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Options for Reducing Breast Implant Size?

I had a breast lift and breast augmentation w/ 375cc implants. I was originally a saggy B but now (7 days post-op) I am mortified at how big they look. I feel like a porn star. My husband is freaking becuase of the money we've already spent but I just couldn't go through life like this. What options do I have? Can the current implants be "deflated" in some way?

Asked 38 months ago by Ell in Shreveport, LA

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350-399cc implant size smaller Virtual consultation

Initial swelling may contribute to larger appearance

Hello Ell, Speaking from 23 years of experience as a plastic surgeon, it is most important for you to calm down and take a deep breath. There are many reasons why you look bigger than anticipated. For the first couple of weeks following your surgery, it is expected that you will experience bruising and swelling which definitely contributes to a larger appearance. Not only do you look bigger, but I am certain you FEEL bigger due to the features of an augmentation and breast lift. Over the... more

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Don't panic

Hi there- I understand your anxiety, and you should know that it is not uncommon for people who have spent hard earned money to improve their appearance to feel that sense of panic when at first it doesn't look like they got what they were hoping for. However.... It's really way too early to be worried. I usually tell my patients not to evaluate the shape, position, or size of their breast implants for at least the first 3-4 weeks, as it will be this long before swelling and muscle spasm (if... more

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Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

I am not as optimistic - 375cc is large

To Ell, I am sorry to offer a negative note. But , in my experience with women who have lost weight, large breasts may make you feel overweight again. And you do have large implants. So here is my advice: Try not to think about your breasts for several months. They will feel smaller once they have been incorporated into your body image (when you have gotten used to them). And if you still feel too large, it is usually fairly simple to exchange the implants for smaller ones. Your surgeon... more

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Hang tight for a bit

At only one week postop you are swollen and distorted. Given time, the implants will settle and the tissues will accomodate. Although I don't know what your body looks like, in general a 375cc implant is not huge and should result in a size you are confortable with. You will know what this implant will look like at the 4 month point. If it is still too big, you could work with your surgeon to decrease the size.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

7 days is early

You are almost certainly still quite swollen at 7 days after surgery. I would recommend relaying your thoughts to your surgeon so that he or she can be aware of your concerns, but I think you have a very good chance of the size going down. I would discourage doing anything drastic at this point-- implants can be dowsized, but I would wait several months before entertaining this option, and the liklihood is that in the meantime the size will become more acceptable to you.

Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Time is your friend

Thanks for the question Ell - Many people who have breast augmentation notice that their breasts seem larger for the first 2-4 weeks after surgery. This is typically because of swelling and positioning of the implants. Around 4 - 6 weeks later, as the swelling comes down and the implants settle, many patients utter the famous "I could have gone a little bit bigger." That being said, you should give yourself some time for the shape and size of the implants to improve (at least 6... more

Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast implants often look large early post-op

I don't usually experience this with my patients. I think it is because of the long discussion and interaction with my patients to choose the right implants for them. We go over this in great detail. This being said, your implants may look quite large right now, but it is still early post-op and as the swelling subsides, the implants will look a bit smaller. In fact, often the opposite occurs. Some patients like how they look early post-op because of the swelling, and state months later... more

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Give it some time

I agree with what everyone has stated. Patients often go through different phases after breast augmentation where they first feel they went too big, but then over time get used to the size (especially after the swelling comes down). It is often not uncommon for a patient who felt they went too big at first, to end up feeling they went too small. Therefore, I would give it several months time before doing anything at all.

Leonard Lu, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Too Soon To Judge

Immediately following Mastopexy and Augmentation, there is always some degree of swelling, particularly if the implants have been placed behind the muscle as well. Combined with the "lifted" appearance of the breasts, the fullness of the breasts due to the implants may seem excessive. In addition, it takes some time to get used to your new look, since you have been accustomed to seeing smaller and somewhat droopy breasts for several years. Most surgeons aim to produce breasts... more

Athleo Louis Cambre, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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Allow some time to pass

Implants placed under the muscle (or half covered by the muscle) are often "top heavy" immediately after placement, due to swelling and some spasm of the pectoralis muscle. They usually settle by several weeks after the procedure. Immediately after surgery, there is also surgical swelling as well of adjacent tissues, causing distortion of the appearance of the implants. This also subsides fairly quickly. The next stage may require some psychological adjustment. Patients are... more

Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Give the implants time to settle

Ell, I understand your concerns, but just 7 days after surgery, your breasts are likely still very swollen. Just give it some time - a few months - for all the swelling to resolve and the implants to settle. In most cases, patients actually wish that they chose larger implants. So, do not get too worried yet. If you do decide to have them changed out to a smaller size, the costs involved would be the operative time, the surgical fee and the new implants, so you are looking at a cost... more

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Give it some time, it will get smaller !!!

Almost most women who have undergone breast augmentation and lift feel that their breasts are too big and like a "torpedo" after surgery. In my experience, 99% of these people change their mind in 6-8 weeks and then wished that they went bigger. also, as your breasts settle, they are going to look smaller. removing saline from the implants is not a options, since it will increase wrippling and risk of implant rupture. Give it at least 3 months before you consider changing your... more

S. Sean Younai, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Give it a few months and then re-evaluate

Hello, It is not uncommon to feel your breasts are too large within a few weeks of surgery. Then later many women feel that they are too small. Let your body accomodate to them and then re-evaluate things before rushing into more surgery. You will likely need new implants though if you do go for more surgery, as the fill tolerance of most saline implants is very small. Under filling can encourage early rupture not to mention a poor "feel."

John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon

Are my breast implants too big?

I clearly understand your predicament and have had this scenario occur frequently. Typically in the end patients are generally satisfied with the size; rarely, do patients seek to downsize their implants and in my personal practice I would say it occurs infrequently at a rate of probably 5 out of over a thousand patients. Give it time. Studies have shown that at this point in time you are likely exhibiting a 10% component of swelling. For example if your natural breast is 175 and you breast... more