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Bigger Breast Implant Replacement After Ruptured Old Ones?

I am 5'7" weigh 135 lbs. I just had my Breast implant ruptured I am now doing silicone vs the saline. I had 380cc in my previous augmentation. My question is about my PS recommendation that I do 500cc, stating that with scar tissue that needed to be removed, I must go bigger than my old implants. I like my size now, but do not want to go through surgery then have them too small after cleaning out scar tissue. Suggestions?

Asked 33 months ago by nancy in otownm in ocoee, florida USA
Sort 10 expert answers by:
+1

Need To Look At All The Options

At 5'7" and 135 lbs 500 cc implants will be large. I would hope that yourplastic surgeon has gone over all the options available to you. It has been my experience that you do not necessarily need to go with larger implants even when a complete capsulectomy is done with implant exchange. What I have usually seen is that there is some degree of capsular contracture present and by removing the ruptured implant and the capsule putting in the same size implants actually look larger... more
John P. Stratis, MD
Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon
+1

What size implants do you have now?

Answering this question properly requires knowing your current implant size and if you are happy at your current size (i.e. how do you feel about your current appearance of the non-ruptured side). As mentioned by others, 500 cc would not be much of a change if you are in the 400 range already, and may be a good move especially if your breasts have gotten a bit "droopy" over time. If you are in the 300 cc range or smaller, t hen this would be a dramatic change and you may want to... more
Brian S. Glatt, MD
Morristown Plastic Surgeon
+1

Replace ruptured implants with larger ones

You did not specifiy the size of your current implants. If they are 450 cc then a new 500 cc implant is negligible. If they are 250, then  a new 500cc implant is really a change.  
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

500 cc's is very large.

Hi! Very large implants have more complications, look fake, and don't age well. So in New York we hardly ever use 500 cc implants for breast augmentation. I recommend using a disposable implant SIZER during surgery to find the best size before opening the permanent implants.
George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes, it is possible you need a larger implant

If there has been a leakage and it was silicone before, it is likely that your surgeon may need to remove some of the breast tissue and scar, which will make you a little smaller. If it was a saline implant that ruptured, then the scar removal should be minimal. If you need to be larger, as per your surgeon, I am guessing that it is only a bit larger, not a substantial amount. If you were happy with the old size, and your surgeon is not expecting to remove a lot of scar tissue then, you... more
Sirish Maddali, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon
+1

With implant replacement choose what you like

Whether considering your first augmentation, or replacement of breast implants that have worn the same rules apply: choose what you like. Most often leak or rupture will occur on one side so in the case of your saline implants if you were happy before, your surgeon has a model to match. You may of course have a smaller or a larger implant if you wish, the choice is yours to make. We recommend that in the case of implant leak that both implants be replaced, unless the leak is within the... more
Peter E. Johnson, MD
Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon
+1

What do you want for your breast implants?

In this, you know best. The only way I could see this as being pertinent, is if he originally put in 450cc implants or 475cc (whatever), then overfilled them to 500cc's. In this case, a "larger" 500cc implant would be indicated. 
Ricardo Rodriguez, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Choose your size

You could have either larger or smaller -- it is your choice, dont let your PS pressure you. Silicone implants usually look a little smaller than the same size saline.
William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Pick what you like but it would not be a problem to put in a little bigger implant

If your saline implants just leaked and you need to have them replaced then there is no reason for you to need to go any larger unless you want to. However if you have old silicone gel implants that have broken or leaked with a lot of scar tissue and or silicone granulomas you may wish to have a little bigger implants to replace the breast tissue and scar that will have to be removed.
Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD
Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tissue can stretch out over time

Certainky it makes sense that your soft tissues might have stretched out over time with your original implants and now you need more volume to fill out the skin envelop. However, the real question is wat is going to make you happy. If you do not want to be larger, then you might want to explore the possibility of doing something other than putting in a larger implant: perhaps a lift, or a different style or shape of an implant. Or accept a different look.
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
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