Removing 1000cc Breast Implants, Replace With 500cc, Then Lift; Can it Be Done in One Procedure? (photo)

I have 1000cc implants. I want to have them removed, with a breast lift and smaller implants (maybe 500cc). I did get a consult, and the Dr. wants me to remove the implants, and WAIT! Then have a lift, and again WAIT, and then put in the implants. I have never heard of a process in 2 or 3 steps before. I KNOW i would not be able to leave my house without breast. I'm sure i have NO breast tissue left with the size of implants i currently have. Any thought?

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by septdec1997

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Removing 1000cc Breast Implants, Replace With 500cc, Then Lift; Can it Be Done in One Procedure?

The photo does not appear a special order 1000 cc implants, but if you believe they are than so be it. Options for me would be removal and replace with 500 cc and a full lift but being very very conservative. So there would be no N/A necrosis. Repeat lifting could be done as a second stage.

Replacing large implants with smaller implants

The optimal way to correct your problem in my opinion is to remove the implants and let the pocket settle for a few months Human tissue has a certain ability to contract , however in an unpredictable fashion.Therefore after about three months you will be able to assess whether you in fact even want implants any more ,whether a lift will be sufficient or if implants are necessary with or without a lift Alternatively you could remove the 1000cc implants and replace them... more

Implant Size and Lift

Without knowing the details of the case, a definitive evaluation of the surgical plan can not be made. Typically, there should not be a problem to perform the implant exchange and lift at the same time. As others have pointed out, the photo does not depict a typical result with 1000 cc. To verify the optimal surgical plan, consult with 3 - 4 experienced and expert board certified plastic surgeons.

Breast Implant Exchange and Lift

Without an examination, it is very difficult to second guess another surgeon. Sometimes multiple stages are necessary to achieve your goals safely, especially when you have had such large implants. With the right anatomy and reasonable blood supply, which it looks as if you have, you should be able to do what you wish to do in one procedure, or, at most, two procedures. However, if the skin is stretched so much that there is virtually no soft tissue present, then a multi-stage procedure is... more

Simultaneous implant exchange and breast lift should be no problem

I don't think there's anything special that would make considering doing this in one stage a problem. We do this frequently without much issue. I am skeptical however that you actually have a 1000cc implant in. Do you have records that confirm that? It would be important for figuringing out the implant size and style that might need to be available for your surgery

Your procedure can be done in a single step, although breaking it up is not unusual

Sometimes it's unclear how removing your large implants will affect your breast. Your surgeon is proposing to break it up into steps so that he can see what happens after each step so that he can best plan the next step. To do everything in once step is also a very reasonable approach but requires careful planning and understanding that additional touchups may be necessary. Perhaps this would be a better option for you if you do not wish to go without implants for several... more

May consider a two stage procedure

This is not an unusual problem and can present several problems. If your breast tissue has been excessively stretched then you have to be concerned about the blood supply. Depending upon the thickness of your tissue overlying the implant this could be either a one or two stage procedure. Removing the fluid from the implant can give your breast tissue a chance to contract and can be a safer way to perform the procedure

One step augpexy

Your problem is very common. If you have saline implants your dr can remove the fluid on the day of surgery with a needle. This makes it easier to mark the lift you can also see what 500 cc looks like before the surgery. If your surgeon doesn't do this. Find another.

Breast implant exchange and implant insertion

There are many approaches. If you have alot of breast tissue, it is probably OK to do the lift and implant excahgne as one procedure. Some would consider deflating them if they are saline and then doing the procedure a few months later, and others will recomment what your surgeon stated. Good luck.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant size decrease options

Whenever someone is going down in breast size there tend to be several options. The safest is what your surgeon has recommended. The riskiest is doing it all at one time. Regarding safety we are primarily concerned with wound healing and with nipple loss due to lack of blood supply. If that happens neither the surgeon nor the patient will be glad that they took the faster course. If you have saline implants you can deflate them with a needle and syringe in the office and just leave... more

Implant exchange and Mastopexy

There are multiple options for approaching your situation. Your surgeon's approach is okay, just on the conservative side. I agree that if they are saline, preoperative deflation will allow the skin to shrink some and may necessitate less skin removal and scarring with the mastopexy. This will leave you with a flat chest for a few weeks. It is also possible to just replace the implants and do a lift at the same time, but requires a lifting technique that only... more

Donald Griffin, MD

7 reviews

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Staged procedure for augmentation and reduction/lift

What your surgeon is suggesting is a standard approach. However, doing both procedures at the same time (the implant exchange and the lift) is also a viable option. A third option, if you have saline implants, is to deflate the implant in the office a few weeks before the implant exchange and then go ahead with the planned surgery. Good Luck.