Can I Go From 800cc to 1200cc Breast Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in getting XL silicone implants. I currently have  800cc UHP Mentor silicone implants.. I am 5’4” tall and weight 116lbs. I am looking to get at least 1200cc silicone through the areolas.

A: When it comes to XL breast augmentation it is very common to see a patient with 800ccimplants wanting to go beyond that into the > 1000cc range. Well this can be done there’re certain important concepts to understand about doing it.

1)  it is important to recognize that currently you have fairly symmetric implant placement and breasts. In putting larger implants it maybe necessary to expand the existing implant capsules as the base diameters of many XL implants are larger than the current 800 mLcc implants that you have. This runs the risk with much heavier implants (50% heavier)  of developing bottoming out and asymmetries which may require secondary revisional surgery. Such revisional surgery can be very difficult when you have implants with weights of close to 3 pounds. Weight and gravity winout over surgical technique many times. Ideally you would like to have larger breast implants that do not exceed the base diameters of what you have where the increase in volunme is totally in projection which allows you to keep intact your current capsular boundaries. But this often is not the case. Therefore it would be important to know the base diamter of the implants you have compared to the newer larger silicone breast implants that exist so you can properly assess that risk. While breast implant asymmetries are a well-known risk in any breast implant surgery that risk is increased as the implant sizes become larger

2) XL silicone breast implants are currently available but it is important to recognize what the FDA approved indications for their use are. Currently they are approved for breast reconstruction. While it is common to use them now for breast augmentation needs this is done on what is known as an off label basis. This is perfectly legal and medically safe. There are many medical devices that are used on an off label basis.

3) FYI you will not get XL breast implants XL breast implants place through placed through the areola. That is just a physical impossibility unless they are saline and not and silicone implants.

Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon