Will Breast Implants Make Stretch Marks Worse?

Question

I was D cup, now am a small B cup. I only had stretch marks on the bottom of my breasts, and little on the sides. Later they shrunk and I got stretch marks on the inner breasts and top. Nobody believes this. Now that I want breast augmentation.I would like to know how breast augmentation  will look with my stretch marks. When I am laying on side they look weird because of stretch marks and loss of volume how will this look with a breast augmentation. My breasts do not sag underneath just no volume at the top. The skin/areola are lower but no bottom sag. Will breast augmentation work for me?

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Although it would make sense that stretching the skin would cause stretch marks (striae), in fact I have not seen this in my more than 25 yrs of practice and experience with  thousands of breast augmentation patients. This however has been reported so is a very uncommon to rare occurrence. What I have seen however is existing white stretch marks become pink for several months afterwards and then fade.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Pictures would be of tremendous help in this instance. Given the limited information, it is my impression your stretch marks will improve with implants. They generally do. To help determine if this is the case in your particular situation, stretch the skin of the breast and see if the appearance of the striae improve. Of course, this will be influenced by the size of the implant and resulting distension of the skin.

Robert W. Kessler, MD, FACS · Answer

All of the problems you are describing are the result of volume loss in an inelastic skin envelope. Your skin has been stretched and no longer has the ability to shrink around the smaller breast. The stretch marks are more visible due to volume loss as they most likely are creating a contour irregularity.
The solution to this is to replace volume with a breast implant. and depending on how loose the skin is a breast lift may be necessary. Any skin removed would surgically take away the stretch marks within the lift pattern.
More definitive answers can be given to you by a board certified plastic surgeon in a consultation in your area.
I hope this was helpful and I think you will be very pleased with the results which can be achieved in the hands of a good surgeon.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

The stretch marks that you have will still be there after breast augmentation. It is difficult to say how your skin will react to the implants and the expansion.

John P. Stratis, MD · Answer

Breast implants can make stretch marks more visible and can be the source of new stretch marks. From what you are describing you may not be a candidate for implants only because of the excess skin. You really need to show some pictures or see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for a consultation.

Will Breast Implants Make Stretch Marks Worse?

Answers (8)