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Minimal Chance of Rippling with Small Saline Breast Implants?

I'm 24 and going to be getting a periareolar breast lift with breast implants. I'm happy with my size and wouldn't even mind being a little bit smaller. I'm currently 36A/34B. My breast tissue is all near the bottom of the breast. The moderate implants will go under the muscle and was suggested 175-200cc. My main concern is achieving nice upper pole fullness without going up in size/or projecting. I can't decide if these will be too big or too small. I'm 5'6" and 130 lbs. Sagging measures at 22 for one breast and 21 for the other. If I decide to get saline with an implant that small will the possibility of rippling be very minimal?

Asked 27 months ago by Star24 in Texas

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age 18-24 breasts female 130-149 lbs 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in sagging under muscle 200-249cc moderate profile rippling

Breast Implant Rippling

Breast implants may cause rippling in areas where there is little buffer between the implant and the skin. The most common areas of rippling are the lateral edge of the breast where there is no pectoralis muscle coverage of the breast implant. Size will not predict implant rippling, rather, the amount of soft tissue buffer between implant and skin.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant and Lift

That is a pretty small implant that we are talking about. Yes smaller implants will have less rippling, especially if it is kept within the width of your breast tissue. Silicone implants tend to have less rippling and I feel give a better upper pole advantage. A lift will tighten your breast but it will not give you the upper pole that you desire over time. Yes the upper pole will be fuller initially but once the swelling has resided, you will miss the fullness and your idea of an... more

Farbod Esmailian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Don't get breast implants if you don't want your breasts to be larger!

Hi! 1) You can get good upper pole fullness just with a breast lift without implants. But the breast lift has to be done right. Often a lift is still done by tightening the skin, but skin stretches and you don't get good long term shape (this is why surgeons use implants). 2) You need an INTERNAL lift, where the breast tissue itself is shaped and lifted from the inside, and you have a lollipop scar (Lejour lift or vertical lift). You remain the same size, or is you want, a little... more

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Silicone Ripples Less than Saline

It sounds like you have thought about this surgery a lot. And it sounds like you are making good decisions. However, have you thought about silicone rather than saline? The best ways to avoid rippling are... smaller implants (You have already chosen implants that are about as small as are available.) placement under the pectoralis muscles (Another good choice that you have already made.) silicone rather than saline I use silicone on 90% of my patients. We all prefer the look and feel of... more

Michael C. Pickart, MD

Ventura Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Saline implants and rippling

You have some conflicting issues. To stay the same size or to be smaller, you shouldn't have implants but to get upper pole fullness, you do. Rippling is always present with saline implants but if the implant is hidden by your natural breast tissue you will see and feel less of the rippling. This suggests that your size should be determined by the dimensional width of the implant.The volume is less of a concern although the lower percentage of final breast that is the implant, the more... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Rippling in small saline breast implants

ALL breast implants ripple, but saline implants ripple MORE than silicone gel implants. The amount of VISIBLE rippling depends on the thickness and ability of your own tissues to cover the actual ripples of the underlying breast implant. The more "stuff" you can put on the implant, the less visible the implant will be. So -- yes -- if we quantified the ripples (which we do not) as ripples PER cm squared surface - the larger the surface area - the more ripples. 175-200cc are VERY... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Upper pole fullness with an implant and breast lift

The size of the saline implant is not a factor in wrinkling and rippling. It is more the body fat and breast volume of the patient and whether the implant is minimally filled or overfilled. As to the size you have chosen, there is a good likelihood that you will feel slightly too small in the upper pole after a year has passed with those implant sizes.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Implant choice for achieving upper pole fullness

Hi Star, All excellent questions. The implant size you have selected seems very appropriate for achieving upper pole fullness without causing a significant increase in breast cup size. In all likelihood, it will not be too big - in fact, it's as small as an implant as is made. If you're truly happy with your current cup size, it shouldn't be too small. Saline definitely has a higher propensity toward visible rippling. Placing it under the muscle will help lessen the rippling. If you... more

Sam Jejurikar, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Rippling

Rippling happens because the soft tissue envelope is very thin. A smaller implant matched with smaller breast volume, may be less likely to ripple as compared to a large implant and small volume of tissue.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Lift and implants

Having your implants placed under the muscle is a good idea. Rippling is more profound in saline implants although both saline and silicone come with the risk of rippling. Placing the implants under the muscle makes more camouflage for the implant and thus for the rippling. Deciding on size is very personal and has a lot to do with your personal and unique measurements. Talk with your surgeon about the expected outcome and ask to see pictures of other women that had the same procedure.... more

Joseph G. Bauer, MD

Alpharetta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Rippling with saline breast implants

Rippling is always a possibility after breast augmentation. This can occur with saline or gel implants, but is more common with saline implants. The 2 key elements that contribute to rippling are how much soft tissue i.e. breast tissue you have to cover the implant and the size of the implant used. Obviously, the larger the implant and the less breast tissue you have the more palpable the implant will be. If you are highly concerned about rippling than slicone gel implants would be a better... more

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Todd B. Koch, MD

Buffalo Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

I am concerned about a couple of things

First of all, you say you are happy with your current size or might even like being smaller...yet you are getting implants? Implants will definitely make you bigger. No two ways about it! Secondly, it sounds like you have fairly small breasts (if you are wearing the correct bra size). Placing small breast implants in a small breast definitely runs more risk of visible or palpable ripples than the same size implants in a larger breast. This is simply because you have less tissue to hide the impla more

Doctor's Website

Daniel P. Markmann, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Saline implants could increase your chance of rippling,but not always

I generally prefer silicone gel implants because they tend to be associated with less chance of rippling. The main factors that contribute to or increase your risk for rippling include the following: saline implants small breast volume degree of skin laxity use of large implants placement of the implants above the muscle That being said, if you go with a smaller saline implant and place that implant below the muscle, you might be fine. There are no... more

Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Rippling with saline breast implants

The chance of VISIBLE rippling with adequate soft tissue coverage should be low. However, it is not just the size but the shape you may want to consider. Rippling tends to be lower with intermediate or high profile implants. Discuss this option with your surgeon see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Rethink your decisions

You are saying contradictory things. It sounds like you are trying to get a breast lift with less scarring by adding implants and doing a periareolar approach. Whenevr you add an implant your breast will get bigger unless you also take out some breast tissue(some breast lifts are done that way). I am concerned that at the end of this procedure you will not be happy because you have compromised on several levels and none of the compromises may give you what you want. You need to rethink your... more