Is There a Limit on How Big of a Breast Implant Can I Go Before It Compromises Skin Elasticity?

My cup size is currently AA. Is there a limit to how big a breast implant can be placed until skin elasticity becomes compromised? In other words, before the skin covering the breasts stretches too much and looks very unappealing?

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13 Doctor Answers | Asked by Amy3 in Tustin, CA

Doctor Answers (13)
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Breast implant sizing is quite complex.

Sizing breast implants is so tough. If an implant is too big them it causes permantvthinning of the breast tissue. The implant thus becomes more easy to see and feel. I am rigidly flexible and very conservative. I measure the width of the breast and stickbto it. If a patient wants to go bigger then I will go up one profile ( to midrange ). I think that high profile implants put too much pressure on the breast. It's all about the long term health of the breast.

Limits to Breast implant size

There is no formula for predicting skin elasticity and it is remarkable how much volume the skin can accomodate. A AA cup in a 5 foot individual would likely handle a smaller implant than a 6 foot female. In general, implants are "fitted:" according to the base diameter and predicted skin elasticity. This can be crudely measured or estimated.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Implant size for very small breasts

The implant needs to "fit" your breast. Choosing an implant that is narrower than the breast allows for better concealment. The elasticity of the skin is a very important component of implant selection. The reality is that if you are starting with AA breasts and a tight skin envelope, then large implants may simply not be an option. Overstretching can lead to vascular compromise and possible skin loss at the extreme. More commonly, an unattractive augmentation is the result of... more

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Distortion caused by implants that are too big

The answer to this is fairly straightforward. The largest implant that will fit, look right, and your tissues will accommodate is one that matches the width of your breast and is a high profile in forward projection. Unless your breast is unusually wide or narrow for your chest around, this would correspond to a 2 cup size increase from what you started with. We know this works from experience. If you attempt to put in an implant larger than that, you are risking distortions of the skin... more

Skin Stretching over Breast Implants

Great question Amy3...but tough to answer. Patients come in all the time and tell me their cup size,"I wear a Vic's Sec B but a Target A... and I want to be a C cup after surgery.". Because bra manufacturers do not use a uniform "cup" size to make their bras, the cup sizes and therefore the fit of bras are different. So I have been taking the time in the initial consultation to measure each patient's "cup" size in my office. This gives me the starting more

Skin Stretch after Breast Augmentation

Yes, increases in size can lead to the development of negative consequence on overlying tissues. Your plastic surgeon can best advise you on what would be appropriate for your frame. It depends on many individual characteristics besides just starting cup size. Larger implants exert more pressure on surrounding skin and tissues, and cause thinning, stretch, sagging, and rippling. Over time these effects can be uncorrectable. Therefore, think about long term effects, not just... more

Breast Augmentation and Skin Elasticity

Hi there- You are correct in thinking that your skin will be the major limitation in the size of the implant that would be recommended for you. This is something that could only be reasonably estimated by your surgeon during an in-person physical examination. Good luck!

Yes, there is a limit to skin elasticity with breast implants

Dear Amy3, You have touched on an important point with regards to large breast implants. As skin is stretched, there is a physical limit to how much it will stretch before damage occurs. This damage is most commonly seen as striae (stretch marks). Stretch marks occur because of tearing of the dermis (a layer of you skin) from excessive stretching. Pregnancy or rapid growth spurts can cause stretch marks, and so can breast implants. Once stretch marks have occurred, it is a sign... more

Implant size and skin elasticity

Hard to determine what size implant your skin envelope will accommodate. The real key for your is the degree of soft tissue coverage over the implant. With AA size breasts it is unlikely that very large implants will be possible These large implants will give you an abnormal shape. A plastic surgery consultation will be helpful when making this type of decision.

Breast Augmentation, need pictures and measurements.

You have given too little information to make a reasonable guess on what your needs are. Pictures help a lot and measurements , current skin elasticity and your history of pregnancies and breast feeding. An examination with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon would answer most of your concerns .