Hello, I had my BA 14 yrs ago, 425cc HP saline unders, 34yrs old now, petite, 5'-0”, 99 lbs. I would like to switch to silicone because I would prefer the natural feeling of silicone now that I am older plus I believe I am near the end of my implant's life. My ps is recommending a 500cc HP silicone implant. However, I wonder, will a 75cc increase be noticeable? I would like a little more fullness in the middle area. Or, should I go 525cc (100cc, as I have read is the minimum increase)?
Answer: Is a 75cc increase a noticeable amount with a implant replacement from saline to silicone? Should it be more? Thank you for the question and good quality photographs! Based on your photographs, I think that you are starting at a good place and should have a very nice outcome with revisionary breast augmentation surgery. Some thoughts may be helpful to you: there is no specific implant “life”; in other words, if patients are pleased and there are there have been no problems with the breast implants there is no necessity to remove/replace. Sometimes, patients will have very nice/soft outcomes with saline breast implants; consultation with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons will help you when it comes to determining whether the use of silicone gel breast implants will necessarily be “softer”. For some patients, especially petite patients or those with smaller breasts implants, a change of 75 cc may result in a very noticeable difference; for other patients a greater increase in volume may be necessary to achieve the desired outcome. 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 "C or D cup” etc means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful. Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on him who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate. Again, best not to discuss your goals and/or judge the outcome of the procedure performed based on achieving a specific cup size. 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. I generally select appropriate breast implant size/profile after the use of temporary intraoperative sizers and viewing the patient's chest in the upright and supine positions. I hope this (and the attached link) helps.
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Answer: Is a 75cc increase a noticeable amount with a implant replacement from saline to silicone? Should it be more? Thank you for the question and good quality photographs! Based on your photographs, I think that you are starting at a good place and should have a very nice outcome with revisionary breast augmentation surgery. Some thoughts may be helpful to you: there is no specific implant “life”; in other words, if patients are pleased and there are there have been no problems with the breast implants there is no necessity to remove/replace. Sometimes, patients will have very nice/soft outcomes with saline breast implants; consultation with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons will help you when it comes to determining whether the use of silicone gel breast implants will necessarily be “softer”. For some patients, especially petite patients or those with smaller breasts implants, a change of 75 cc may result in a very noticeable difference; for other patients a greater increase in volume may be necessary to achieve the desired outcome. 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 "C or D cup” etc means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful. Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on him who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate. Again, best not to discuss your goals and/or judge the outcome of the procedure performed based on achieving a specific cup size. 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. I generally select appropriate breast implant size/profile after the use of temporary intraoperative sizers and viewing the patient's chest in the upright and supine positions. I hope this (and the attached link) helps.
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
Answer: Lift essential to increase cleavage I recommend a new technique called Implant Exchange with Mini Ultimate Breast Lift™.Using only a circumareola incision it is possible to reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness, moving them high on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage.At the same time, implants can be exchanged.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.This technique avoids the ugly vertical scars of the traditional technique, maintains nipple sensation and the ability to breast feed.Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Lift essential to increase cleavage I recommend a new technique called Implant Exchange with Mini Ultimate Breast Lift™.Using only a circumareola incision it is possible to reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness, moving them high on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage.At the same time, implants can be exchanged.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.This technique avoids the ugly vertical scars of the traditional technique, maintains nipple sensation and the ability to breast feed.Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 7, 2018
Answer: Just gonna throw this out to you... This may be more than you want to consider but some of my patients who REALLY can't decide elect to have their saline implants evacuated in the office prior to surgery. The advantage is that they can see exactly how much breast tissue they have before committing to a particular implant. Its relatively painless except for the pain of walking around without a breast for a couple days. Not for everyone but always an option...Good luck
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 7, 2018
Answer: Just gonna throw this out to you... This may be more than you want to consider but some of my patients who REALLY can't decide elect to have their saline implants evacuated in the office prior to surgery. The advantage is that they can see exactly how much breast tissue they have before committing to a particular implant. Its relatively painless except for the pain of walking around without a breast for a couple days. Not for everyone but always an option...Good luck
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 4, 2014
Answer: 75 cc Increase Thank you for your pictures. 75 cc would be somewhat noticeable. 100 cc would be noticeable. Make sure that you sit with your PS to discuss your expectations prior to exchange.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 4, 2014
Answer: 75 cc Increase Thank you for your pictures. 75 cc would be somewhat noticeable. 100 cc would be noticeable. Make sure that you sit with your PS to discuss your expectations prior to exchange.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 4, 2014
Answer: Sizing up when changing from saline to silicone I think you are correct in believing that a silicone implant will provide a more natural feel than your saline implants, but sizing up is unlikely to make a significant improvement in the fullness you have in the center of your chest. When implants are placed under the muscle, it is important to leave the muscle attachments to the sternum (breast bone). If those attachments are released in order to give a patient more cleavage, it can result is very unnatural motion of the breasts when the muscles are flexed. Women who have more cleavage after BA either have more natural breast tissue in the center of their chest or have their implants over the muscle. Your surgeon may be recommending the 500 cc implant because it is the largest that will properly fit within your chest measurements. A larger implant may just give you more fullness under the arm, rather than in the center of your chest where you want it. In addition, 25 cc is really a very small amount, so the size difference between 500 and 525 is really quite small.Talk to your surgeon about why they recommended 500 and their opinion whether either implant is really going to give you the additional fullness you're seeking. Even if they believe they can use this extra size to give you more fullness in the center of your chest, I'd like to caution you that it will make your left nipple, which is already pointing a little sideways, look even more off center.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 4, 2014
Answer: Sizing up when changing from saline to silicone I think you are correct in believing that a silicone implant will provide a more natural feel than your saline implants, but sizing up is unlikely to make a significant improvement in the fullness you have in the center of your chest. When implants are placed under the muscle, it is important to leave the muscle attachments to the sternum (breast bone). If those attachments are released in order to give a patient more cleavage, it can result is very unnatural motion of the breasts when the muscles are flexed. Women who have more cleavage after BA either have more natural breast tissue in the center of their chest or have their implants over the muscle. Your surgeon may be recommending the 500 cc implant because it is the largest that will properly fit within your chest measurements. A larger implant may just give you more fullness under the arm, rather than in the center of your chest where you want it. In addition, 25 cc is really a very small amount, so the size difference between 500 and 525 is really quite small.Talk to your surgeon about why they recommended 500 and their opinion whether either implant is really going to give you the additional fullness you're seeking. Even if they believe they can use this extra size to give you more fullness in the center of your chest, I'd like to caution you that it will make your left nipple, which is already pointing a little sideways, look even more off center.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful