Breast Implants: Q&A

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How Much Bigger Implants Are Needed in Breast Implant Replacement?

Hi. I am considering having Breast Implant exchange surgery. I have implants that are about 11 years old, and my breast are starting to sag a bit too much. I am a 38DD now, and I am scared about going bigger but I am hoping this will make my breast perkier, and my nipples higher on the breast themselves.

Does the implant have to be extremely bigger to make that type of difference, or can I go just a little bigger than the original implant?

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by Cami111 in Albany NY

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Going with bigger implants won't lift the breasts

You actually don't need to go bigger at all unless you want to be bigger. If your nipples are heading south, going with bigger implants won't restore them northward, you need a lift to do that.

Bigger implants no good for 38DD.

Hi. 1) Don't do it! You will regret it. Trying to correct sagging breasts with large breast implants is one of the most common mistakes that I see in Manhattan. You will not look natural and you will still have sagging. Very large breast implants age very badly. 2) It sounds like you need somewhat smaller implants and a good breast lift with a lollipop scar. Women accept breast lift scars very well if they love the shape of their new breasts.

The WOW factor in redoing your Breast Implants

If you need your breast implants redone, it may be time to take a close look in the mirror and see if what you really need is a lift. If the implants are soft, they may already be large enough. The second most important question now that you've lived with implants is ... do you really need them to be any bigger? A proper lift can be done irrespective of their size. Many think they need them bigger but are perplexed at why they are dropping so much. Perhaps the descent of the breasts is rela more

Bigger breast implant exchange may not work well

This is a common thought process that may not work well for many patients. You are already a DD cup and therefore probably have large breast implants in place. The bigger the implants, the less of a difference you will see with going larger. This is because if you add 100 ccs to a 100cc implant you double the size but if you add 100 cc to an 800 cc implant you may not see that much of a difference. In addition the rate of drooping increases with increasing volume of implant. You will almost... more

Larger implants to avoid breast lift

The answer is yes--larger implants will allow your nipples to be higher on the breast mount thus avoiding a breast lift. However, you would probably require a sizeable increase which will only accelerate your breast ptosis (sagging). The better solution is to have a breast lift. It is true, that a breast lift will require more scars on the breast, but you will be able to keep the same size implants. This will also allow your breasts to remain "perkier" for much longer before... more

Bigger breast implants not the answer for sagging breasts

As you sag, you will find that a Mastopexy or breast lift, is probably the surgery you need. The larger the implants, the faster they sag. Remember, gravity always wins.

Bigger implants not the best choice for a lift

The temptation to solve the sagging breast problem with bigger implants is appealing because no one wants the scars from a lift if possible. The trade-off, however, is that bigger implants will lead to even more sagging over time. If you are already a DD then going bigger just doesn't sound like a good choice. Though every situation is different, most of the time in a situation like yours going smaller and doing a lift makes the most sense. You could of course just do the lift and leave the... more

Breast implant size for replacement

Unfortunately, your questions are very generalized and no photos are posted. My guess is a slightly larger implant and some type of breast lifting is in order. Best of Luck.

Implant removal and replacement or lift with sagging large breasts

It is more likely that you would benefit from a breast lift (mastopexy) procedure in contrast to implant removal and replacement. In this instance, you could also decrease the size of your implant and breast tissue if you desire to minimize the risk for long term recurrent sagging.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Larger implants will not make sagging breasts "higher" or "perkier"

It is not unusual after 11 years to develop some degree of ptosis (droop) in an augmented breast. It sounds like you are already rather large (re: 38DD), so replacing your current implants with a larger version will not necessarily improve the situation. This isn't to say that in some cases, a larger implant alone is enough to fill-out/perk-up breasts that show a little bit of sag. But given the details included in your question, it seems clear that a lift is needed to achieve the result you... more

Lift and implants

If you need a lift you need a lift. Placing a larger implants may fill you out a bit more but will not lift the breasts significantly.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

I would be scared as you to go for bigger breast implants

That is common misconcept for going with larger implant to get perkier result. You might need breast lift (Mastopexy) but no larger implant. Bigger does not mean better all the time.

Bigger Breast Implants are NOT better!

Cami, It sounds like by your description you would need a revision of your implants to a smaller size. Then at the same time a lift (mastopexy) to reshape the breast tissue so that it sits over the center of the implants. Placing a lager implant and performing lift at the same time increases the chance of circulation loss to the nipple producing wounding of the nipple if not complete loss of the nipple/areola complex. Just placing a larger implant is not the appropriate solution either... more

Bigger implants won't eliminate the need for a breast lift

This is a very common misconception among women. An implant cannot take the place of a breast lift, no matter how big the implant is. In fact, using a really large implant can lead to problems itself: more stretching and thinning of the skin, "bottoming out", rippling, wrinkling, and implant palpability. If you need a lift, have the lift. You may use the same size implants you have now, or this could be an opportunity to go a little smaller.

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Ever increasing bigger implants to maintain breast perkiness

Trying to replace existing sagging breast implants with ever larger breast implants to maintain breast perkiness is a loser's game. The breasts sag for a reason - increasing breast weight and destruction of Copper's suspensory breast ligaments which HELD the breast to the chest wall. Similar to a suspension bridge, the heavier the load on the bridge and the move up and down and side to side movements, the more the cables will fray resulting in the breast / bridge coming down. Therefore the... more