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!

As others have recommended I would talk with your surgeon and share your concerns. While implant size alterations are the most common reason for revisionary breast augmentation surgery I wouldn't rush into anything quite yet. I ask my patients to wait at least 6 months in general before considering a revision. Best of luck, Dr K

I'm sorry to hear that you're disappointed in your size.  Unfortunately, you're not alone.  A significant proportion of women wish they had gone bigger shortly after surgery.

I would encourage you to speak with your plastic surgeon and share your concerns.  He or she can give you an accurate measurement of cup size. I would also recommend you give a little bit more time to let the implant settle.  A high profile implant takes longer to see its full projection particularly in a slender person. If you do decide to go larger giving time for this first set of implants to stretch the pocket will make it  easier.

In a slender person such as yourself going bigger can have some negative consequences such as thinning the skin or looking unnatural.  These can lead to problems in the future. Your surgeon can give you a guidance here as well.

Many surgeons have a plan and policy in place for patients who wish to change their size.  This is something you may wish to look into.

 

Good luck.

 

 

 

Hi and thank you for the question. I'm sorry to hear you didn't get what you wanted. My suggestion is to give it time. As your skin envelope stretches out over the next few months your breasts will continue to change. Sometimes patients initially feel like their implants are too small or too big, but by month 6 they are really happy. Make sure you share your concerns with your surgeon. If you still feel like they are too small after 4-5 more months, you can always change to a larger size as long as you have enough skin to do so. It's a very quick and easy procedure. Best of luck to you.
Dr West