Unhappy with 400cc Implants Post Op 10 Weeks. What To Do?

This first thing you should do is discuss your results with the plastic surgeon who did your surgery.  The number one cause for reoperation for breast augmentation nationally is for size change. That is why it is so important to be very thorough during the sizing process.

Also, before you rush off and get bigger implants, keep the following in mind:

1. As you get older, your breast skin will age, stretch and become thinner even without an implant.  The larger any breast, augmented or not, the worse it will look over time due to skin stretching.

2. Adding any implant to your breast adds weight and will produce stretch and irreversible thinning of your breast tissues over time.

3. The larger the implant, the greater the amount of breast tissue stretch that will occur.

4. Adding excess weight to the breast almost guarantees that it will look worse over time, with increased stretch and sagging.  It is impossible to predict whether or when this will occur in any individual patient.

5. Adding weight to your breast with a large implant may cause you to need further surgery in the future, particularly mastopexy (breast lift) with additional visible scars and risks.  You will incur additional costs, time off work, risks, and trade-offs if additional surgery is necessary.

6. Excessive breast tissue stretch from a large implant can make you more likely to have surgical complications with healing problems if the tissues become very thin.

7. As breast tissues thin, You will definitely be able to feel your implant and portions of the implant may be visible through your skin and visible rippling or wrinkling may occur.

8. If excessive stretch or complications occur (and this is unpredictable), it may even become necessary to remove the implants, with compromise in the appearance of your breasts and probable visible scarring if breast lifting (mastopexy) is necessary when the implants are removed.

I hope this helps.

Did your surgeon do pre-operative sizing with you?  Perhaps he/she felt that this size was the largest he/she could place at your first surgery.  I would recommend having a frank discussion with your surgeon and let him/her know your feelings.  You will likely need a secondary surgery to get you to the size you were hoping for.  Good luck!

I'm sorry to hear about your disappointment after breast augmentation surgery.

Given that it is still very early after your surgery, it will be in your best interest to wait several months before evaluating the end results. I ask my patients to wait 6 months to one year to evaluate the results of last augmentation.

Prior to breast augmentation surgery (and possibly revisionary breast augmentation surgery in your case) it is critical for patients to communicate their goals clearly with their plastic surgeons. This communication process should be “fine tuned” to the point where both patient and surgeon feel comfortable that they understand what the patient is trying to achieve.

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 “bigger”  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.

In some cases, after this communication process, it may be necessary to inform the patient that their goals are not achievable and/or safe given their body type and/or other considerations.

I would suggest that you wait several months, continue to follow-up with your plastic surgeon, and communicate your concerns/goals in a calm, non accusatory fashion.

Best wishes.