If I had a breast reduction with 400g removed & want old breast size back, can I get 400cc implants?

Hi madisonvvvl! This is a great question. The size or cc of breast implants does not always directly correlate to the breast size or tissue. There are many variables to take into account including; how much breast tissue you still have, the width of your chest and other anatomical measurements. I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon to further discuss and evaluate you in person. Hope this helps!

I have cared for several patients who previously underwent a breast reduction and later chose to have breast augmentation. It’s important to understand that an implant will behave differently than natural breast tissue, which is made up of a mix of fat, dense tissue, and glandular tissue. The implant helps restore lost volume and enhances fullness in the upper portion of the breast (upper pole). The final result will depend on several factors, including the type of implant used, the placement plane of the implant, and your own breast tissue characteristics and skin elasticity.

Hi madisonvvvl! Thank you for your question.

Unfortunately, grams of tissue removed and implant volume in cc don’t directly match — 400 g of breast tissue isn’t the same as a 400 cc implant. Natural tissue has different density and distribution, and implants project differently, giving a distinct shape and feel.

The exact size of implant required will depend on your remaining tissue, skin elasticity, and chest width. During consultation, your surgeon can use 3D imaging or sizers to find the implant that best recreates your former proportions.

There are certainly differences between breast tissue (gland) and an implant. However, I believe that by placing an implant of a comparable volume to the amount of glandular tissue removed, you will achieve a result that is roughly the same in volume as before, and better in shape than before. This, of course, depends on the surgical technique that will be applied relative to the anatomy of your breasts. I think you can proceed with the procedure.

Yes, they are basically equivalent. So long as the reduction has resulted in an acceptable position of the nipple, you can volumize the breast with equivalent size implants. You can try on gel sizers in a sizing bra to fine tune it.

The weight of breast tissue removed does not directly correlate to the volume of a breast implant. That being said breast implant is likely the best way to reestablish your breast volume. Fortunately with a reduction, you get a breast lift so your nipple location has likely been improved. This will improve your overall outcome. The best way to determine it the size implant you need is to make an appointment in person with a plastic surgeon and use a sizing system which is a sports bra insertable implants that correlate to the permanent breast implants. The systems are very accurate at determining what you look like in clothing and in my experience are the most reliable way to determine the desired look. Make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon to further personalize your surgical plan. Yeah

While both grams (g) and cubic centimeters (cc) are units of measurement related to volume or weight, they are not directly interchangeable when comparing fatty breast tissue to silicone implants, due to differences in density, projection, and composition. Breast tissue is less dense than silicone, so 400 grams of natural tissue removed ≠ 400cc of implant volume added. In general, 400 grams of natural tissue is roughly equivalent to about 450–500cc of implant volume in visual size and projection, depending on factors like your chest width, implant profile, and tissue elasticity. Therefore, 425cc implants would likely restore a very similar—though not identical—volume to your original size, possibly with a slightly perkier, rounder shape due to the implant contour.

CC's to Grams is not an exact correlation. More simply put...weight and volume are not equivalent.

It is important to remember that a breast is a combination of skin, fat and glandular tissue. Glandular tissue weighs more than fat. Thus equivalent volumes of fat and gland will weigh different amounts (this is analogous to filling a balloon with air vs. water...water weighs more).

Thus a 400 gm reduction will not necessarily equal a 400 cc implant. This is totally dependent upon the makeup of the reduction specimen. If it was mostly fat (lighter) the volume needed to replace it will be greater. If it was mostly glandular (heavier/denser) the volume needed to replace it will be less.

Anecdotally, I have found the differential to be about 10% (a 400 gm reduction will nearly equal a 380 cc implant). That being said, the easiest way to determine what volume will restore what was lost and meet your needs is consultation.

Choosing an implant size/style is an important decision which is best made in concert with your surgeon. Ultimately, options are based on a number of factors including:

-Chest dimensions: This point is crucial as the width of your breasts defines the available "real estate" on which the foundation of your augmentation is built. This "foot print" is the absolute limit with which you are dealing. Too "large" is not so much the risk as too "wide." You cannot build a 3 acre mansion on a half acre plot. An implant which is too wide (exceeding the available space on your chest) will generally over hang laterally making it more noticeable and occasionally contributing to discomfort and nerve symptoms (numbness or tingling). This will also contribute to a more unnatural look.

-Tissue quality: This relates to size in the sense that the implant will be suspended by your tissue. Too large an implant may place took large a stress on these suspending tissues leading to healing problems in the short term and bottoming out in the long term.

-Patient desire (what is the look you are hoping to achieve?)
My role as a surgeon is to manage expectations and guide you towards a prudent choice which can satisfy these reasonable goals. Often times, a surgeon can guide a patient toward a size/cc range and patients will make determinations on implant style/profile. Patient seeking more or less projection, or seeking a more pronounced or subtle upper pole volume increase can be guided toward an implant which will help them best achieve their goals. Additionally, technique variations (sub muscular vs. sub glandular) can also aid in obtaining the look you desire.

There are a number of tools available to help guide patient/surgeon decision making including sizers, 3D imaging and goal photos. Each modality can help better communicate your goals to your surgeon and vice versa.

Ultimately, it is important to not marry oneself to a particular "cc" as oppose to a particular "look." Communication is key as you and your surgeon create your custom surgical plan.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon.

Hello and thank you for your question!

There unfortunately is no true straight forward answer. Breast tissue is typically slightly denser than saline or silicone, and this can be anywhere from 5-10%+ difference. From a pure math standpoint, my educated guess is that a slightly smaller implant than 400cc (i.e. 360-380cc) will likely look "about right". However, an implant in the 400-425cc may also look great on your frame. It would be very difficult to tell you that a given implant would "make you look like nothing ever happened."

This is because this is highly dependent on multiple variables such as: the quality of your skin envelope, post-reduction scar positioning, implant type (silicone vs saline), implant profile (moderate vs high), how your chest wall accommodates volume now. Implants project can differently than natural tissue. Even if volume is similar, shape, cleavage, and feel can vary. Natural breasts often had more lower pole fullness and ptosis (sag), while implants tend to sit fuller up top unless combined with a lift or fat grafting.

The next best step is to have an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can:
Review your operative records, evaluate your current breast footprint, use either 3D imaging or sizers to help predict how certain size implants would look on your body. Good luck on your journey!

While not exact, 425 should be similar. Do try on implant sizers to be sure you like what you see in a testing bra. Having removed natural tissue and having had a lift with your reduction may set you up for a more gratifying result with augmentation. It is the natural breast tissue that droops over time.
Best wishes.