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?

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14 answers to “Options for reducing breast implant...”

A: Time is your friend

By Steven H. Williams, MD - Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: I am not as optimistic - 375cc is large

By George J. Beraka, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Initial swelling may contribute to larger appearance

By Stephen A. Goldstein, MD - Denver Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Are my breast implants too big?

By Otto Joseph Placik, MD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: 7 days is early

By Shahram Salemy, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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--... more

A: Don't panic

By Armando Soto, MD - Orlando Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Give it a few months and then re-evaluate

By John P. Di Saia, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

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,... more

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

By S. Sean Younai, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Hang tight for a bit

By Richard P. Rand, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Give it some time

By Leonard Lu, MD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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,... more

More answers to Options for reducing breast implant size?
New York City - Give the implants time to settle
Santa Barbara - Allow some time to pass
Thousand Oaks - Too Soon To Judge

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Comments

Ell
4 posts
15 Dec 2008

Thank you, your input has been more helpful than you can imagine! One thing I hadn't mentioned is that I had worked really hard to go from a size 12-14 to a size 4-6 over the past year, and *finally* felt great about how I looked. So, it has been so dishartening over the past week to look in the mirror and see my old self from the waist up, especially knowing no about of exercise could make it better... my "new" self had dissappeared. To get 3 points of view, all in agreement that it will get better, really helps me deal with this. Thank you very from the bottom of my heart! ~Ell

Ell
4 posts
15 Dec 2008

I am completely at ease and am so thankful for all your feedback. I am now actually looking *forward* to my final results! I also plan to update this post over the next several months since I have found others' experiences so helpful... maybe I can help someone else feel more at ease. Thank you again! Ell

Ell
4 posts
12 Jan 2009

I'm now 5 weeks post-lift/augmentation and feeling quite a bit better about things. Sometimes I am thrilled about 'them' and others I think 'oh, well, what's done is done'... it really depends on what clothes I'm trying to wear. All-in-all I'm better of than prior to the surgery but, in retrospect, would have gone with 275cc implants instead of the 375's I got. That said, my left breast must be a CUP SIZE lager than the right! I'm hoping/praying they even out but at 5 weeks post-op I'm not so sure this will be the case. Any reassurances (or condolences) out there??

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Anonymous10
1 post
9 Mar 2009

I had implants put in about 10 years ago. I was a very small B. And even though I wanted to be a larger B cup or even a small C, he said made me go to a 36C, saying the same thing all these doctors are saying. That I would regret not going bigger, that I would get used to it, etc. But I never have. I've never once had a woman tell me I'd regret being smaller. Now I wish I'd never had it done and unfortunately I don't have another 7 grand to make them smaller. And it's been 10 years.

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Brenda H.
1 post
29 Mar 2009

I'm 1 1/2 years post implant and wish I'd gone a bit smaller. I still think they look a little to big on my frame. I had the extra issue with Poland's syndrome (no pectoral muscle on the right side) that implant is very round and no transition from chest to implant. It just looks very artificial. I am disappointed.

happyresult
4 posts
11 May 2009

Ell, how are feeling about your breasts now? I just had mine done 4 days ago and LOVE how they look right now...I'm thinking I may have gone TOO small, I have 185 cc but I was I between a B and C cup to begin with, had a breast lift and a small implant to make them look better. I only hope they end up no smaller than a full C. I look forward to hearing from you. Al the best.

RoniK
1 post
20 Jun 2009

I still consider my aug too big. It has been 9 yrs. Was an A, asked for a B. Doc suggested a large C would be good on my frame. Trusting him, I said ok. Perhaps a large C would have looked good. I ended up with a large D. Folks who knew me prior say I look good. Folks who find out later say they can't tell. They do look pretty natural. I would still prefer to go down to a regular C.

foofy69
7 posts
25 Sep 2009

I TOTALLY agree with this woman and have the same experience. I dont think waiting is going to make me change my mind. How soon can they be taken out and then what is done to my own breast?

foofy69
7 posts
25 Sep 2009

I didnt see all the comments before this so to say more to Ell...Ive also been heavy before after 3 kids. I am now a personal trainer and after working out for the past 17yrs have also gone from a size 16 to a 4 and now I feel so disgusted with how i look and feel. I feel fat and like a pig. I dont feel clothing looks good. I also adamently told the dr i did NOT want to be big...I liked my 34B size I just wanted them filled out more becasue I had a reduction in 1996 and after losing all the weight my breasts lost volume. I know its still early, 3 weeks today...but i HATE them. Ive done nothing but cry since then and Im just so scared right now and feel trapped. I have a followup with the dr next week and I want to ask how soon they can be removed and what my options are...but Im afraid he will get mad too. Anyway, its nice to know Im not alone in this.

peney777
2 posts
19 Nov 2009

I've had my implants for just over 2 years really feel that they are too big. Is it difficult to change out the implants? also, the doctor i went to is no longer in practice in my area, how do I find someone else?