500cc to 1,500cc? Is it possible with very little breast tissue? If not, what is the biggest I could go?

Additional elective cosmetic #surgery is a personal choice. As with all cosmetic surgery, results will be rewarding if expectations are realistic. If you do decide on a revision to #increase your implant size or choose a different implant, the #pocket will need adjusting and often a breast #lift is also be necessary to better #support the new implant. Additionally, a mesh for further support may be helpful depending on the #implant size and skin #elasticity. A different type or wider implants may also be an option if deemed a candidate.
It's best to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is specialized in cosmetic breast surgery. Such is most suitable to perform your breast #augmentation. You will then greatly improve your chances of getting the result you desire, and, decrease the need for #revision surgeries. Aside from checking board-certification, it is suggested that you look at before and after photos of the surgeons actual patients, and read patient reviews. Gathering all of this information will help you make a well-informed #decision. Please be advised that each patient is unique and previous results are not a guarantee for individual outcomes.

Dear AloRoi,breast revision surgery is the most difficult plastic surgery procedure performed. Botched breast surgery alters normal tissue planes and laxity, the ability of breasts to heal properly, and leaves scar tissue that dramatically affects the level of difficulty of the corrective surgery.Many patients come in to correct poor outcomes from their initial surgeries. The most common problems are due to implant malposition, bottoming out of the implant, poor scarring, and incorrect implant size.While the type of revision required will depend on the result of the previous surgery and the desired result of the patient, some revisions involve extensive pocket repair that may or may not need specialized external bras.If you are considering breast surgery revision, you should speak with a board certified plastic surgeon and have yourself properly assessed. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations. Also, you have to make sure that your surgeon understands your breast augmentation goals.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question. If you are currently 500 cc, then there may be options to increase the size of your implants. You would want to make sure that whatever implant you choose is not wider than your breast base diameter. In addition, the largest silicone implants on the market are 800 cc in size and a saline implant of the same size could be overfilled to slightly larger than 800 cc. However, in someone like you who sounds to be not very large in build, to get this amount of volume in a small width would require an extremely high profile implant which would look rather unnatural and disproportionate. In addition, while you think you may love them initially, with time this large of an implant would stretch the breast tissue and would eventually produce a very poor aesthetic result that you will not be pleased with. I would strongly recommend reconsidering your goals. If you find someone who is willing to stack implants or do something to give you 1500 cc implants, you should walk away. Best of luck and above all, be safe!

if you have 500's now, stepping up another 2-300cc would be a big jump. The largest implants are the market are approx 630cc saline implants with a max recommended fill volume of 800cc. You will be hard pressed to find a surgeon that will give you implants much larger than that. 

My concerns when reading your question are as you suspect, and as my colleagues have stated, the risk of cutting off the blood supply to your breast and overlying skin with such a great jump in volume. Since you already have very little tissue of your own, the larger the implant, the more you will see and feel every ripple, ridge, and knuckle. I do not recommend going from 500 to 1500 without an intermediate expansion if you insist on going that big. As others have said, 800cc is the largest size available on the market for both silicone and saline and while saline implants can be overfilled, by doing so you void the warranty. May I ask why you want to go so much larger? I have placed implants 1000-1600 in the rare patient, but do not recommend it to most as it is not anatomic and increases the chance of capsular contracture and implant extrusion. Please feel free to contact my office if you would like to ask more questions in person. I hope this helps. - Dr. Mills

Thank you for reaching out. I don't recommend going that large and especially not that much of a jump in size, usually the implant will put such extreme pressures on the surrounding tissues the breast will take on a unaesthetic appearance and shape. I would suggest you temper your enthusiasm for size and go for something that is a reasonable compromise for size and aesthetics, maybe something in the 600-800 range. Best of luck. Dr. Kachenmeister

Thank you for the question. You will find that online consultants will not be able to provide you with specific advice in regards to selection of specific breast implant size/profile. Having said that, it is generally necessary to utilize high or ultra high-profile silicone gel breast implants or overfilled saline breast implants to achieve the types of outcomes you may desire.   





Ultimately, careful communication of your goals (in my practice I prefer the use of goal pictures, direct examination/communication in front of a full-length mirror, and computer imaging) will be critical. 







Generally speaking, the best online advice I can give to ladies who are considering revisionary breast augmentation surgery (regarding breast implant size/profile selection) is:







1. Concentrate on choosing your plastic surgeon carefully. Concentrate on appropriate training, certification, and the ability of the plastic surgeon to achieve the results you are looking for. Ask to see lots of examples of his/her work.







2. Have a full discussion and communication regarding your desired goals with your plastic surgeon. This communication will be critical in determining breast implant size/type/profile will most likely help achieve your goals. 



In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of words such as “natural” or "D or DD cup” etc means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful.



Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate. 







3. Once you feel you have communicated your goals clearly, allow your plastic surgeon to use his/her years of experience/judgment to choose the breast implant size/profile that will best meet your goals. Again, in my practice, this decision is usually made during surgery ( after the use of temporary intraoperative sizers). Viewing the patient's chest wall in the upright and supine positions, with temporary sizes in place, help select the best breast implant size/profile for the specific patient.







I hope this, and the attached link (dedicated to "larger" breast augmentation surgery concerns), helps. Best wishes.