Replacing Breast Implants Using Same Breast Pocket?

Question

My breast implants were too big so I had them removed and replaced with smaller implants placed in same breast pocket behind the pectoral muscle (425cc to 300cc).Does that pocket behind the muscle tighten up or get smaller to snugly accommodate new implant? Does the pocket shrink up at all?

Michael S. Beckenstein, MD · Answer

depending on the magnitude of the size change,a smaller implant will roll all around the pocket and might be more prone to rippling as well. The overlying tissues may also "sag" due to less structural support from the smaller device and can be improved with a lift.. The pocket needs to be changed or altered with sutures to keep the defvice in the right position.

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

When placing a smaller implant, with few exceptions, we repair the old pocket.  While the pocket may accommodate to the new smaller implant, the bottom and sides of the pocket are usually too low and too laterally placed for the new implant, resulting in a bottomed out appearance.
Pocket repairs are technically difficult and the repair process imperfect.  However, experience and conservatism combined with realistic expectations and patient cooperation with the delicate healing period typically yield very nice results.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Of course your surgeon should have discussed this with you, but I have found that the pocket will most often adapt to smaller implants. I usually use suction drains to help with this. Ocaasionally it is necessary to use internal stitches, called a capsulloraphy, to reduce the pocket in specific ways, such as raising the bottom fold or along the outside in order to make sure the space between the breasts remains the same with smaller diamter implants. This is a separate question though from what happens to the rest of the breast. A lift is sometimes required.

John P. Di Saia, MD · Answer

Hello,
Unfortunately, implant pockets do not shrink themselves very much when a larger implant is removed and replaced with a smaller one. At surgery sometimes we will perform lift surgery to take up the "slack." This is a judgment call.

Michael C. Edwards, MD, FACS · Answer

Once your tissues have stretched to accomodate the larger implant, we cannot count on the pocket shrinking or retracting much with a smaller implant. It is not uncommon for there to be a need for a breast lift procedure to be done when you change to a smaller implant to avoid the smaller implant sitting lower in the stretched breast envelope.
Dr Edwards

Replacing Breast Implants Using Same Breast Pocket?

Answers (6)

Answer: Breast implants usually don't shrink much

Answer: Breast implants usually don't shrink much

Answer: Not very much

Answer: Not very much

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.

Replacing Breast Implants Using Same Breast Pocket?

Answers (6)

Answer: Breast implants usually don't shrink much

Answer: Breast implants usually don't shrink much

Answer: Not very much

Answer: Not very much

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.