Overfilling Natrelle 68MP 390cc

Some plastic surgeons believe that overfilling a saline implant will reduce the incidence of wrinkling and rippling. Other times an implant is overfilled just to achieve a little more volume. Limiting the amount to of overfill to 10% of the specified implant volume is probably a good rule of thumb for most situations. So for the implant you mention, 40cc would be about the maximum overfill. I just placed these implants the other day and planned to use them in the 400cc-420cc range. I increased the fill volume to 450cc because I thought the patient would appreciate the small increase in volume and projection that I achieved with that additional volume.

Overfilling an implant does come with a trade-off, namely implant firmness. The more a saline implant is over-filled, the firmer the consistency of the implant becomes. This is why overfilling is often limited to about 10% more than the specified volume of the implant. It allows overfilling without a significant increase in the firmness of the implant.

Different saline implant styles tolerate overfilling to different degrees. Moderate profile implants tolerate overfilling better than others because of the surface area–to–volume ratio of this implant design. If a surgeon wishes to push the amount of overfill above the 10% rule of thumb, it is easier to do this with a moderate profile implant. High profile implants, with a smaller surface area-to-volume ratio, do not tolerate overfilling to the same extent; and it is my preference not to overfill these implants beyond the specified volume. Contoured (anatomical) implants do not overfill well, also. As a contoured implant is overfilled, it begins to lose its shape and more expansion of the upper pole occurs.

I hope your surgery went well.

Dear Bebelici0usz in Honolulu, HI:

The term overfilling is leftover from an era when implants came labelled with a single volume. For example a surgeon would take a 300cc saline implant and routinely fill it to 330cc (an overfill of 10%) because the implant rippled less and felt better.

Since that time the FDA has demanded a specific volume range from implant manufactures. For the example of the 300 cc implant given above, the same implant (moderate profile because that was the only profile available then) no comes labelled as a 300-330 cc implant. FIlling to the upper volume is the same as overfilling the 300 cc implant by 10%.

Implants can be filled greater then the suggested; however this is an off label use, and technically violates your implant's warranty. Overfilling leads to increased projection and stiffness, and can cause scalloping (wrinkling) of the implant around the edge. While overfilling is rarely advantageous, underfilling is always wrong. An underfilled implant will wrinkle more and will deflate more often.

It sounds like you still have some confusion regarding your surgery tomorrow. You should call you surgeon today.

Hello,

Overfilling implants by 10% can mean whatever the surgeon wants it to mean; there is no standardization.  My recommendation is that you clarify with your surgeon what exactly is his criteria for filling breast implants.  Saline filled breast implants have the best shape, softness, and least palpable rippling right about at the top of the recommended fill, with a margin for overfilling another 5 to 10 cc.   For example, a Natrelle 68MP 390cc implant will do best at 420cc, but will still be fine at 430cc.  Beyond this, the implant begins to loose its shape, develop more rippling, and become firm.  'Pressure atropy' and 'water hammer' effects are more prominent in an overfilled saline implant too, causing long term changes (thinning and stretching) of your body tissues, as well.

Regarding your choice of implant size, the 390 is too big for you.  This implant will ripple on you, something that you will feel and may even see (those tiger stripe-like marks on the sides of the breast) after you heal from your surgery.  If you insist on this size, you will do better with silicone gel filled implants.  I would still consider a smaller implant though.

Best of luck!