Breast implants too small? Had 335cc silicone implants placed 7 weeks ago. (photo)

Question

I had 335 cc silicone implants put in 7 weeks ago . I was a very small A cup before with very thin skin from nursing and weight loss . I have thought they are too small from the second day post-op. My PS stated that he could not fit any larger of an implant in my body . My question is that , with my frame ( 5'5 135 lbs ) is this necessarily true and if so , how long do I have to wait to go larger ?

James F. Boynton, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question. From the photo you provided, you have an excellent result.  The implants appear to be positioned appropriately and accurately on the chest wall, and the base width of the implant seems to match your chest wall width.  It is far more important to have a breast implant "match your tissues" than to ignore these biologic measurements and expand the breast simply based on a size that you like from trying on an implant before surgery (which doesn't mean it will fit).  Think of this more as a custom-made shoe that fits your foot.  You want an implant that accurately matches your tissues, and it appears spot on to me from the photo you provided.  That being said, sometimes patients still desire "to go bigger"; however, that is not without some added risks.  The larger the implant is, the larger the ratio of implant to native breast tissue which will leave a more "unnatural" result and higher risk of malposition. Malposition (implants staying high or not dropping into place, or dropping too low or to the side) is much more common the larger (and heavier) the breast implant is.  It is also important to point out that the incision (or wound)  has to be able to be closed properly without undue tension and silicone gel breast implants will not generally allow "as much" expansion as a saline implant.  That is because a saline breast implant goes in "un-inflated" and can impart more stretch to the tissues with the fluid volume.  Saline breast implants also can have a much more "unnatural appearance" and are not as soft or "breast-like" as the silicone gel implants.   I tell patients that in some cases if they desire larger breast implant, they sometimes have to get there "in two steps".  The skin can only stretch so much with any augmentation and needs a chance to "recover". I generally do not go back to exchange implants for at least 6 months, and probably best to wait a year to let the skin accommodate.  Ask your plastic surgeon about this.  Good luck!

Anthony J. Taglienti, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. While you have a very nice, natural result, in my opinion you can go larger. While your implants are the appropriate base width for your size - meaning that they fit your chest frame, you can likely have an implant placed with a higher profile or projection, which will give you an overall larger look. My guess is that you can accommodate around 400 ccs rather comfortably - however, with larger implants there is a potential for more complications - like bottoming out, lateral movement, animation deformity, etc. If you are truly unhappy with the size, I would suggest waiting about 6 months to a year prior to undergoing an additional procedure. You may come to like your size in the interim, and this will also allow your tissues to settle and heal. There really is no hard and fast rule for this type of thing - also, if your Plastic Surgeon have any computer imaging (like VECTRA, for example), this might be useful to "see" how you would look with a larger size. Best of luck!

Breast implants too small? Had 335cc silicone implants placed 7 weeks ago. (photo)

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Breast implants too small? Had 335cc silicone implants placed 7 weeks ago. (photo)

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.