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My Implants Are Too Big. Can Saline Be Withdrawn?

asked 10 months ago by Bear66
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 600 times
Tags: saline implants, 1 week post-op, overfilled, smaller

I just had breast augmentation with Natrelle saline filled implants. My left breast is a 168-330 filled to 330cc and my right breast is a 168-360 filled to a 420cc. I am post 1 week exactly, as I know my breasts have not settled, a lot of the swelling has gone down. My right breast hurts under my arm and to my back and feels and looks a size larger than my left. I feel that it has been overly overfilled. I'm a sporty girl who started with a 38A and am confidant that I'm better off a B than a C.

22 answers to My Implants Are Too Big. Can Saline Be Withdrawn?

Removing saline from a saline breast implant

If you have a 360cc implant filled to 420cc, you can have 60cc removed-but no more. I would not do anything right now since your surgery was so recent. I would wait several months before any attempt at removing the volume. Discuss this in detail with your plastic surgeon; but for now, be patient and allow yourself to heal. Best wishes, Dr.Bruno

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Removing saline from an implant too large

The implant on your right has been overfilled beyond the recommended fill volume and may indeed be stiffer than the implant on the left. If the implant remains too large and unbalanced with that on the left it is possible to reduce the fill volume to 360cc, or at least to 390cc to keep the implant within the normal fill range. You can wait, and the pains will subside, though if the look is wrong it is OK to remove saline on the right. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Healing of breast augmentation

At one week you are nowhere close to the final result and it will be smaller than you are now. Give it 4 months and see where you are. Work with your surgeon but it would be a mistake to take fluid out right now.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.randcosmeticsurgery.com

Too big one week post-op

At one week post-op, it's way too early to judge the final shape and size. Let the swelling go down for 3 weeks. Let the tissues relax for 2-3 months. Then look at how things are. If you still feel you are too large at that point, then it would be reasonable to consider a size change. Hang in there!

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Swelling and Asymmetry after Breast Augmentation

It is typical to have swelling and even some degree of breast asymmetry during the first several weeks after breast augmentation surgery. Also, keep in mind that you are not use to having larger breasts. There is a psychological adjustment that many women have to make because your body image is changing. Allow several months for the swelling to resolve and for you to mentally adjust to the body changes. Ultimately, if you still wish to reduce the implant size, speak to your surgeon. The... more

Behzad Parva, MD
Washington DC Plastic Surgeon

My implants are too big...can saline be withdrawn?

It is too early to assess size...swelling should continue to resolve. Give it some time. If after 3 months or so you still feel that you are too large, you can have the implants replaced with smaller ones. It is generally not a good idea to remove saline from saline implants as they have an optimal range of fill for a given implant size...below that amount they may wrinkle more and ultimately may rupture more frequently due to underfill.

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleplasticsurgery.com

One week post surgery?

Dear Bear, One week after surgery is not time to be critically evaluating your result in any aspect. Your implants will settle over time. Swelling will resolve over the next few weeks. Your skin will relax over the next several months. You really need to be patient and let the healing process take place. Good luck! see video

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Post-op breast augmentation

Thanks for your question - In our San Francisco office we perform breast augmentations very commonly. It is not uncommon for there to be some asymmetry and swelling at one week. This usually takes about 3-6 weeks to resolve more completely. You should talk to your surgeon but don't be in too much of a rush to reduce the size at the one week post-op point. Things will likely continue to get smaller as the swelling resolves. Unfortunately the volume can't... more

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Withdrawing saline from an implant

To withdraw saline, a surgical procedure would be required to open the breast along the suture line, put the fill tube into the valve and then withdraw fluid. You should not go below the recommended volume of the implant as this would increase risk of wrinkling and crease fold failure. You are correct that you need to wait for healing to progress before making any decisions as to decreasing the volume in your implants or to replace them with smaller ones.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Withdrawing saline from a saline implant

There is a small range for filling saline implants of any particular size. Changing that fill within that narrow range will not be satisfactory to relieve an asymmetry. Having said that, you are WAY TOO EARLY to make any adjustments or decisions about changing the implants. Give it three months and then reassess. All the best, Talmage J. Raine MD FACS

Talmage J. Raine, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Withdrawing saline from implant one week post op

One week post op is too early to tell. I would inform your plastic surgeon of your concerns, but I would wait for the swelling to go down and some of the spasm that some patients have to subside. At a certain point after things have settled, together you can determine if anything needs to be done

Jeffrey Roth, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Removing Saline from your implants

It is too soon for you to worry about size.. please allow yourself time to heal and for the implants to settle into the pockets. The size and shape will continue to change with the settling of the implants. I do not recommend manipulating the breast implant valve to remove saline from implants. You can increase rippling / palpability when you reduce the volume.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Final BBA results

One week post operative is entirely too early to determine a final outcome. Try to relax and give it time. Discuss your concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon during your next post operative visit. Best wishes!

Christine Sullivan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

My breast implants are to big. Can saline be removed?

I am have trouble understanding this situation if you started with A cups. You have submitted no picture to evaluate the result 1 week out which is very early. THese situations are best avoided through your prep consultation. You should return to your surgeon at you next appointment once more have the swelling has been resolved. Discuss your concerns and then go forward.

Robert Whitfield, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants take time to settle in

I agree with patience. At this point, it is too early to make any final decision about the size. I recommend waiting six months as sometimes it takes that long for the implants to achieve their final shape and size. If your right breast is still larger than the left after six months, volume can be removed from the implant as it is over-filled (420cc versus 360cc).

Michael A. Jazayeri, MD
Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon

Saline Implants

Hello Bear 66, As everyone else has been telling you, it's very early to tell. However, your right implant is overfilled by 30cc above recommended fill, making it more projecting and much firmer than it should be. This is not an ideal situation for your natural body tissues and will unduely thin or attenuate them. Over time, this situation encourages dropping out of implant with stretching of the breast tissue envelope, leading to the 'ball in... more

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

One week

It is a bit early to get concerned.There is a lot of swelling typically so you cannot tell how things will settle.

Jay M. Pensler, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breasts too large after augmentation

You are much too early in the post op period to make a judgement. Allow the swelling to subside and then you and your surgeon can decide the best course to take. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

My Implants Are Too Big. Can Saline Be Withdrawn?

No photos posted? Need more info. But I would recommend discussing with your chosen surgeon or seek second opinions in person.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Saline implants too big--can saline be withdrawn?

At one week post-op, you are too early to assess size differences except to determine if a possible breast hematoma is present. You and your surgeon must have both decided that your breasts did not match exactly in size; hence, the 90cc difference in implant choice. This volume is about a third of a cup size (minimally visible), and therefore a visible discrepancy of a full cup size (your assessment) would indicate more than overfilling. This is why I am suggesting that you see your surgeon... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Too Big Saline Implants

It is always recommended to wait for the implants to heal. It is not recommended to significantly decrease the amount of saline in an implant as it will result in more impant rippling.

Craig Mezrow, MS, MD
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation at one week

One week after an augmentation you are swollen and the size and shape of your breasts will not be apparaent for 2-4 months depending on how quickly your breasts implants settle. Give time for the result to becoma apparent and then you and your surgeon can decide on the revision surgery if necessary.