In this post I review the most popular breast implants used for breast enlargement surgery in the UK and speak with Mr McGeorge FRCS (Plas) about large breast implants. If you desire much larger breasts than you have naturally, I completely understand. When I was 21 I had my first breast augmentation, and although I was very happy with the results, I was also disappointed with the size. This led me on a mission to find out everything I could about large breast implants and breast enlargement surgery. 

Four years later after much deliberation, I had my third and last breast augmentation procedure with 535cc anatomical, silicone breast implants. My final breast implants increased my natural breast size from a 32A to a 32F. Even more important, they also gave me the top heavy look, with natural shaped breasts, that I desired. Over 18 years later I am still very happy with the appearance of my breasts and pleased I did not have larger breast implants. Something I certainly never thought I would say all those years ago!

 

Large Breast Enlargement Surgery

 

In general breast enlargement surgery in the UK will be performed with silicone breast implants, and many plastic surgeons consider silicone implants superior to saline implants. Because silicone implants are prefilled, skin and breast tissue has to stretch to accommodate them, if they are placed in the subglandular (above muscle) placement. When placed in the submuscular placement, your muscle also needs to stretch to accommodate them. 

This will limit the breast implant size that can be used and in most cases a second breast augmentation will be required to safely place breast implants over 500cc. If skin and tissue is put under too much pressure with large breast implants this will increase the potential of risks and complications including:

 

• Hematomas (collection of blood)
• Seromas (collection of fluid)
• Implant extrusion
• Capsulation (excess build up of scar tissue)
• Implant misplacement

To reduce the risks it is essential to find a plastic surgeon who has experience performing breast enlargement surgery with large breast implants. Mr Douglas McGeorge FRCS (Plas) a plastic surgeon with his own private practice in Chester, UK, kindly answered a few of my questions about the placement of large breast implants.

 

•  Will you use custom made, silicone filled implants over 1000cc, if the patient can accommodate them safely, and if not why not? 

The indications for very large implants are rare.  I have put in large implants and have used custom made prosthesis.  It is a long way from my routine practice and is only performed on carefully counselled individuals.

 

• What is the biggest breast implant cc volume you would be willing to use, as long as it is safe for the patient?

Volume, itself, is not important.  It is the dimensions that matter.  Patients requiring wide implants, necessarily have bigger volumes.  I rarely use extra high projection implants and, in my practice, high projection are as large as is normally used.

 

•  What would your advice be to someone who wants breast implants of 1000cc or over?

They need careful counselling as, often, the tissues will not support the weight properly.

 

If you need help to find a plastic surgeon please complete the CSA patient advice form

 

 

What is the Largest Silicone Breast Implant?

 

The largest silicone breast implant, that is not custom made, is 800cc. This size of implant has the potential to increase your bust size from approximately between three to five cup sizes. However, unless you have significant loose skin, it is unlikely your skin will stretch beyond an additional two cup sizes during a single breast augmentation procedure.

Various factors will impact how much breast implants will enhance the size of your breasts including;

• How much natural breast tissue you have
• Breast implant placement
• Your chest width
• The shape of your rib cage
• Breast implant width
• Breast implant shape
• Breast implant profile

It is also important to be aware that even if you think you have a similar frame and breast size to someone else, the same breast implants may not give you the same breast size or shape. As a general rule non anatomical, high profile breast implants, often referred to as round implants, will increase the appearance of your breasts the most. But this doesn’t mean they will always increase your cup size more than anatomical (teardrop) breast implants.