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Downsize Breast Implants Without Breast Lift?

I had a breast augmentation 7 months ago. I got high profile saline 690 cc. I'm 5'3", and I didn't want to go that big, but unfortunately, my doctor got me these huge implants. Now, I want to downsize them. So, I want to get smaller implants, but I don't want to get a breast lift, I'm hoping I won't need it. How do I know if I will need a breast lift? My nipples are in good position, but what can I expect if not lift is done? I want to downsize between 400 cc to 500 cc.

Asked 27 months ago by levap21 in new york, USA

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breasts 5 ft 0 in to 5 ft 3 in 400-449cc 500-549cc 650-699cc breast size high profile

Downsize breast implant size without doing a breast lift?

Eek. A 690 cc implant is a huge implant in any woman, but particularly in a petite one. I am so sorry to hear you went this big. Some doctors try to avoid doing a breast lift by adding volume. If you "needed" this amount of volume to correct your initial droopiness, then you always needed a lift. Get your implant out ASAP. A large implant like this has a weight, and will thin your skin and cause you to droop further. There are many questions we don't know the answers to: how... more

Lauren Greenberg, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

There are a number of factors which determine whether you will need a lift

This is a difficult question to answer because there are several questions which need to be answered: how large are your current implants? how much smaller do you want to go? how lax is your breast skin? how perky do you want to be after this downsizing? That being said, one technique that I have begun doing is to intentionally deflate a patient's saline implants in the office about 4-6 weeks before downsizing. When that happens, I commonly see... more

Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Do I need mastopexy if I get smaller implants?

If you needed a breast lift prior to the augmentation, you will need one when you change to smaller implants. If you did not need one, you will probably be OK without one because the implants have not been in that long and your skin is probably not stretched out too much and will be able to shrink back. I am not sure if you are saying you want your implants to be 400cc or if you want the volume reduced by 400cc. For your height, I think your implants should be much smaller, like... more

Doctor's Website

Tracy Pfeifer, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

A consultation is necessary.

A personal consultation is necessary to decide weather or not you need a breast lift. Your surgeon will be able to advise you of this. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Downsizing implants

Even after a physical exam, it is diffiult to determine how the soft tissues will respond with downsizing. Many times you need a lift.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Downsizing breast implants without breast lift

This is a difficult problem. One reason is that the very large implants that have been placed cause "stretching-out" of your entire breast skin envelope over time. Thus, if you do wish to "down-size" your implants and exchange them for smaller ones, it is important that you do so sooner than later, particularly if you want to avoid a breast lift. Another important factor is whether or not your original implants were placed over the muscle or under the muscle. Large... more

Suzanne M. Quardt, MD

Palm Springs Plastic Surgeon

Downsizing breast implant size can create a loose skin envelop

Hello Downsizing from 690 cc to 500 cc may work if you did not have a lot of extra skin ahead of time. If the size was picked just to avoid the scars of a lift, then you will need a lift after downsizing. Many patients would rather have a smaller implant and live with the loose skin, rather than have the scars of a lift, so many times I recommend just downsizing and evaluating the skin after 3 months. If you are happy with just the smaller size you are done, and if you are not, you can... more

Francisco Canales, MD

Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Downsizing your current saline implants

Those are definitely very large implants. Whether you will need a lift at the time of downsizing will depend on several factors. First, did you have any sagging before your augmentation? Did you have excess skin on the breasts before. Now, if you are going down to a 400ish implant, you may not require a lift at the time of downsizing. But quite frankly, your surgeon will assess this at the time of your physical exam to assess your breast shape, skin quality, and nipple position. more

Doctor's Website

C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

I've got a better idea

One way to tell if you'll need a lift after downsizing to 400cc or so is to ask your plastic surgeon to deflate your implants. Deflating the implants will give you a good immediate indication of how much excess skin you will have. You can also then allow the implants to continue to deflate over time, thus allowing your skin to slowly contract even further. Good luck!

Doctor's Website

Kenneth R. Francis, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Downsizing breast implants

It really depends on what you started with. If you needed a lift prior to your surgery, then you will likely need one if you down size and I would say that may be a reason why your surgeon put in such larger implants in such a small frame. If you did not need a lift prior to your surgery you will probably not need one now unless you were borderline. Down sizing will cause the nipple to come down a bit but you may be ok depending on what you started with. I would really have to see you to... more

Farbod Esmailian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Reducing implant size may require a breast lift

By reducing your implant size by 200 to 250cc should allow you do go down about 1 to 1.5 cup sizes. There are many factors that are involved to determine if you would need a breast lift following the reduction in implant size and volume. If your skin was in good condition and has good elasticity then it may be possible to acheive your goal withour a lift.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Smaller implants, no lift

You can see that most of the doctors here are disappointed to hear that you had such large implants done without apparent input from you as to your preferences. In order go smaller without a lift, your skin and tissues around the implant need to shrink. If you are relatively young, and no prior pregnancies, the odds of this are better.

Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Need for lift after implant downsize

Of you go down in size your breasts will be smaller and you may droop somewhat but since it has been a short time since your original procedure your breasts may have not yet fully accomodated to the larger volume. Your best bet is to do the downsizing as soon as possible and then wait 6-12 months and decide at that point if you need the lift. My guess is that you will be fine.

John P. Stratis, MD

Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Downsize your breast implants without a lift

The need for breast lift after augmentation depends on the elasticity of the breast skin, and the position of the nipple relative to the breast fold. When downsizing the 200cc that you suggest, have a normal (above the fold) nipple position, and especially have worn the implants a short period of time, just 7 months, downsizing should not be a problem for you. The most important issue in breast lift is nipple position. If the nipple lies just below the fold after augmentation of however many... more

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Peter E. Johnson, MD

Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Downsizing breast implants and avoiding a lift

I'm glad to hear you're downsizing your implants. Implants as large as the ones you have at present can have long-term problems with malposition (downward descent of the implants to due progressive stretching of the breast supporting ligaments) and dimunition of skin elasticity. After your operation, without a lift you will certainly look as though you have extra skin on the breast. If you are young and the skin still has good elasticity, the skin may shrink to an acceptable appearance. ... more

Sam Jejurikar, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Downsize breast implants without lift

If the sole qualification to be a GOOD Plastic surgeon was the physical ability to stuff the biggest possible breast implant into a woman's chest, there would be a lot of Plastic surgeons roaming the American plains. That is NOT the case. Unfortunately, this All-You-Can-Eat-I-AM-Paying-For-It-Anyway attitude is very prevalent among some women who do not understand how irreversible such requests are AND some of our Plastic Surgery colleague who do what they are asked for fear of losing a... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Downsizing breast implants without lifting

If you have good elastic skin and aren't going that much smaller and if your nipples are in a good elevated position, you can just exchange the implants and give your tissue 4-6 months to shrink as well as it can. Then you can see if you need a lift.