Breast Implant Revision: Q&A

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I Am Wanting to Have Large Implants Exchanged for Smaller Ones, What About the Risk of Loose Skin?

i am 5'2 and have implants which were overfilled to 350 cc. i have been measured and told i am 32DD. i feel this is too large for my frame and want to be a small c. my questions are 1)how much less cc's do my new implants need to be approximately to achieve my desired cup size? 2) i have good skin elasticy but will i likely have loose skin? 3) besides reducing the pocket is there anything else that can be done to help appearance? i have had these implants for 11 yrs.

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by bj1994 in kentucky

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Reducing breast implants

What happens when you downsize depends on your skin elasticity, how much you are downsizing, and where the nipple and areola are relative to the crease now. If you have good skin and no substantial laxity and the nipples are high and you aren't going too much smaller, you might get by with nothing else needed. Otherwise you might need a lift to tigeten the skin.

How to choose smaller implants and decide on a lift.

The most straightforward approach to determine your lift and implant choices are to remove the current implants from the clouding the picture. For saline implants this can be done with a deflation procedure. This procedure will eliminate the volume of the current implants, allow the breasts to show the degree of looseness or ptosis, and allow you and your surgeon to more accurately predict which implants will give you the look you desire and whether a lift is required. more

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Deflate the implants - helpful tool for some

The two unknowns in your situation are 1) what size of implants should be placed? and 2) will you need a lift after downsizing the implants? Here is a counter-intuitive idea for you that I have used several times....deflate the implants. This is a very simple awake office procedure with basically no pain. You will instantly be able to start over in the decision process regarding size and need for a lift. It is much easier to "simulate" addition of volume... more

Need for breast lift is probable

If your current bra size is 32DD and you want to go down to a 32C size, then you will need to exchange your 350 cc implants for much smaller implants. With smaller implants, it is highly likely that you will have drooping of your breasts. I think that you will need some kind of mastopexy, or breast lift. Exactly how much of a lift you will need will depend on your physical examination.

Reducing implant size through a circumareola incision

If your current size is 32 DD and you desire a C, that is 3 cup sizes smaller. For a 32 inch chest that corresponds to 300 cc's. Your 350 cc implants can be removed and excess skin resected through a circumareola approach. Without the implants, your breasts will droop and you will need a mastopexy. Depending on how ptotic it is, it is possible that it can all be done through the circumareola incision. It is important that your remaining breast tissue is... more

Smaller implant exchange

Exchanging your implant to smaller ones, may cause your skin to be looser. An exam is helpful but the final determination may require it to be performed in the operating room.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Smaller implants and loose skin

It is certainly possible to go to a smaller volume implant. Your body does not like empty space and, if you have good skin elasticity, should tighten down around the new, smaller implant just as it does when we remove fat during liposuction. As to the question about which volume implant will give you the cup size you are looking for, this is something you will have to work out in conjunction with your plastic surgeon. Bra manufacturers do not make standard cup sizes. more

Decreasing My Breast Implant Size-Will I Need A Lift?

Dear bj1994, It is always easier going up in size than down in size after a breast augmentation. This is because there are so many variables to consider such as pocket size, skin elasticity, implant size differences, etc. Since your implants are saline, I would recommend you consider allowing your surgeon to deflate your implants with a needle place under local anesthesia and allowing the skin and the breast tissues to shrink back to their baseline. This... more

Going smaller with implant exchange

If your implants have been in a long time the skin envelope may be loose, however if the nipple is not ptotic or drooping you might get by without a lift. The size implant you need is a guess without examination, and it could be possible if you really are a DD and want a small C you might not need an implant at all. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Smaller implants

You most likely will need a breast lift pending how much smaller you go in implant size. See a board certified plastic surgeon to evaluate you. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

3 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Exchange of Breast Implants

Without seeing photos or seeing you in person, it is impossible to give you specific advice. However, if you are exchanging your breast implants for smaller ones, most likely you will need a breast lift to achieve the best looking and most natural result. Otherwise, your may have ptotic (sagging) skin. If the size exchange is very slight, then the lift may be avoided. Good luck.

Issues with going smaller with implants

You have had your implants for 11 years. The skin has had an accommodation to your present size. You can certainly have a smaller implant however the smaller you go the more skin sag you will have as a general rule. Implant shape can also have an effect on the skin envelope.

Exchange For Smaller Implants Can Result In Loose Skin

Changing implants to reduce your cup size from DD to a small C certainly could result in a excess of skin. If your implants contain only 350cc of saline, you may be able to obtain a result which would be pleasing by removing the implants and having a breast lift. Consult a BC plastic surgeon to discuss your options.

Downsizing of Breast Implants?

Thank you for the question. Generally speaking what breasts look like after downsizing of breast implants will depend on several factors such as: the quality of skin elasticity (the better the elasticity the better the skin will bounce back), the size of the implants used (the larger the implant the more trouble you may have with redundant skin), and the amount of breast tissue present at this time (which may have changed since the time of your breast augmentation)... more

Reducing the size of implants

Thanks for your question. The amount of laxity going to a smaller size is often hard to determine until the new implants are placed. The better your skin tone, the less droop you may have. The smaller the difference in implant size the smaller the change in the skin. It sounds like you have saline implants. Just before surgery I will sometimes have patients come into the office and deflate the implants with a needle while patients look on. This can help the patient decide... more