A seal assembly including a first tubular having a sealing surface and a seal element run with the first tubular and displaced from the surface. The seal element initially has a radial dimension that forms a radially innermost or outermost sealing dimension of the first tubular for enabling the first tubular to be sealed with a second tubular radially disposed with the first tubular. A mechanism is included that is triggerable for reconfiguring the radial dimension of the seal element. The sealing surface of the first tubular operative forms the radially innermost or outermost sealing dimension of the first tubular when the radial dimension of the seal element has been reconfigured for enabling the sealing surface of the first tubular to receive a second seal element. A method of sealing tubulars is also disclosed.