Would breast implants after a breast reduction to increase size and shape be a good idea for me? (Photo)

Dear Madisonvvvl, You have a very nice result but many women decide they want to maintain some shape in the upper pole (above the nipple) of the breast. The most common way to achieve that is with implants. Saline implants don't have to be changed unless you have a problem with them. The lowest profile implant would provide shape without adding excessive size back to your breast.

The 10 year old implant exchange is based on very old data on the previous implant generations. I do not recommend changing implants unless there a reason to. I would recommend implants and another lift to help achieve further symmetry.

Thanks for your question! I do think that a lower profile implant could get you some upper pole fullness without making you too large. Another option might be fat grafting, but you would want to find someone that specializes in that. Good luck!

Dear madisonvvvl,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. 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

Breast implants are certainly a good option to increase upper pole fullness. A breast reduction makes the breast smaller, but importantly also lifts the nipple to a higher position. The idea that implants have to be changed out every ten years has fallen out of favor. Implants don't necessarily need to be replaced if there isn't a problem with them. However, implants should certainly not be thought of as a lifetime device.

You would benefit from a revision of the breasts with a lift and fat transfers instead of implants.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Yes, you can increase upper pole fullness with a breast implant and it can be done after a breast reduction. There is no rule that implants need to be replaced every 10 years. The current generation of silicone implants have a very good track record with rupture rates estimated at about 1% per year. I only recommend implant replacement if there is an issue to be corrected with the procedure. The issue you may have is aging of your breast tissue and skin that can lead to sagging of the natural breast off of the implant creating a "double bubble" or "waterfall deformity." These changes can also occur with pregnancy. A good support bra is a necessity. Hope this helps.

Hi! It will definitely benefit you to have breast implants. Breast augmentation with implants is the only way you can improve your shape and size. And most importantly, with todays technology there is no need to change them every ten years anymore. Patients just have to do routine breast imaging like mammographies and MRIs to make sure the implants and the surrounding tissue is normal. This is something all women should do anyways so it is not a hassle at all.

Best of luck,
Dr. Miguel Mota

This is a procedure that I perform: breast reduction to reduce the breast down as much as possible and then comeback 4-6 months later to place implants. This is done for the exact reason you mentioned, to get a more rounded look and increase the upper pole fullness.

The ideal of having to change out implants every ten years is certainly a myth. As long as the implants are intact there is no reason to change them. Studies have show that the rupture rate of silicone implants is on the rate of 0.8% per year.

Hope that helps.

Hello - thank you for your question.
Implants are a great option to filling the upper pole and improving cleavage.
The second part of your question is interesting, asking how long implants last. There is no absolute answer on this; however I base my prediction on how long prior generations of implants lasted with the understanding that production of a more durable implant improves over time. With regard to silicone gel implants, I tell my patients they should last 25 to 30 years. Implants developed in the 70's lasted 15-20 years. And I have performed procedures on women with remote history of saline implants who are looking for change in size, change in implant, or something along those lines. With that experience I have seen saline implants beyond 15 years and often beyond 20 years that look like they were placed the day before. Ten years is a underestimate of how long implants tend to last.
I hope this answer helps you!