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Do Saline Breast Implants Cause Any Weight Gain or Retention over Time?

asked 3 years ago by Nitty Gritty in London,KY
Latest answer by Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Question viewed 11,074 times
Tags: saline implants, side effects

I had saline breast implants 18 years ago, which boosted my chest size to 36 C. At that time I was 117 lbs. Now I'm 140 and my chest size has gone up tp 38 DD. I am in good-shape--excercise, the works--but my chest doesn't seem to lose any weight. Is it possible that the implants have caused weight gain and maybe weight retention on my chest area?

40 answers to Do Saline Breast Implants Cause Any Weight Gain or Retention over Time?

+1

Breast Implants Don't Cause Longterm Weight Gain!

Hi Nitty Gritty, Your breast implants are not the cause of your weight gain, or your growth in your breasts over the last 18 years.  However, your weigh gain, along with your own genetic predisposition, is responsible for your breast growth over these years. Like most other americans, you are gaining about a pound a year.  Unfortunately, it is very common for people to feel like they are doing everything right with their diet and exercise program, yet they cannot get... more
Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

drminniti.com

+3

Breast Implants Will Not Cause Weight Gain Over Time

Thank you for your question. Neither Saline nor Silicone Breast Implants will cause you to gain weight over time. There are many metabolic changes as we age that do cause weight gain. You certainly can lose fat in the breast after dieting and exercise. However the fact that you have Breast Implants likely is the reason that you breasts do not decrease in size.
Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

+3

Weight Gain and Breast Implants

The changes in your breast sound like changes due to weight gain and aging rather than some effect of the implants.  Saline implants do not cause water retention. As we age, changes in our metabolism can lead to weight gains.  Hormone changes with age play a significant role in weight change and fat distribution. The pattern of breast size changes with aging does vary: some women slowly gain more fat and size in their breasts with age; others develop thinning of... more
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.pzwiebel.com

+2

Breast implants do NOT cause weight gain

Breast implants have a certain weight of their own, but they do'nt make you gain additional weight, and certiainly don't make you retian water or fluid.  
S. Sean Younai, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast implants and weight gain

The only weight gain you get from implants, is the actual weight of the implants. If you have gained weight, yes your breasts may grow, but it is unassociated with the implants.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

Saline implants

There is absolutely no evidence that breast implants would cause weight gain or any other illness.  Certainly look for other potential causes such as thyroid disease.
Steven S. Carp, MD

Akron Plastic Surgeon

www.carpcosmetic.com

+2

Breast implants cause weight gain? Absolutely Not

Breast Implants (saline or silicone) will never cause weight retention. If you are dissatisfied with the extra weight in that area, removing the implants and a possible breast lift could lighten you up, without the natural sagging which normaly occurs with age, especially if you have had children.
Darrick E. Antell, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

It's unlikely that the implants have directly caused...

It's unlikely that the implants have directly caused weight gain to your chest. If you have gained weight in general, chances are that the fat that has always been present on your chest has also grown in size, causing the increased cup size. As you may know, the number of fat cells we have is more or less set after puberty, so weight gain for the most part is due to an increased size in these cells. Since all women have some fat on their chests, regardless of how thin they are, this is... more
Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implants and Weight Gain or Retention

There is no correlation between breast implants, both saline and silicone, with gaining or losing weight over time. One does see over time, however, the female breast tissue may increase in size normally and also have more drooping or ptosis, but that does not relate to the implant.
Rod J. Rohrich, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline Breast Implants & Weight Loss / Gain

Saline or Silicone Breast Implants do not inherently cause weight gain or loss. With time the weight of the implant cn cause the overlying breast tissue to stretch especially when implants are not placed under the muscle.
Ankit Desai, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Saline implants do not cause substantial weight gain

It is extremely unlikely for implants to contribute to a patient's substantial weight gain.  It is much more likely that although a patient may have stayed in good shape overall, they have still managed to gain weight all over their body either because of a slower metabolism or past pregnancies.  It is true that initially breast implants can cause a patient to gain 1-2 lbs. depending on the size of the implants. ... more
Kelly Gallego, MD

Sioux City Plastic Surgeon

www.drgallego.com

+1

It is a very unusual for saline implants to cause weight gain.

It is a very unusual for saline implants to cause weight gain. I have never heard of this happening and it may well be that you're breast tissue itself is changing over the top of the implants as you develop. This would change the shape of your bust and would lead to alterations in size. If you have any concerns I would suggest scheduling a consultation with your surgeon who would perform the operation. he will be able to give you a more definitive answer to your query.... more
Adrian Richards, MD

London Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implants and weight gain

Breast implants do not cause weight gain over time.  Your breast weight consists of glandular tissue, fat, and implants.  The size (weight) of your implants do not change unless there is a rupture.  The change in size that occurs with breasts are common to all women.  Glandular tissue increases and decreases in size in response to hormonal changes (pregnancy, aging, etc).  The fat tissue in your breasts changes in a similar fashion to fat tissue elsewhere in your... more
Naveen Setty, MD

Plano Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast augmentation and weight reduction

You stated your chest doesn't SEEM to lose any weight, but when you lose body fat, you proportionately lose some fat from your breasts.  Your breast volume consists mostly of three components:  Glandular tissue, fat, and implant.  The volume of glandular tissue fluctuates with hormone sensitivity of the gland and your life stage (as well as monthly cycle).  The volume of fat fluctuates with your body fat, and is partly dependent on how hormone sensitive the fat... more
Steve Laverson, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

+1

Weight gain and breast implants

Unfortunately ,the weight gain that you have experienced is not likely due to the implants.  Even large implants will only add a few pounds to your frame.  As we age, our metabolism changes, and I would guess that this weight is largely unrelated to your surgery. Keep exercising.  This will make you feel better physically and give you confidence. 
Jason R. Hess, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Implants do not cause weight gain!

Implants do not cause weight gain. There are obvious reasons for this and obvious soultions! If you lose weight, the breasts should diminish in size.They may not return to their "original 36C. Diet and excercise should assist you here. I know it is tough, but get going on i!,
Michael S. Beckenstein, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implants and weight gain

Breast implants do not cause weight gain other than the actual weight of the implant itself. Typically the weight of an implant in grams is equal to the size of the implant. There are many reasons for weight gain to occur throughout life, fortunately having breast implants won't be one of those contributing factors.
Richard Bendor-Samuel, MD

Nova Scotia Plastic Surgeon
+1

Weight gain from breast implants

Wecome to middle age!  The weight that middle aged ladies gain is almost always on the torso.  Your story is not at all unusual.  You may want to consider having your implants removed and having a breast lift.  This is an operation I perform on middle aged ladies fairly often and they are usually very pleased to be less top heavy, nice and perky and implant free. Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D.
Lisa L. Sowder, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implants and weight gain over time

The breast implants do not contribute to weight gain over time.  Time can change the consistency of breast, (more fatty tissue, less breast tissue).  Time will also slow your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight.  The amount of weight gain with breast implants is the amount of cc's that you put in.  If you put in a pair of 500 cc implants, that would be 1000 cc's.  1000 cc's = 1 Liter = 2.2 lbs.  That would be your weight gain from... more
Jeffrey Roth, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implants and weight gain

Breast implants are not known to cause weight gain or weight retention.  The only "weight gain" you should see would be the actual weight of the implants. 
Usha Rajagopal, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

www.sfcosmeticsurgery.com

+1

Having breast implants will not cause significant weight gain, but time and changes in your body over time might!

The average weight of a breast implant I insert in my patients is usually between 200 cc and 550 cc, and can go up to 800 cc. There is an approximate 1:1 ratio of cc's inserted to grams (g) of weight per implant. Therefore, if two 500 cc implants are inserted, the weight of the implants together would be 500 g x 2 = 1000 g, or 1 kg. A kilogram equals approximately 2.2 lbs. The amount of weight added to the body with insertion of breast implants is usually... more
Karen M. Horton, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

www.drkarenhorton.com

+1

Do Saline Breast Implants Cause Any Weight Gain or Retention over Time?

The  weight gain caused by  Breast implants is the weight of the implants themselves .Breast  Implants over time will not make you gain weight. Breast  implants will not  make you gain 23 lbs over your upper body.The increase of weight is solely the result of the weight of the implant. For example after breast implant surgery with  450 cc implants your weight be increase by approximately 2 lbs. more
Jaime Perez MD

Tampa Plastic Surgeon

www.jaimeperezmd.com

+1

Weight gain after breast augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery is not associated with long term weight gain or localized weight retention around the implants. Fluid collection around the implants may be evaluated with physical examination and imaging studies.
Olivia Hutchinson, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast augmentation with saline breast implants.

It's not  uncommon for women and men alike to gain weight over an 18 year period due to natural metabolic changes which seem to take place with increasing age, and weight gain of 23 pounds could easily explain an increase in beast size from 36C to 38DD.  An increase in breast size which could be attributed to the implants, however, has never been reported in the medical literature.
Roger J. Oldham, MD

Bethesda Plastic Surgeon
+1

The weight of a breast implant...

is fixed.  It doesn't change over time (barring deflation, of course, which would make a saline implant weigh less).  I find it hard to believe that you are associating any weight or size change in your body with implants you have had for 18 years!  Hormones change over that period of time in women, as do diets and exercise.  Age changes us, period.
Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Implants only add weight at the time of the operation.

Breast implants do add weight directly proportional to their volume.  A 300cc implant, which is a very common size, weight about a half of a pound.  If weight increase continues over time, don't blame the implant.  It does not change in volume and does not change weight.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

How much weight gain do breast implants add?

Implants do add weight.  Overall, the way to figure out how much extra weight is to look at the number of cc's.  So a 400cc implant weighs approximately 400 grams.  1000 grams equals about 2.2 pounds.  Implants do not change in weight over time.  Your breast composition does change over time, particularly after child rearing and breast feeding.  Also breast volume changes with weight change.  If you notice your breasts have gotten larger, it is... more
Lauren Greenberg, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implant Weight

Breast implants have their own weight that will add to your body weight.  However, implant do not cause your body to retain water/fat or anything else that adds to your body weight.  If you do feel like you have gained some weight it would be safe to assume that it may be because as you age over time your metabolism changes as does your body fat distribution.
Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

www.torontosurgery.ca

+1

Weight gain after breast implants

There is some weight gain after implants.  That weight gain is about  1 to 1.5 pounds but not more than that unless you received and implant over 400 cc.  A 1000 cc of saline weighs about 2.2 pounds and is very constant.  You have gained 30 pounds since receiving  your implants.  lt is common knowledge that woman gain weight in their breast with weight gain.   I would suggest that you lose weight and your breasts will return to their original size.... more
Gary H. Manchester, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.manchesterclinic.com

+1

Saline breast implants DO NOT cause water retention!

As previously stated, breast implants are one of the most scrutinized and studied medical devices in the world and have never been shown to affect water retention.  Could they cause weight gain?  Sure...but only in the amount that the implant actually weighs (which is actually very little). In fact, I actually have seen a trend where my patients tend to lose a little weight after breast augmentation.  Most are so happy with their results that they want the rest of their... more
Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implants and weight gain

I have not seen any credible studies that suggest breast implants lead to water retention or water retention It is important that a patient discusses her needs, expectations, and lifestyle so that the board certified plastic surgeon can advise a patient appropriately.
Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implants DO NOT cause Weight Gain or Water Retention

Breast Implants are the MOST studied and scrutinized medical device in history. No other device (heart valves, pacemakers, artificial hearts, joints etc) have been more extensively studied as have breast implants. They do NOT cause water retention or weight gain. But - a lot of other conditions do. It is best that you be seen by a competent Internist and see if your Thyroid is functioning normally (A"slow" thyroid is associated with weight gain, water retention, slowed thinking... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Implants do not cause weight gain or retention.

Neither saline or silicone implants cause weight gain or retention of weight, but it is not uncommon to hear people say that "implants make you look heavier".  This is usually because of several reasons 1. if the implant causes your breasts to look out of proportion or out of balance with the rest of your body then they have a tendency to make you look "heavier" or "top heavy". 2. if you wear baggy clothes (ie sweatshirts) that do not... more
Richard H. Fryer, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implants do not cause weight gain

Breast implants do not cause weight gain (except for the weight of the implants).  You have gained some extra body weight and some of it has been in your breasts - which are naturally a combination of breast tissue and fatty tissue.  Keep up the good work with the exercise and see your plastic surgeon to reduce your breasts!
Randy J. Buckspan, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implants and Weight Gain

The only weight increase caused by implants is the weight of the implants themselves, which is not very heavy at all. Fluctuations in weight and breast size are very common. If you are concerned about the large size of your implants, you could remove the implants. Although you would likely need a lift to remove the excess skin that will likely appear after the volume from the implant is gone. 
Tarick K. Smaili, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Patients gain & lose weight, not implants.

Fluctuations in weight are very common, as are changes in breast size. Your breasts are living organs, that can increase or decrease in size over time. Although many women commonly lose volume in their breasts over time (especially after having children), some women's breasts will get larger over time.
Kevin Brenner, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implants and Weight Gain

The implants that you have are not likely to cause weight gain or weight retention. The distribution of fat around the body is different for everybody, but follows certain trends. Usually, the first place you gain weight is often the last place you lose it. Your weight gain is not only in your breasts evidenced by the C cup to DD cup. But also, in the fat distribution around your upper trunk evidenced by the size increasing from a 36 to a 38. If you are attempting to lose weight, don't... more
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

+1

Breast implants do not cause weight gain.

Hi. From your description, it sounds like your own breast tissue has gotten larger when you gained weight.  Also breasts can get larger by themselves as women get older.  I don't think this has anything to do with your breast augmentation.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Weight Gain after Breast Enhancement

After reviewing the plastic surgery literature, I have not been able to find any statistically significant data to support the association of breast augmentation to weight gain. Make sure that unexplained weight gain is evaluated by your primary care physician as this may be due to other medical, endocrine or hormonally related conditions.
John Philip Connors III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Implants will not cause weight gain

There is no evidence that saline implants can cause any weight gain. Also, there is no medical reason I can think of which would explain how saline implants can possibly cause weight gain. You should see your regular medical doctor and explain your weight gain. There may be a hormonal imbalance that is causing this.
John Diaz, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

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