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How Much Can Saline Implants Be Overfilled?

asked 2 years ago by Brooke007 in Ventura
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 3,614 times
Tags: saline implants, 700-749cc, fake look, overfilled, refill

I had my saline breast implants replaced 6 months ago to 450cc's filled to 475 and 525. I am not pleased with the results. They are full on bottom but not on top. I was advised that I can have them refilled to 700 cc's or replace them again for a bigger size entirely. I know overfilling is not recommended my the manufacturer. However, I am seeking the big, round fake look as I had before as opposed to big and natural as they look now. The scars will be removed later along with moving down and minimize my nipples.

18 answers to How Much Can Saline Implants Be Overfilled?

Saline Implants Overfilled

The company recommendation is not to overfill more than 15%. Surgeons tend to do no more than 10-12%. Do not consider more than 20%.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

Overfilling saline implants

Per Mentor Corporation, implants should not be overfilled by more than 15 percent more than the designated size. In theory, they could be filled more but this would void the warranty. It would be preferrable for you to replace the implants with a larger size, also taking into consideration the profile and shape which best fits your needs.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Overfilling saline breast implants

Many plastic surgeons routinely overfill saline implants to about 10% of their labeled volume. There is a range on each implant that the manufacturer has for that particular implant. The actual fill is up to the surgeon trying to achive the goals that you set out upon to achieve. In your case, there are a few variables at play Achieving the significant upper pole fullness that you have in the first photo may be difficult, depending on your skin resilience, how much... more

Jeffrey Roth, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Overfilling of saline implants beyond the recommended range is not advised

Hi there- Based on your photos and the goal you describe, I would think your chances of achieving success are much higher with a new, larger implant. However, my opinion is that the real problem with the shape of your breasts, and the reason you have not achieved the outcome you desire, is that your breast lift outcome could be a lot better. Correcting your current breast outcome to the shape and size you want requires a higher level of understanding of breast surgery and... more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Overfilling Your Implants

Overfilling implants by up to 20 % is no problem and lowers the wrinkles and rippling that can occur if it's underfilled. I once filled a 400cc implant to 2000cc in my office (not in a patient!) just to see what would happen. It became round, hard, and very tight ! If it's increased upper pole fullness you want, I would opt for raising the implant up higher in the breast to get rid of the "bottomed out" look, and using an implant shape that gives you the best projection. Just... more

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Implant overfill

While you can overfill the implants a bit, I would not recommend increasing them to the size that you mention. You are better off having the implants exchanged to the larger size. Overfilling to the extent you suggect, will not only make them firmer, but can cause a rupture.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Realistic expectations after breast augmentation plus lift

It will give you a very hard result if you try to overfill your current implants that dramatically. For the look you want you will need the highest profile implants and still need to realize you might not get there. Some people's bodies just won't allow them to get the result they want.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.randcosmeticsurgery.com

Better to replace than overfill saline breast implants

Saline implants are manufactured to a specific size and fill range designed by the particular manufacturer, and will vary as well by the implant size. The reason for the fill range is to allow for acceptable performance of the implant in terms of softness, ripple, and importantly leak rate or durability, all of which are submitted to the FDA for market approval of the implant. Overfilling of an implant will stiffen the feel, and can cause scalloping along the implant edge, and perhaps... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

How much should you overfill your implants

Overfilling implants can be done to various extents. I believe the manufacture's suggested fill volumes should be respected in all cases. Saline breast implants will have a minimum and maximum suggested fill volume. The implants are guaranteed and under warrenty if these guidelines are followed. Overfilling beyond the maximum recommended volume will void the warrenty and should not be done. If you want larger implants it is best to choose... more

John Burns, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Proper filling and sizing of saline implants

Although there is certainly no proof or unanimity of opinion on this, in my experience and opinion after the 15 years when only saline-filled breast implants were available on the US market, saline implants must be filled to their rated volume and no more than about 10% overfill or you risk causing or aggravating the rippling inherent to saline-filled implants. You may also be increasing the risk of crease-fold failure of the implant in future years. There are some Mentor saline implants... more

Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Overfill implants by 10% but not by 50%

Many surgeons routinely overfill an implant by about 10%. So doing the math, you can overfill a 450 filled to 525 by about 52.5 cc that would come to a total of 577.5. As you can see this is far from 700cc. While your implants are capable of being filled to 700cc, it is not advised and you may have a difficult time convincing a surgeon to do this. Be prepared to sign some waivers.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Overfilling Saline Implants

Each saline implant is different in its ability to be overfilled. There is always an overfill allowance with each implant, which may range from 25cc to 100cc, depending on the implant. However, you can overfill the implants past those numbers and still be within the warranty. A 450cc implant can probably get to around 600cc, but after that, it will be pretty firm. If you want to be in that 700cc range, I would go with a 550cc or 600cc saline implant and overfill it... more

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon

Optimal fill volumes with saline breast implants

The size stated for saline implants is the minimal fill volume, and there is an acceptable range of 25-50 cc above that. At the lower end of the range, the implants are softer but tend to ripple more; at the high end, they will be rounder, firmer, and not very natural feeling. In your case, what I see in the pictures is bottoming out, not lack of volume. Larger implants such as you would have by filling to 700 cc will only contribute to making that problem worse because of the additional... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

"Overfilling" Breast Implants

The term "overfilling" is applicable EITHER to old implants implants, LP and Allergan/Natrelle/McGhan MP's (which came with a fixed volume) or to surpassing New implants' large RANGE of fill by a significant amount. Newer saline implants such as Mentor Moderate PLUS - style 2000 implants come with a large range of filling potential. When these implants are filled anywhere in this range, the previous term of "overfilling" does NOT come into play. The REASON for... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Saline implants being overfilled

If you over inflate the implants the manufacturer will void the warranty. Why not increase the size with a larger implant, yes it costs more but the warranty is worth the differences. From MIAMI Dr. b

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Over-filling saline implants

There are many aspects to your question depending on what you are really asking. Saline implants can be filled beyond their manufacturer's recommended maximum volume. However, should they be over-filled is a different question. If you over-fill beyond the recommended volume, an increased risk in leakage may occur and the warranty voided. In addition, over-filling may or may not achieve the intended result of more fullness since this may be a function of implant dimension and might... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Overfilling Saline Implants

Saline implants are routinely overfilled to decrease chances of rippling. The amount of accepted overfilling is dictated by the manufacturer and is related to the size of the implant. If they are overfilled in excess of the recommendation, the warranty may be void. You most definitely do not want to fill your implants to 700cc.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Saline breast implants can be overfilled about 30%.

Hi. 1) When doing saline breast implants in Manhattan, we routinely overfill beyond the manufacturers' recommendations, to minimize rippling, but filling 450 cc breast implants with 700 cc's is out of the question. 2) I strongly urge you not to go so big, because very large implants age very badly.