Can I Get Silicone Braest Implants Over 800ccs?

Q: Dr. Eppley, For some initial context, I currently have 800cc silicone sub-muscular implants that I have had for about 10 years. I have been interested in going larger for a while, but I wanted to stick with silicone. From what I understood, the sizes above 800cc for silicone that became available a few years ago were primarily for reconstructive surgery.

I came across one of Dr. Eppley’s articles (https://exploreplasticsurgery.com/mentor-large-breast-implant-sizes-greater-than-800ccs/) and became curious if that was the only allowed use of those extra large sizes or if they were also available to those just looking for a larger option.

So, I wanted to see if those sizes in silicone (930-1445cc) were an option outside of a reconstruction situation. If so, I’d have a few more questions as I plan towards it, but I wanted to start there.

A:Silicone implants over 800 cc size, as offered by Mentor, are FDA approved for breast reconstruction. However it is common practice to use such devices off label for aesthetic indications. This is done for a wide range of medical implants including those of the breast. For example the use of breast tissue expanders for the subsequent placement of extra large breast implants. The tissues expanders are only FDA approved for breast reconstruction.

That being said the subsequent question is how much bigger than 800 ccs can your tissues accommodate. That depends on several factors and can never be fully known until actual surgery but as a general rule you can probably go up to one third to maybe 40% more than that of what you already have.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon