What does 390cc over filled to 430 cc mean?

Although each saline implant has a size (referring to the amount of saline that it can hold), it is possible to surpass the recommended size to a certain extent. This can be done to give you more projection and/or a firmer feel. Therefore, the 390cc saline implant you describe was filled with an extra 40cc to achieve this.

Saline implants need to be filled with salt water during surgery.  Each size of saline implant has a recommended volume of fill.  It is not uncommon to fill the implant approximately 10% over the implant size, depending on the type of shape the surgeon wishes to achieve.  It is best to discuss with your surgeon your aesthetic expectation, and have your surgeon decide the best size and the best fill volume to achieve your wishes.  

Saline implants do not come pre-filled. Each device has a suggested minimum and maximum fill volume for a given set of dimensions (i.e. a device filled to volume X will have a base width of Y and a projection of Z). This allows for predictable sizing when choosing and subsequently placing a device. In order to mitigate the risk of rippling (which is greater in saline implants), underfilling is discouraged as this will lead to more shell laxity/redundancy which contributes to the the rippling appearance.With regards to your particular question, "390 cc overfilled to 430 cc" refers to a 390 cc device with an actual fill of 430 cc.As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Without knowing your exact case I can't be sure this is the right answer as it applies to you, but in general if we speak of 390cc implants overfilled to 430 it means that you'll be getting an implant designed to hold 390cc at its ideal fill volume but your surgeon plans to fill it to 430cc to give a more full look. It's very common to do with with traditional saline implants because they tend to look a bit better when slightly overfilled. Hope that helps! 

Saline implants, as opposed to silicone implants, do not come filled out of the package. They are inserted deflated and the saline is placed once the implant is seared in the breast pocket. The implants are designed to hold a range of volume of liquid depending on the diameter and projection of the implant. The implants Can be overfilled beyond their “limit” by 10% or so safely if additional volume is needed but base width of the implant is limited. Hope this helps. 

This is a great question and the answer will depend upon whom you ask.  Silicone implants are prefilled with silicone so this is only an issue that concerns saline implants.  If a patient has a 390 cc implant, then the manufacturer's recommended range may be 390 cc to 420 cc.  This is just an example since it depends upon the manufacturer of the implant. Some surgeons will use the term "overfill" to mean that the implant is filled to the maximum allowed volume (e.g. 420 cc).  Other surgeons may use this term to mean that the implant is filled beyond the manufacturer's recommended maximum volume (e.g. 430 cc).  In each case, the volume is being increased to decrease rippling, movement of the implant, etc.  The implants can easily handle this increase in volume and it may actually decrease the likelihood of rupture of the implant by removing the wrinkles in the implant.  However, ask your surgeon what happens to the warranty for the implant if the implant is filled beyond the recommendations since this will sometimes void the warranty.  This will also help you to understand what your surgeon means by "overfilled."  I know that this is a long explanation but I hope it helps to clarify the issue.

Thank you for the question.  Unlike silicone gel breast implants (that are "prefilled" with silicone gel), saline breast implants are inserted empty and filled once in place (within the dissected breast implant pocket). Saline breast implants are usually filled within a range provided by the breast implant manufacturer. Utilizing saline volumes in the upper range of the manufacturer's recommendations helps cut down on concerns such as breast implant rippling.

I hope this helps.

 Based on the information you have provided here, it sounds like your surgeon has chosen to use a 390 mL saline implant. All saline implants have a range of acceptable fill volumes. However, all saline implants can also be safely overfilled to accommodate more saline then is “recommended.“ It sounds like your surgeon is going to fill more volume to enhance the projection and decrease the risk of rippling. This is acceptable practice, but will lead to more firm implants. You need to have a discussion to see if this is right for you. 

Dear CurvyE,
Hello and thank you for your excellent question. Breast implant sizing is a combination of current versus desired breast size, chest wall and breast measurements, and skin and subcutaneous tissue quality. Saline implants can, in general, be overfilled by approximately 10%. This allows you to have a higher-projecting implant, that still fits your frame. However, there are disadvantages to this. Overfilled implants can be more visible, can thin your skin, and produce more rippling than a standard fill implant. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. Preoperative visualization with Crisalix can simulate what your body will look like after surgery and can help you make your decision. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. Good luck!

Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS

Harvard educated plastic surgeon

Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question. Over filling is a concept limited to saline implants. Silicone gel implants come pre filled to a specific volume. 300-325 etc. and so, that is what is placed. Saline implants com in the deflated state and the sterile saline is added during the surgery. This allows the surgeon to make a smaller incision to introduce the implant into the proper plane. The saline implant is basically a water balloon. The recommended volumes say 390cc refer to the implant manufacturers recommendation for fill volume. What we have noted with experience in using the saline implants is, if filled solely to the recommended volume, there may still remain some space in the implant and the patient may notice some "sloshing" or be able to hear or feel the fluid moving in the implant. To avoid, this, we typically add 10% to the recommended volume 390 + 39 (40) to reach 430. This tends to make the implant a little firmer but eliminates the sloshing sounds.  Hope this was helpfulBest wishes,Dr. Morrissey