How Small Should I Go When Downsizing My Breast Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I got breast implants one year ago an am not happy with the size. They are too big. They are only 175cc but they are just too big for me. In exchanging the implants to something smaller, I am not sure what size implant to change to In reading around online, there is much discussion about the base width diameter of the implant like its the holy grail, even though, interestingly, opinions diverge. Some say stay the same implant diameter and no larger, a bit larger, can be smaller by up to one cm, thin women should have smaller, and on and on…. so no hard-and-fast-rule it seems. But 8.2 cm (diameter of smallest available 100cc implants) to my 10.5/11cm change does seem a lot, if base width diameter is typically a consideration that you guys seem to have strong opinions on. I recognize that results are harder to pin down than one might wish, but why do you think that’s better than 130’s with a 10cm diameter, or 125 mod-plus with a 8.9cm diameter, in my case? Related to that, do you think that a lower diameter will diminish the lateral projection that I do not like? Do you think that a similar or slightly smaller diameter than my current 175’s, even if the ccs are lower, will leave me with the same lateral projection “issue”?

A: When the fear from the initial implant is that is was too big, you want to make sure you don’t repeat the same problem. Given that the initial implants were only 175cc and the lowest selection is 100cc, you want to make sure you never say I didn’t go low enough. Thus choosing 100cc implants eliminates that possible outcome.

Implant base width diameter has merit but its biggest contribution in my opinion is in the initial breast augmentation when it is important to not exceed the natural width of the breast so the implants do not get too far to the sides. Once a pocket is established and the implant replacements are going down in size, that issue does not become that important anymore. For you, however, with a fear of too much projection you need to get the flattest and broadest implant base. possible…spread whatever volume there is over a wide base. But the decrease in based width diameter of a 100cc implant may also help the problem of too much lateral projection as well.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

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Q: Dr. Eppley, I got breast implants one year ago an am not happy with the size. They are too big. They are only 175cc but they are just too big for me. In exchanging the implants to something smaller, I am not sure what size implant to change to In reading around online, there is much discussion about the base width diameter of the implant like its the holy grail, even though, interestingly, opinions diverge. Some say stay the same implant diameter and no larger, a bit larger, can be smaller by up to one cm, thin women should have smaller, and on and on…. so no hard-and-fast-rule it seems. But 8.2 cm (diameter of smallest available 100cc implants) to my 10.5/11cm change does seem a lot, if base width diameter is typically a consideration that you guys seem to have strong opinions on. I recognize that results are harder to pin down than one might wish, but why do you think that’s better than 130’s with a 10cm diameter, or 125 mod-plus with a 8.9cm diameter, in my case? Related to that, do you think that a lower diameter will diminish the lateral projection that I do not like? Do you think that a similar or slightly smaller diameter than my current 175’s, even if the ccs are lower, will leave me with the same lateral projection “issue”?
A: When the fear from the initial implant is that is was too big, you want to make sure you don’t repeat the same problem. Given that the initial implants were only 175cc and the lowest selection is 100cc, you want to make sure you never say I didn’t go low enough. Thus choosing 100cc implants eliminates that possible outcome.
Implant base width diameter has merit but its biggest contribution in my opinion is in the initial breast augmentation when it is important to not exceed the natural width of the breast so the implants do not get too far to the sides. Once a pocket is established and the implant replacements are going down in size, that issue does not become that important anymore. For you, however, with a fear of too much projection you need to get the flattest and broadest implant base. possible…spread whatever volume there is over a wide base. But the decrease in based width diameter of a 100cc implant may also help the problem of too much lateral projection as well.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana