Your Questions
Your Questions
Q: Dr. Eppley, Do I qualify for a tummy tuck based on my weight of 155 lbs at 5’ 6”? Also I would like to down size my 650cc saline implants to something considerably smaller.
A: Based on your pictures which show a double abdominal roll, you would definitely benefit by a tummy tuck which would eliminate that problem. You can also certainly downsize your implants and I will assume for now that you want to stay with saline implants. The one issue with downsizing is what will happen to the overlying breast tissue. You already have some breast tissue bottoming out and that will get more substantial with downsizing. I see the scars around the areolas which I presume is from a periareolar mastopexy with your original augmentation. To deal with these issues I would do an inframammary fold excision/tuck with your implant downsizing as well as possible a periareolar scar revision.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Q: Dr. Eppley, I have had breast augmentation with saline implants filled to 450ccs. This gave me a 36 D bra size. I had it done five years ago and have been very happy until recently. I have noticed that my breasts seem to be getting lower and my neck and back is hurting more. I am wondering if you think this is because of their weight? I am considering having them replaced with smaller implants that would take me down to a C cup which I assume is around 3255cc to 350ccs. My question is if I do have them reduced will one cup size smaller help them sit higher and reduce my back pain?
A: Your question is an interesting one but I doubt if your breast implants are a primary culprit of your neck and back pain. Contrary to the perception of many, the most common reason why large breasts cause musculoskeletal pain is because of their severe sagging and not just their weight. In most women with breast implants, the implant makes up a large percent of their breast size and the ‘sagging’ they may get with time is more skin relaxation and not true breast tissue ptosis. While I don’t know what your breasts look like, you would have to have a lot of breast tissue sagging off of the implant to cause these problems. Therefore downsizing your implants, short of complete removal, does not seem like it would prove beneficial for pain relief.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana