What is the percentage risk associated with a 525cc ultra high implant and lift?

Question

I have had 37kg weight loss, current low sitting breasts with 450cc moderate plus profile implants. I am looking to swap out to the 525cc ultra high implant with a full lift. I would like to know the risks of complications with an implant this size. Can you be specific with percentage rates, or risks.

Wayne I. Yamahata, MD · Answer

Breasts will always have some recurrent sagging after a breast lift. Many factors determine how much sagging will develop. Some factors are not controllable such as the underlying anatomy and nature of the tissues. One controllable factor is the weight of the implants, as this will also significantly affect the longevity of the lifts. 525cc implants are heavy and will definitely accelerate the recurrent sagging following a mastopexy.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, you have not provided photographs or told us your bra size. However, no one can give you an exact percentage risk of changing out implants. The most important factor to be concerned about is the type of lift. The anchor lift results in a vertical scar. The better lift technique is The Bellesoma Method. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained if not injured during your previous surgery. At the same time, fat transfers or small implants can be placed.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear genza87,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, larger implants have a higher risk of bottoming out but that is not the only risk factor. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

In my opinion lifts and large implants don’t make a great combination.  You will have less skin over a larger implant. And the breasts will stretch out faster. I would consider a smaller implant.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

I cannot give you numbers, but since you are stretched out from previous weight gain and your breasts are sagging, with a large heavy implant, you will probably sag again over time.  You will need mesh for better support.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

There is no accurate answer to your question.
A lot depends on subjective measures.
Indications for revision very greatly among patient’s perception and doctors opinions.
Using excessively large implants will definitely increase the chance of undesirable side effects, complications and revision rates.
To maintain ideal outcomes, your chance of needing revision surgery is probably close to 50%.
If you’re OK with less than perfect outcomes, then the revision rate drops dramatically to somewhere around 10-25%.
Actual medical complications like infections, dehiscence, tissue necrosis, etc. is still relatively low at about 5 to 10% or less. 
Without seeing your pictures, we can’t give you accurate information.
It’s like the computer saying, “garbage in garbage out”. 
For example, doing this procedure on an unhealthy individual with A cup breasts who is a pack a day cigarette smoker may have a 50% complication rate of major medical problems i.e. tissue necrosis. 
Doing the procedure on a patient with appropriate body size who is young and healthy, would lower the chance dramatically.
I suggest patients focus their efforts on the one single variable that actually matters the most which is provider selection.
In the hands of the right provider you’ll be given appropriate guidance minimize the chance of undesirable outcomes.
An experienced/talented plastic surgeon can maneuver the ship through the storm with minimal casualties. 
Increasing implant size, especially using implants, whose diameter is significant larger than your natural breast diameter will always cause problems down the road. Implants “bottoming out” is one of the more common side effects of using excessively large implants.
Implant greed is one of the major reasons for revision surgery.
Implant selection and choice of providers are the two single most important variables.
Focus your thoughts on those two variables and you will maximize your chance of a quality outcome.
I generally recommend patients have multiple in person consultation before selecting a provider.
I recognize you’ve already had breast surgery and may have a provider already.
The biggest mistake I see patients make regarding provider selection is having only one consultation and then scheduling surgery.
Having only one consultation, more or less eliminates the ability to choose a better provider.
There’s no right or wrong number of consultations needed to find the right provider.
I do not believe Patients can find the best provider using the Internet or virtual consultations.
I generally recommend patients start the process by having multiple in person consultations with plastic surgeons in your community who seem to have extensive breast surgery experience.
Consider plastic surgeons who do the majority of breast reconstruction in your community.
Surgeons who do lots of breast reconstruction can usually handle the most complex situations.
There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the right provider.
The more consultations you schedule them more likely you are to find the better provider.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of previous patients who had similar body/breast characteristics to your own.
Ask providers what their most common indication for revision surgery is, what their revision rate is and what their revision policy is.
The right plastic surgeon will guide you through implants selection process in a meaningful way minimizing a risk and maximizing patient satisfaction.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

What is the percentage risk associated with a 525cc ultra high implant and lift?

Answers (6)

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