Explant only is often enough when your skin has kept good elasticity and your nipples still sit at or above the breast crease. A lift becomes worth discussing when removing the implants will leave loose skin or a low nipple position. The choice between explant with lift vs explant only depends on how your skin and breast tissue will behave once the implant is gone. The Khan Procedure™ is Dr. Shaher W. Khan’s own approach to breast implant removal. It includes a natural pseudo lift that restores breast contour without a separate lift procedure or additional incisions, which gives many patients a middle path between the two options.
Explantation is surgery to remove breast implants along with the scar tissue capsule the body forms around them. Some patients have symptoms they connect to breast implant illness. Others simply want to return to their natural size. Our office was founded with a single focus on breast implant removal. Dr. Shaher W. Khan is double board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and General Surgery.
How the capsule is handled matters as much as removing the implant. With an en bloc capsulectomy, the implant and capsule come out together as one intact unit whenever surgically appropriate. A total capsulectomy also removes the full capsule. Patients who had an earlier explant that left capsule tissue behind may need residual capsule removal.
Every capsule we remove is sent for both pathology and microbiology. Our 100/100/0 Rule™ uses high-definition photos to show that 100% of the implant and capsule are removed, 100% of the time, with 0% of the capsule left behind. The Khan Procedure™ also uses a drainless technique and is performed under Twilight Anesthesia, a form of deep sedation.
A breast lift, also called a mastopexy, raises the breast by removing extra skin and moving the nipple higher on the chest. It reshapes the breast so it sits higher and looks fuller on top. A lift does not add volume. When paired with implant removal, the goal is to fit the skin to the amount of breast tissue that remains.
Planning starts with how much loose skin will be left after removal and how far the nipple needs to move. Some patients have the lift during the same operation as the explant, so they go through one recovery. Others prefer to remove the implants first and let the tissue settle for several months before deciding on a lift. Dr. Shaher W. Khan reviews both paths with each patient based on the exam and the look they want.
A traditional lift adds scars on the breast. The pattern depends on how much skin needs to come off:
These scars fade over time but are permanent. Explant only and the pseudo lift avoid these new cuts on the breast.
After explant only, the breasts are smaller and may look flat or soft at first. Skin and tissue often retract and settle over the following months. Patients with smaller implants and good skin elasticity tend to see the most natural shape without a lift. Patients with larger implants may notice some looseness or wrinkling in the upper breast, especially early on.
Skin elasticity and nipple position help decide whether explant only is enough or a lift is worth discussing.
A pseudo lift is a scar-conscious contouring technique performed only during implant removal. The breast is reshaped from the inside to create a subtle, lifted contour. It addresses skin laxity and sagging without the incisions of a traditional lift. Many patients come to us asking for this option because it avoids unnecessary cuts into the breast tissue itself.
Explant only, or explant with a pseudo lift, often suits patients who:
A traditional lift may suit patients who:
Dr. Shaher W. Khan looks at where the nipple sits compared to the breast fold. Skin quality matters, including stretch marks and how well the skin snaps back. The amount of natural breast tissue under the implant affects how full the breast will look afterward. Implant size and placement also shape the plan. Your own goals carry equal weight, because some patients accept mild looseness to avoid scars while others want the most lifted result possible.
Explant only means fewer incisions and no new breast scars. Its limitation is that some looseness may remain once the tissue settles.
A traditional lift gives a higher, firmer shape when sagging is significant. In exchange, it adds permanent scars and more incision care during recovery.
The pseudo lift improves contour without additional incisions. It works well for mild to moderate laxity but cannot match a traditional lift when sagging is severe.
Implants stretch the skin over time. Pregnancy and weight changes add to that stretch. When the implant comes out, the skin may not shrink enough to match the smaller breast. This is the main reason some patients add a lift.
The goal is a breast that looks natural for your frame without the implant. For some patients, that comes from removal alone. For others, internal reshaping is enough. Patients with a large gap between skin and tissue may need a traditional lift to reach the shape they want.
Because the Khan Procedure™ is drainless, patients avoid managing surgical drains at home. Recovery after explant only is usually the simplest. Adding a traditional lift brings more incision care and a longer wait before full activity. In the early weeks, keeping your elbows close to your chest protects the chest muscles. Compression garments support healing after surgery.
Once implants are gone, there are no future implant exchanges to plan for. Lift results last for years, though aging and weight changes will keep affecting breast shape. Patients who match the approach to their tissue from the start tend to feel most at ease with their outcome.
During your consultation, Dr. Shaher W. Khan reviews your health history and examines your skin and breast tissue. He explains what explant only would look like for you and whether a pseudo lift or traditional lift would help. You leave with a clear plan and the reasons behind it. Many patients travel to us from across the country, and our out-of-town patients page covers what to expect. You can also meet Dr. Khan before your visit.
Dr. Shaher W. Khan reviews explant only, pseudo lift and traditional lift options with each patient.
The decision between explant with lift vs explant only comes down to nipple position, skin quality and your goals. Many patients do well with removal alone or with a pseudo lift that avoids new breast incisions. A traditional lift fits those with significant sagging. An exam with Dr. Shaher W. Khan shows which approach fits your body.
About the Author
Dr. Shaher W. Khan, MD
November 9, 2026
Learn more about breast implant illness, breast implant removal, or meet Dr. Shaher Khan.
