Unilateral mastectomy - Small breast implant on one side only?

Thank you for posting your question here!My answer will be based on the limited information provided and lack of pictures, for a more detailed and personalized answer I would recommend consulting with your plastic surgeon in person.I am sorry that you are going through a mastectomy, I understand that you are going through a lot . The problem is the issue of reconstruction is complex , it is hard to weigh in without being in on the plan and knowing what the surgical oncologist is planning on etc. Implants come in a lot of shapes and sizes , and you are right , the smallest is around 80cc. One of the main issues is that when having a mastectomy the breast structure will be removed, the implant will define the new breast shape and will likely have little tissue over it to mask it . implants are usually round and that might be different from the opposite breast. so in many instances you have to address the discrepancy by operating on the opposite breast. That being said there is no need to go dramatically big when reconstructing , you can always use a combination of implants and fat when appropriate or when that option is available, the smaller the implant the less stress there is on the mastectomy flap/skin . That all being said , your surgeon will always try to tailor the plan to your needs and wants and your priorities , so I would encourage an open discussion with your surgeon so that they will understand what you want and see if that is achievable .I hope this helps, best of luck!

Hi,Implant selection starts with your breast’s base diameter—the width of your natural footprint on the chest wall—because a proper fit prevents visible edges or bulging. For someone with a petite frame, one of the smallest Mentor silicone implants (130 cc, 8.8 cm base diameter) usually matches that footprint; its low‑profile shape keeps projection minimal, and we can layer a small amount of your own fat around it—or even rely on fat grafting alone—to fine‑tune volume.
Hope that helps!