Breast Implant Revision: Q&A

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Breast Implant Exchange Expectations Not Met... Now What?

I just had a breast implant exchange. One had deflated. I my agreement it said "increase 1 cup size". I learned my previous implant was 330cc and the new ones are 395cc. I had a lift also done. They appear wider but not necessarily larger (looking down at them). The 65cc difference and removing of the excess skin, they appear the same size or I actually thought they were smaller originally! What do I do now? I wanted to avoid confrontation so I told the nurse to let him know.

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by Flat Tire in Chantilly, VA

Doctor Answers (15)
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Unhappy with breast implant size

There can be no guarantee of what constitutes a one cup size change. I would never make such an aggreement with a patient, as cup size from manufacturer to another varies too much. Also, in patients who need a lift, sometimes there is a limit to how much larger an implant can fit without placing too much strain on the incisions, which could at best lead to wider, worse scars and at worst to the incisions coming apart. It is always difficult in revision cases (where simply having... more

Breast Implant Exchange Expectations Not Met

Sorry for your unhappiness. Your surgeon was foolish to enter into an agreement based on cup size as this is bound to lead to misunderstandings. If you can remain calm and clear, then you should communicate your concerns directly with your surgeon. Your surgeon will then be able to identify ways to ensure your happiness.

Breast Implant Revisionary Results?

Thank you for the question. I'm sorry to hear about your dissatisfaction after breast revisionary surgery; you should wait on making a final judgment about the end results of surgery ( approximately 6 months after surgery). At that point, if you have concerns you should discuss these in a calm/nonaccusatory fashion with your plastic surgeon. I'm sure you're aware that no plastic surgeon can promise specific cup size or symmetry with breast surgery... more

Breast Implant Exchange Expectations Not Met... Now What?

Your situation highlights the critical importance of good communication between patient and surgeon and touches upon realistic expectations. As most women out there know well, there is NO standard bra cup size; In other words, a C is not a C in all bra manufacturers. With a rampant lack of standards, how can anyone ethically promise you a certain cup size. While most of us guess that a cup size is about 150 - 200 cc in breast volume, this cannot be transferred to breast surgery every... more

Lift and implant exchange

It is very diffiuclt to size up the volume of implants and the actual bra cup size. Bras are all made differently. Talk to your surgeon and his staff about you concerns.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

LIft and upsizing of Implants can be difficult

View this problem as two procedures, The implant by nature sits behind the breast tissue and or chest muscle and pushes things out, or a force that is inflating the tissues. View the lift as skin is being removed or the amount of tissuethat gets removed is actually tightening things. These 2 forces are working against each-other. I am surprised that your surgeon could have put in that much bigger of an implant and still performed an appropriate lift. You can go bigger later... more

Breast Implant Exchange Expectations Not Met

As you can read pretty much all of us are saying the same thing but here's my two cents anyway. I too do not talk about cup size because the formula used to determine cup size is different between manufacturers. So I like to talk about proprotion with your body. I think it's important that the breasts are proportionate to your shoulders, hips and buttocks. Some women do prefer to be larger and that can be possible. I agree that you need to increase... more

Breast Implant Exchange Expectations Not Met... Now What?

I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Johnson. I would now recommend that you have a face to face discussion with your surgeon and let him/her know exactly how you feel. You will need an exchange with larger implants, and the two of you must come to an agreement as to what would be fair. Good luck!

Breast Implant Exchange Expectations Not Met... Now What?

Sorry for your unhappiness. If I were your surgeon, I would offer (again in my personal practice) an exchange to at least a 450 to 475 cc Hp at my costs under local with mild sedation (this should costs if salines approx. $1200). Also I would have a written informed consent that you are aware of there is never any guarantee. If than you are still unhappy you may than realize your expectations can not be achieved. Best of luck.

It would have been impossible to give lift and much bigger breast

During the breast lift some breast skin is removed to firm up the breast and reposition the nipple. This will work best with the same size implant. Your surgeon could not use much bigger implants because of the limitation of the soft tissue coverage.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Cup size

There is never a guarantee about cup size - and we do let our patients know that . On the average a 20% change in implant size-whether going up or down makes a significant difference-again, though, cannot guarantee cup size.

Breast implant expectation not met

If you choose a surgeon properly you should have an open line of discussion and have little need for confrontation. Telling the nurse pass on your disappointment is unlikely to go far. Typically it takes about 150cc to give a 'noticeable difference' when sizing up or down with breast implants. Better communication is the key to getting it right. Telling the nurse to tell the doctor? My guess is the doctor will tell the nurse to tell you to enjoy your result. Best of luck... more

Cup size and breast augmentation

Cup size is never a guarantee after breast augmentations. There is so much variability at different stores that I always tell my patients that they should never focus on the cup sizes. Moreover, you mention that your surgeon removed some excess skin (donut or other method of a breast lift?) which can limit the amount of size increase of the implant. The lift should be the primary goal and if the surgeon inflates the implant too much, the skin can be compromised resulting in a poor... more

Breast Implant Exchange Expectations

Sorry to hear about your disappointment and expectations. In general, removing skin will cause you to lose a little volume after surgery. This is very common, and depending on how much loose skin you have, you should expect to be a little smaller from that. Regarding breast implant volume, cup size is variable and subjective, so a 65 cc difference should be noticeable in photos, in your clothes, and even looking at yourself in the mirror. You... more

No cup size guarantee

It sounds like your doctor has done their best job to please you. No cup sizes can be guaranteed to anybody because cup sizing is nor standardized in the garment industry. There is no need for a "confrontation" here, just sit down calmly with the doctor and explain your feelings. There will quite probably be some fees to buy new impolants and cover surgical costs because the doctor did nothing "wrong" here, just didn't meet your expectations entirely. more