Silicone Implants After a Bilateral Mastectomy? (photo)

My plastic surgeon expanded my tissue expanders to 750 ccs, then replaced them with 700ccs cohesive gel silicone implants. Before the exchange surgery, I was wearing a 36 D sport bra. Although I can still wear the same size bra, they do not appear to be what I thought.They certainly appear much larger in a photo.....little projection, but full.Is this natural?

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by TMHfan2012

Doctor Answers (6)
Community Comments (1)

Breast reconstruction with implants

It is common to overexpand your tissue expanders prior to your second stage breast reconstruction. This amount of overexpansion is typical, along with accounting for the size of the port within the expander in that volume. Depending on which projection expander was used and which implant projection was used will also determine the amount of projection that you have during and after your reconstructive procedure, respectively. It is common to have a little less projection... more

Implants after Mastectomy #breastreconstruction

Brest cancer reconstruction can be very difficult surgery. Silicone implants never have the projection that a saline implant or tissue expander will have. I battle this every single day. I always tell my patients that their final implants will not be as projected as the expanders. I do use the highest projecting implants made. If I know a patient will not be happy with the biggest silicone implant's projection then saline implants may be a good choice. You will sacrifice soft feel for... more

Implants after breast reconstruction

You just had surgery and your breasts look exactly how they should. As the implants settle and the tissues adjust you should be pleased with the shape of your breasts. They will be less tight, round and "boxy". Remember you had breast reconstruction. Even though we came a long way we cannot mimic exactly the shape of "real" breasts. As Dr. Haydon mentions operated breasts are "rounder" and do not have a lot of projection. To find a bra is sometimes tricky. Victoria Secret and... more

Breast reconstruction and implants

It looks like you just had surgery. I would give it time to settle and for the swelling to go away. Good luck.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Reconstructed breasts often do not fit traditional bras

One of the difficult thing about expander reconstruction is that the implants do not have the same projection outward as the expander itself. The expander is engineered to maintain continuous outward pressure to establish the pocket and prevent collapse. The downside is that the expanders become more firm when volume is added. This however goes away when the implants are placed.With regard to bras, the lack of outward projection means that most cups don't get filled... more

Silicone Gel Implants after Reconstruction

The photos appear to be very early in the post-op period and pretty normal at this point. Unfortunately, almost all breast reconstruction patients exhibit less projection than ideal. It is the nature of the mastectomy and the inherent softness of the gel implant. There are high profile and newer ultra-high profiles that can help. In addition the true cohesive gel, form stable implants can maintain better projection in some patients. At this point, I would not do... more

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Comments (1)

TMHfan2012 2 Feb 2013

The right side was radiated years ago after a lumpectomy. I have heard that massaging would help keep the implants and surrounding tissue to become softer. If so..when is it best to begin?

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