time.

The question is not simply, “Are my implants still intact?”

It is also, “Do these breasts still fit my body and my lifestyle?”

The FDA agrees: implants should be monitored for as long as you have them, and the longer they are in place, the greater the chance of complications (FDA). See can silicone breast implants last a lifetime? and when breast implants should be replaced.

Your Goals at 60 May Be Very Different From Your Goals at 30

Many women who chose breast augmentation earlier in life wanted more upper-pole fullness, more cleavage, or a larger breast size.

Those goals can change significantly with age.

A woman who loved a fuller breast in her 30s may prefer a lighter, smaller, and more natural breast in her 60s.

This can happen for several reasons.

As the body ages, posture can change, the chest wall and soft tissues may become less supportive, and some women develop increasing neck, shoulder, or back discomfort. Larger or heavier breasts can become less comfortable than they were earlier in life.

Patients also commonly tell me that they simply want a different aesthetic.

They may no longer want a large, round, augmented appearance. Instead, they may prefer something lighter, softer, more proportional, and easier to live with.

This is an important part of implant revision surgery.

The goal should not be to recreate what looked good 20 or 30 years ago.

The goal should be to create a breast that fits the patient now.

Read more on why more women are updating their breast implants.

Breast Implant Revision, Downsizing or Removal: Your Options at a Glance

Seven main paths, summarized from the sections below. Many plans combine several.

Downsizing Breast Implants After 60

Option 1: Replace the Implants With Smaller Implants

One of the most popular choices for older breast augmentation patients is downsizing.

This involves removing the existing implants and replacing them with smaller implants.

Downsizing can reduce the overall weight of the breasts while still maintaining upper-pole fullness, shape, and some of the volume the patient has enjoyed from breast augmentation.

This can be an excellent option for women who still want implants but no longer want the size they had when they were younger.

The difference can be significant.

A patient may go from a large implant to one that is much smaller and more proportional to her current frame.

The challenge is that when a large implant has stretched the breast tissues over many years, simply inserting a smaller implant may leave excess skin.

That is where a breast lift often becomes important.

Option 2: Smaller Implants With a Breast Lift

For many women over 60, the ideal revision is a combination of smaller implants and a breast lift.

The smaller implant reduces breast weight and creates a more conservative volume.

The breast lift removes excess skin and reshapes the breast around the new implant.

This combination can address several aging changes at once:

• Lower breast position
• Stretched skin
• Enlarged areolas
• Loss of upper-pole fullness
• Bottoming out
• Breast asymmetry
• Excessive implant size
• A heavy or drooping appearance

The goal is not simply to make the breast smaller.

It is to make the breast lighter, higher, better shaped, and more proportional.

For many older patients, this creates the most balanced result.

See breast lift surgery in Dallas and breast lift scars.

Breast Implant Removal (Explant Surgery) After 60

Option 3: Remove the Implants Completely

Some women reach a point where they simply no longer want breast implants.

This is entirely reasonable.

The implants can be removed, and depending on the condition of the capsule and breast tissues, additional procedures may or may not be necessary.

The important consideration is what the breast will look like after implant removal.

If a woman has had large implants for many years, the skin and tissues may have stretched substantially. Removing the implant alone can result in:

• Loose skin
• Breast sagging
• A deflated appearance
• Loss of upper-pole volume
• Empty or flattened breasts
• Asymmetry

For this reason, implant removal is often combined with a breast lift.

Removal can include leaked silicone and the surrounding capsule when needed (ASPS). Learn about explant surgery in Dallas.

Option 4: Implant Removal With Breast Lift

An explant with mastopexy, or implant removal combined with breast lift, is one of the most effective ways to transition away from implants while still maintaining an attractive breast shape.

The implants are removed, and the patient's own breast tissue is reshaped and lifted.

Excess skin is removed, the nipple and areola are repositioned, and the remaining tissue is used to create as much natural fullness as possible.

This can be an excellent option for a woman who no longer wants implants but does not want to be left with a deflated breast.

The final breast will generally be smaller than it was with implants, but it can still have a very pleasing, natural contour.

See explant with breast lift in Dallas.

Option 5: Implant Removal, Breast Lift, and Fat Transfer

Fat transfer has become an increasingly valuable tool for women who want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on implants.

In this approach, the implants are removed and a breast lift is performed when needed.

Fat is then harvested from another area of the patient's body with liposuction and carefully transferred to the breasts.

Fat can be used to restore volume in strategic areas such as:

• The upper pole
• The central breast
• The cleavage area
• Areas of contour irregularity
• Thin tissue overlying the previous implant pocket

This can provide a softer and more natural breast without placing another large implant.

Fat transfer is especially useful in older patients because it gives us the ability to fine-tune shape and volume without recreating the weight of a large implant.

There are limits to how much breast volume can be created with fat alone, but for patients seeking a more modest result, it can be a very attractive option.

See explant with fat transfer and implants vs. fat transfer.

Breast Implant Exchange and Internal Support

Option 6: Replace the Implants Without Changing Size

Not every woman over 60 wants smaller breasts.

Some patients are very happy with their existing size and simply need to address an aging implant, rupture, capsular contracture, or another implant-related issue.

In these cases, the implants can be exchanged for newer implants of a similar volume.

At the same time, the implant pocket can be repaired or adjusted if needed.

This may involve:

• Capsulectomy or capsulotomy
• Pocket tightening
• Correction of lateral displacement
• Correction of bottoming out
• Reinforcement with an internal bra
• Changes in implant profile
• Changes in implant position

For many women, revision surgery is an opportunity to improve details of the original augmentation while keeping the overall breast size they like.

Breast implant exchange options: Dallas breast augmentation.

Option 7: Use an Internal Bra for Additional Support

Older breast tissues often benefit from additional internal support.

Over time, skin and breast tissue may stretch, particularly after decades of supporting an implant.

In selected patients, I use an internal mesh bra to reinforce the lower pole of the breast and help stabilize implant position.

This can be especially useful when correcting:

• Bottoming out
• Implant malposition
• Weak or stretched tissues
• Recurrent pocket problems
• Large implant pockets
• Revision breast augmentation

The internal bra can be anchored to stronger tissues along the chest wall and can provide an additional layer of support while the breast heals.

For older patients with thinner or more stretched tissues, this can be an important part of creating a durable revision.

What About the Implant Capsule?

Patients often ask whether the capsule around the implant needs to be removed.

The answer depends on the individual situation.

Every breast implant develops a layer of scar tissue around it. This is called the capsule and is a normal response to an implant.

A normal, thin capsule does not automatically need to be completely removed.

However, capsulectomy may be appropriate in certain circumstances, such as:

• Significant capsular contracture
• Implant rupture
• Thickened or calcified capsules
• Abnormal capsule findings
• Certain implant revision situations

The decision should be made based on the condition of the implant, capsule, breast tissue, and the goals of the operation.

What If the Implants Are Ruptured?

Older implants should be evaluated appropriately, particularly silicone implants that may rupture without obvious symptoms.

If an implant is ruptured, revision surgery can include removal of the old implant material, appropriate management of the capsule, and then a decision about whether to replace the implant or transition to a different approach.

At this stage of life, some patients choose a smaller implant.

Others choose no implant at all.

The important thing is that revision surgery creates an opportunity to completely reconsider the breast rather than simply replacing the old implant with the same thing.

Silicone implant rupture is often silent. The FDA calls MRI the most effective way to detect it, with ultrasound an acceptable screening alternative (FDA).

Breast Revision After 60 Should Be Highly Individualized

Breast revision in a 60- or 70-year-old woman is very different from primary breast augmentation in a 25-year-old woman.

Older patients often present with a combination of issues:

• Older implants
• Stretched breast tissue
• Thin skin
• Sagging
• Implant malposition
• Previous scar tissue
• Capsular contracture
• Breast asymmetry
• Changes from menopause and weight fluctuation
• Different aesthetic goals
• A desire for lighter, more natural breasts

Correcting all of these issues requires more than simply exchanging implants.

It requires understanding how the breast has changed over decades and how to rebuild the breast around the patient's current anatomy and goals.

Why Experience Matters in Breast Implant Revision

Revision breast surgery is one of the most complex areas of cosmetic breast surgery.

Every previous operation changes the anatomy.

The surgeon must consider:

• The old implant pocket
• Scar tissue
• Muscle position
• Skin quality
• Breast tissue thickness
• Nipple position
• Inframammary fold position
• Implant size
• Implant shape
• Whether a lift is needed
• Whether internal support is needed
• Whether fat grafting would improve the result

There is often more than one reasonable solution.

The key is having the experience to determine which combination of techniques is most appropriate for the individual patient.

Breast Implant Removal in Dallas: What the Process Looks Like

Recovery depends on what is combined. These steps are a general guide; timing is personal.

Risks to Understand

Risks include bleeding, infection, scarring, asymmetry, sensation changes and further surgery. The FDA lists capsular contracture, reoperation and implant removal as common implant complications, and removal without replacement can change your natural breasts (FDA). Not all transferred fat survives.

Cost of Breast Implant Removal and Revision in Dallas

Dr. Burns' Approach to Breast Revision

I have performed primary and revision breast surgery for more than 25 years, and a significant part of my practice involves women who have had breast implants for many years.

These cases often require a combination of techniques rather than a simple implant exchange.

Depending on the patient, I may use:

• Implant downsizing
• Implant removal
• Breast lift
• Pocket revision
• Capsular surgery
• Internal mesh support
• Fat grafting
• Muscle repair
• Conversion to a different implant plane
• Advanced implant selection

The ability to combine these techniques is particularly important in older patients because the problem is rarely just the implant.

It is the relationship between the implant, the breast tissue, the skin, the chest wall, and the changes that have occurred over time.

There Is No Expiration Date on Looking Good

Women should not feel that they are “too old” to address breast implants that no longer suit them.

The goal simply changes.

At age 30, the priority may have been volume and cleavage.

At age 60 or 70, the priority may be comfort, proportion, lightness, natural shape, and ease of living.

Those goals are every bit as valid.

For some patients, the best answer is a smaller implant.

For others, it is implant removal and a breast lift.

For others, it may be a combination of explantation, lifting, and fat transfer.

And for women who remain happy with their current implants, no surgery may be necessary at all.

The right decision depends on the condition of the implants, the anatomy of the breast, and most importantly, what the patient wants now.

A New Breast Plan for a New Stage of Life

Breast implants are not a one-time decision that has to define a woman forever.

As the body changes, breast surgery can change with it.

After age 60, many women see implant revision as an opportunity to create a breast that better reflects the next stage of life: lighter, more natural, more comfortable, and better suited to their current body.

The best revision surgery is not about turning back the clock.

It is about creating a breast that looks and feels right for who you are today.

John L. Burns, Jr., MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas, Texas, with more than 25 years of experience in aesthetic breast surgery. Dr. Burns specializes in complex breast implant revision, implant downsizing, implant removal, breast lift surgery, internal bra reconstruction, fat grafting, and correction of breast implant complications.

To discuss your breast implants and the options that may be appropriate for you, contact Dr. Burns' Dallas office or visit DrJohnBurns.com to schedule a consultation.

Why patients choose Dr. Burns for breast implant revision

John L. Burns Jr., MD, FACS

• Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
• More than 25 years of experience
• First plastic surgeon in the U.S. to complete a fellowship in laser surgery (UT Southwestern Medical Center); Clinical Instructor of Plastic Surgery, UT Southwestern
• Plastic surgery residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch; summa cum laude, UTMB Research Honors Program; Alpha Omega Alpha
• Microvascular training at MD Anderson Cancer Center; cosmetic surgery training in Miami; Vanderbilt University graduate
• Medical Director, JOLA Aesthetics; Past President, Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute; Board of Directors, Share-A-Smile Foundation
• Named one of America's Best Plastic Surgeons by Newsweek (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026); 2026 categories: breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, facelift, liposuction, rhinoplasty and tummy tuck
• D Magazine Best Doctors 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026; D Magazine “The Face of Breast Augmentation” 2024 and 2025; Texas Monthly Super Doctors 2024
• Allergan Double Black Diamond practice (Botox and filler, top 20 in the U.S.)

Read Dr. Burns’ full biography · Read patient reviews · View the before-and-after gallery

Frequently asked questions

The takeaway

There is no single right answer for breast implants after 60. Downsizing, exchange, breast implant removal with a lift, fat transfer or simple monitoring can all be right. The goal is a breast that fits who you are today.

Continue reading

Sources: U.S. FDA, Risks and Complications of Breast Implants; U.S. FDA, Things to Consider Before Getting Breast Implants; American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Breast Implant Removal. Recovery timelines are estimates. This article is for education and is not medical advice. Individual results vary.