Breast Augmentation: Q&A

Ask a Question

Breast Augmentation with Lax Skin?

I am 25 years old and have had 2 kids. My once 32B breasts are now riddled with stretch marks and severely "deflated." I have wanted implants for a long time and now more than ever. I feel like I have no breasts any more. Having kids temporarily gave me a size 38D, but it didn't last.

Since my skin is so stretched out, will I likely have more problems with implants? (as far as being noticeable or any ripples) Also, do you think my stretch marks will be less visible?

Tags:

age 25-34 laxity stretch marks

Comment on this

13 Doctor Answers | Asked by Mommy02 in Southern California

Doctor Answers (13)
Community Comments (0)

You may need a breast lift as well

While it's difficult to know what the best procedure is for you without first examining you, keep in mind that you may need a breast lift as well in order to achieve the best cosmetic results. If you have a tremendous amount of excess skin and droop to the breasts, simply performing a breast augmentation will not give you the best results in most cases. My advice would be to set up a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area-- he or she will be able to give you... more

Breast augmentation with lax skin options

If your skin is lax, some of this will be corrected by the volume of the implant. If your skin is VERY lax, a larger implant could be used but then you might feel that you are too big. In this case, a proper sized implant is much better and coupled with a lift to tighten what laxity isn't corrected by the implant. It all depends on your starting point which we haven't seen but there are many options for you.

Sagging of breasts after childbirth

Whether a patient can get by with an implant alone in your situation or may require a lift of some type depends on many factors. The basic question is how the breasts would appear if only an implant were placed. Would the breasts look good? Would the areolae be too large? Would the nipples be too low? Are there asymmetries to be addressed? Currently, there are few good options to increasing breast size other than breast implants. How much they ripple will be determined by the size of... more

Implants for loose breasts

It is difficult to tell how your breast will respond to implants without formally examining you. As for the stretch marks, they are permanent and may look slightly better or slightly worse after having implants placed.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You need a lift in addition to the implants.

If you have loose skin or ptotic (hanging) breasts, then you will likely need a lift in addition to the implants. This can be done at the same time. If you post a picture, we can give you more specific advice. It would look very unnatural to try to put a very large implant to "fill up" the loose skin. The best approach would be to put in a moderately sized implant and have a concurrent mastopexy (breast lift). Good luck with your procedure.

No particular problems that I see.

Many many many women present with your same concerns, so you are by no means alone! My bias is for the submuscular implant, as the muscle adds support (like an internal bra), added padding, and decreased risk of capsular contracture. Implants may reduce the appearance of stretch marks, though initially, they may be worse. The important thing is that you get an evaluation, and determine if you need a lift as well as implants. Best to you. www.drkasden.us scottkinfw@msn.com...

Minimizing recurrent sagging

These are only my recommendations anbd some will clearly be debated by other surgeons so here goes: 1) You will likely need a breast lift. 2) Placement of the implants beneath the muscle will provide you with additional support to help minimize long term ptosis of the implant. Implants on top of the muscle in patients with loose parenchyma skin tend to develop the "rock in the sock" appearance whereas implants under the muscle tend more towards a "snoopy" appearance 3)... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation supports lax skin

In our practice the average patient is over thirty and has one to two children when seeking breast augmentation. The deflated breast skin from pregnancy with stretch marks is pretty typical and enhanced volume and shape with smoothing of the stretch marks is what motivates many. Augmentation today isn't just about those who are underdeveloped. The issue to consider first is the position of the nipple in relation to the fold under the breast. If the nipple is at the fold, or above,... more

A Lift may be needed

The size of your breasts now, your chest dimensions,the desired size you would like after an augmentation, AND the amount of excess skin will help you and your surgeon determine what procedure(s) might be suited for you. To counter the effects of the excess skin, a large device may be need to get it to redrape and the nipple reposition in the right location. If this implant is too large for you, a lift may be needed with the appropriate size device. devices that are too large stretch the... more

Tell your plastic surgeon about your breast augmentation goals

Only after examining you and discussing your concerns and goals can a plastic surgeon determine if a lift as well as implants will give you the results you want. There are many considerations - the size of implant and the type of lift ( full lift or just a lift of the aerolar complex) - which need to be discussed. A full lift leaves scars around the nipple aerolar complex, extending straight down and under the breast. A lift of the aerolar complex leaves a scar all the way around the... more

You probably need a minimal scar breast lift as well as implants.

Hi! You sound really typical. My patients use the word "deflated" all the time. What I often do is a breast augmentation and at the same time, a lift around the nipple to tighten some of the lax skin. The scar is a circle around the nipple where the skin changes color. If the nipple (really the areola) is stretched out, it can be made smaller. If the wound is closed properly, the scars are quite good and they fade. You should not have problems with implants because of your lax skin. The... more

Two-part question...

Your question addresses the appearance of your breasts after implants and the safety of implants with thin, stretch-out skin. The appearance is dependent on what your specific anatomy currently is and what you desire as your final size, shape and form. Your options are many,including silicone gel or saline (silicone general feels softer and produces less visible rippling compared to saline), shaped or round implants (implant shape will determine your final shape more the less soft tissue... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Difficult to say without an exam...

Hi there- It sounds like you are probably a good candidate for breast enhancement, but whether you are at higher risk of implant visibility or rippling will depend on the qualities of your tissues as much as it will on the quantity of tissue present. Other important variables will include the size and type of implant used and the pocket location (more rippling is likely if placed on top of the muscle)... I would find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon you are comfortable with and discuss your... more