Am I too skinny to get breast implants?

Question

I am 5'7, 115 pounds, and 18 years old. I am very skinny and my bones show on my chest. I want to get breast implants but I've always wondered if someone as skinny as me and with barely any breast tissue can get them, or if it would be dangerous.

Francis X. Fleming, MD · Answer

Your best bet might be to schedule a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. During the consultation you can expect the surgeon to take measurements and discuss with you your desired outcome. You can also expect the surgeon to take your small frame into consideration and make recommendations based on your desired out come and your frame. The surgeon should also look at your medical history and determine if you are in good enough health for such a surgery.

Jose M. Soler-Baillo, MD, MS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  You can most likely get implants, but you need to be seen in person by a board certified plastic surgeon for a physical evaluation to determine what would be best for you.  Patients with little breast tissue can still get a nice result if they have realistic expectations.All the best,Dr. ResultsMiami, FL

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Far more important than the technique
is the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon. Choose your surgeon rather
than the technique and let them explain why one technique may be better than
another.

See the below link on some
suggestions on finding the most qualified Plastic Surgeon for a breast augmentation. Any women desiring breast augmentation surgery is a candidate as l ong as there are no health problems present which would preclude her from having surgery. If the desired goal is to enhance or restore size and shape or to improve asymmetry, breast augmentation is a viable option. Breast augmentation can improve a body image, self-esteem, self-concept, and quality of life.Ideal Candidates for Breast AugmentationDesire larger, shapelier breasts.Moderate degree of breast sag and smaller breasts, whose problem can be solved by enlargement.One breast that is noticeably smaller or is positioned differently than the other (asymmetry).Uneven chest wall or rib cage.Women requiring breast reconstruction following a mastectomy.Restore breast volume or shape following pregnancy, breast feeding and/or weight loss.

Keith Hodge, MD · Answer

The answer is, no, you are not too skinny. I did an augmentation two weeks ago on a woman who weighed 98 lbs. and she did great! As long as you are healthy, you should do well, also. Since you are petite and thin, you want to make sure that you don't get an implant that is too large for your frame. Best of luck!

Joseph Mele, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Many skinny girls get breast implants to improve the contour of their breasts. The downside of not having any breast tissue is that there is little to disguise the fact that there is a breast implant. Larger implants will be harder to "hide", so keeping the changes in proportion are more likely to give you an aesthetic result. The good news is that newer breast implants can help with contour as well as volume. Also, even a round breast implant can give a teardrop shape when placed behind the muscle. Seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon in your area for an well educated opinion.

Carolina Restrepo, MD · Answer

If you are healthy you are a candidate for breast augmentation. The keys are to fill out the upper and lower parts of the breast with the right implant and to place it in a way that looks relatively natural. The technique that best achieves this is a dual plane technique, where the implant is below the muscle in the superior pole of the breast, and the lower portion of the muscle is released to allow the implant to fill the lower pole of the breast. This covers the implant sufficiently while allowing it to be in an ideal position and fill the breast envelope beautifully.

Location of the incision, location of the implant, type of implant, and size are all critical questions for women who choose breast augmentation. The common denominator to the most beautiful breasts is that they were sized objectively on the basis of measurements. For instance, we combine a proven formula based on measurements of the rests and chest along with through discussions of patient's desires. Photos of ideal breasts and results from patients with similar breasts are often very helpful in the discussion.

Plastic surgeons are trained differently and have varying levels of experience and so the key is to work with a Board Certified plastic surgeon with expertise and experience in breast augmentation. He or she should be able to clearly explain their approach and why they do things a certain way.               I hope this was helpful.  Please let me me know if you have any other questions regarding the procedure. Thank you and best of luck.

Bryson G. Richards, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.The typical patient that presents for a breast augmentation consultation is a thin, young, healthy, female. You will likely look great with implants.Pick a surgeon you feel comfortable with. When patients come to see me, they are often overwhelmed by the number of implant choices available. We go over the options and I help them choose the size and profile by using both sizers as well as 3D imaging software to give a visual perspective to them with implants before the procedure. It's pretty neat.Good luck.I hope this helps.- Dr. Bryson Richards (Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon)

Kirk Moore, MD · Answer

Absolutely not! There is no reason why you should not be a candidate for breast augmentation just because of your height and weight. There re are definitely some considerations when you are that small-chested, and an in-person consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon would be able to address those for you. Sientra Gummy Bear implants might be your best option as they hold their shape better and have less rippling. They also rupture less frequently and have a lower capsular contracture rate than the cohesive gel implants. Using textured implants and even a shaped implant given your current size might even be the best option. But, the bottom line is that you are a candidate for breast augmentation. Good luck to you.

Stuart A. Linder, MD, FACS · Answer

It is very important and your Board certified plastic surgeon uses the under the muscle approach and a higher profile implant to decrease visibility

Lane Smith, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  As long as a patient is in good halth and is a good candidate for surgery, there is no reason why soeone that is your height and weight would not be able to have breast augmentation.  You may wish to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to address your concerns, disucss your goals and options then work together to cvreate the surgical plan that you are comfortable with and will help you best achieve your overall desired look.Best regards,Dr. Lane F. Smith, MDPlastic SurgeonLas Vegas, NV

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