Follow up question to is 500cc too large - Is recovery harder with a larger implant?

500cc implants shouldn't cause you any more discomfort than implants a little smaller.The truth is that each patient is different in her
recovery. My average patient takes about a week to return to work but I
ask that she not embark upon heavy lifting, pulling, pushing or things that
bring up the blood pressure for about three weeks. Some patients will
need less recovery time and occasionally some will need more. As a
general rule of thumb I find more muscular patients tend to be more sore
after surgery and patients going with larger implants tend to be more sore as
well. If you can plan for a week off that is certainly reasonable, but
it's only nice to have more if it's easily available to you. I tell my
patients that it's better to have an extra week and not need it than
the other way around. Good luck to you.

Interesting question.  I wondered the same thing myself.  So I undertook a study of my patients (published last year) and found that larger breast implants did not cause more complications and in fact there was a correlation between larger implant sizes and greater patient satisfaction.  Plastic surgeons who insist on small sizes are not really doing their patients any favors.  Recovery did not seem to be any different in terms of pain or length of recovery.  Today, our average implant volume is 400 cc.  Plenty of patients have 500 cc implants and are very happy.  So don't worry about the size.  You will do well with either the midrange or high-profile implants.  Get the high-profile ones if you want them.  I've attached a link to this portion of my website.

500 cc implants will not fit retro-pectoral, will extrude
inferiorly and laterally requiring revision.
Since your breasts are quite droopy a simultaneous lift is a better
technique to achieve perky breast than large implants. I recommend a new technique called Breast
Augmentation with Mini Ultimate Breast LiftTM. Using only a circumareola incision it is
possible to reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness, elevate them
higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Through the same incision, implants can be
placed. Aligning the areola, breast
tissue and implant over the bony prominence of the chest wall maximizes
anterior projection with a minimal size implant. Small round textured silicone gel implants
placed retro-pectoral look and feel more natural, are more stable, less likely
to ripple or have complications needing revision. Implant profile is irrelevant in the
retro-pectoral position since the muscle compresses it. Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thanks for your question and picture. Without measuring your chest it is hard to say what implant size is ideal for you. If you choose a 500CC implant it would appear that this would be too wide for you. Realize that larger sizes are associated with higher rates of implant malposition, asymmetry and capsular contracture. This larger size will also be quite heavy. I'm not sure what "look" you are trying to achieve but it is important that you understand the trade offs of selecting such a large implant. I expect my patients to have a 24 hour recovery. I limit exercise and lifting but expect people to be able to drive, run errands, go out to eat, etc. the next day. As a rule though, I don't put in 500CC implants unless it is for breast cancer reconstruction. Best of Luck!

The size of the breast implant utilized does not necessarily correspond to the recovery process.  One patient can have a small implant, but have very tight tissues and a low pain tolerance, and have a long recovery.  Another can have a much larger implant, but the tissues are looser and better able to accommodate the implant, and that patient is doing fine the day after surgery.  Every patient is different.  I hope this helps.

is not that different from someone who has a 400 cc implant.  Realize that everyone is different in their response to pain and recovery at different rates.  As for the style of implant, look at the dimensions and your own natural dimensions and whether you have a large gap between the mounds that you are trying to decrease and you should be able to select what is best for you.  Ask your surgeon WHY the moderate profile is preferred over the high profile and your surgeon should be able to give you a very logical explanation.

Thank you for the picture.The recovery process is actually the same for larger implants as smaller ones. Same care will be suggested.Dr. Campos

I have not found that there is any association between the implant size and length of recovery from breast augmentation. Having said that, there is a wide variance from one patient to another on their individual recovery time.

It has been my experience that the size of the implant does not affect the recovery.  What does affect the recovery more than anything else is location of the implant.  The submuscular position is far and away the most painful for the longest.  However in my opinion, for most situations, I prefer submuscular positioning of the implant for best long term results, and therefore it is worth the vigorous recovery.sek

In general going a little larger is unlikely to make the recovery tougher.  However if a patient has a tight skin envelope and does a larger implant, I think that the recovery can be a bit tougher.  Also going beneath the muscle tends to be more painful.  500 cc with your skin envelope likely will be just fine.  As my British patient says Vanity must Endure.  It is going to hurt for a few days but you likely will be happy in the long term.