A lot of people have heard of the first breast augmentation surgery, but not as many have heard about the second procedure. It’s true that getting a second implant can be an effective way to increase your breast size, but it’s not always necessary or even recommended.
You may decide to have a second breast augmentation to increase the size of your breasts. Patients usually choose to have bigger implants because their breasts are smaller than they expected after their initial operation.
If you’re considering getting a second implant, here are some things you should know:
This procedure is expensive and requires another surgery. The cost will vary depending on where you go and how much work needs to be done, but it’s likely that this will cost you between $5,000 and $10,000.
The recovery time will also be longer than with a single surgery—you’ll need at least 6 weeks before going back to work, and probably more like 8 weeks if your job involves heavy lifting or other strenuous activity that could put strain on your chest muscles and surrounding tissue (like running).
2nd Breast Augmentation to Go Bigger
I Love My Breast Implants But Want To Go Bigger. Now What?
Is bigger possible?
After breast augmentation surgery, no one ever says, “I wish I went smaller!” Especially in Las Vegas! Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed on women who desire to have larger breasts. Women either want more size, shape, or volume in their breasts, especially women who have had children. Breast augmentation is performed by placing a silicone or saline-filled implant into the breast to increase the size. There are various sizes, shapes, textures, and types of implants, which makes the possibilities endless for women desiring this surgery. One of the most common comments heard after breast augmentation is that women wish they had gone bigger with their implant size. Is it possible to change the size of them? It is a procedure called breast implant revision surgery.
While many women question whether or not they went large enough, most end up being satisfied with their results and end up loving their size. However, there are some that do decide to go bigger. But let’s start from the beginning—and why the consultation at our Las Vegas office is so important.
Breast Augmentation Considerations
Several factors go into picking the right breast implant before surgery. That is why, during the initial consultation, so much time is spent discussing aesthetic goals, sizing, and other factors such as how big you desire to go. Speaking with a skilled and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon is important, especially one that performs breast augmentations often. They will ask you in detail about your sizing goals, help you understand the options, discuss if silicone or saline is a better fit, and other factors that may affect sizing, such as whether the implant will be under or on top of the muscle. But the biggest concern or question asked is: How big should my implants be?
The Sizing Process
When you go into your consultation appointment, you can “try” on sizes. This is usually the most time consuming part of the process. Women can try on imitation breast implants called “sizers,” which are bead-filled neoprene sacks to place under their clothing, to get an idea of what they would like. Of course, women considering going almost triple their breast size are advised not to, as complications with going too big too soon can occur. Your body needs time to adjust to the changes, and going from a size A to a D may not be the right answer for your body, so it is important to set realistic goals for the size you choose. Your body frame, size, weight, and chest anatomy also play a role in sizing your implants. With that said, there are many women who decide later to upsize, and this is sometimes easier once the skin has been able to stretch with the first round.
Post-breast-augmentation surgery
So what happens when you get home, after your recovery period is over (2-3 months to let the post surgery swelling subside) and you realize you didn’t go big enough? According to the FDA, 37% of breast revisions surgeries are done because women want a bigger size. In the consultation appointment, woman typically shy away from going “too big” so they generally are conservative on their size choice but after their recovery period is over, some do regret that conservative decision. That is where breast implant revision surgery comes in.
Facts of Breast Implant Revision Surgery
Many times when we hear the word breast revision surgery, we assume something went wrong with an augmentation job. In most cases, this surgery is performed for women who no longer want implants or for those who want to change out their implants due to sizing. It’s a fairly simple procedure when sizing is the only concern. The second time around can be different, and you are back for a reason, so make sure you and your doctor are on the same page. Communication is key with your surgeon so that you both know what your expectations should be with this second implant surgery. Other factors that make this second surgery different is the presence of scar tissue, the stretching of the existing skin, and anatomical changes to the breasts due to previous implants. However, since you have had implants for a while, it usually is not a problem to go larger since the chest cavity has adapted to an implant.
Here are a few facts about what takes place when you decide to go larger the second time around:
The Waiting Period
If you are considering breast implant revision surgery, there is a “wait and see” protocol if you want to go bigger. After your initial breast augmentation surgery, you will not only be sore and tender but also swollen for a period of time. Also, after breast augmentation surgery, a condition called capsular contracture occurs, which is when scar tissue forms around the implant, resulting in stiffness. It is advised that women wait 3-6 months for revision augmentation surgery to make sure all the swelling has gone down and the surgeon can get the best possible results for you from your revision surgery.
What size should I go up to?
Breast implants are measured in cc’s (cubic centimeters) so the higher the number, the bigger the implant. Most implants hold up to 400cc or more and normal augmentation procedures are usually between 300 and 400 cc. For every 150 to 200 cc’s, it is approximately 1 to 1 ½ cup sizes. As always, consult your physician on their recommendation for going larger as well. At our Las Vegas plastic surgery center, we assist women who want to go larger and help them reach their goals with the outcome they desire.
So if you have second thoughts about your current implant size, then you have the option to go bigger! Sometimes bigger is better! Just consider all the factors above and wait until your initial surgery has healed so you have a true idea of what size you want to go to next time. Contact our Las Vegas office and let the VIP team of Dr. Christopher Khorsandi help you meet your goals. Schedule your consultation today!
How to Make Implants Look Bigger
3 Exercises that Can Make Your Boobs Look Bigger and Other Options for Breast Enhancement
- You can get the appearance of bigger boobs by toning and firming your pectoral muscles.
- This can be done by regularly doing bench presses, dumbbell flys, and chest presses.
- For more drastic results, you can try surgical options like breast augmentation or a breast lift.
- Visit Insider’s Health Reference Library for more advice.
A 2020 study of almost 20,000 women from over 40 countries found that a whopping 71% of women are not satisfied with some aspect of their breasts. Of those who were dissatisfied, 47.5% wanted bigger breasts.
If you are looking to get bigger boobs, below are some expert-approved methods from which you can choose.
However, it’s important to point out that having bigger boobs may give you a confidence boost, but that’s about all it can do for your health. And some of the ways to achieve larger breasts can come with risks. Here’s what you need to know.
Exercises for Bigger Boobs
Muscles called the pectorals lie underneath the fatty tissue of the breasts. By working out the pectorals and surrounding muscles, you can firm and tone them as well as improve your posture, both of which can give you the appearance of bigger breasts, says Anel Pla, a certified personal trainer at Simplexity Fitness.
However, be aware that these methods may not yield drastic results. If you’re looking to dramatically increase your cup size, see below for surgical options.
Here are three exercises Pla recommends for working your pectorals. She suggests doing three sets of eight to twenty reps twice a week for the best results.
Bench presses
Pla says bench presses are the best chest exercise for targeting the middle of your chest. “Because the main focus of this exercise is on the middle of your pec muscle, it pushes the middle of the boob forward, making it appear larger,” says Pla. Here is her step-by-step for doing a bench press.
- Start by lying back flat on a weight bench, keeping your feet firmly on the ground. Position yourself so that your head is directly underneath the bar.
- Press your upper back into the bench, so that your upper body is stable.
- Reach up and unrack the bar. Keep your arms straight as you bring the weight up directly over your chest. Your arms should be fully extended.
- Take a deep breath and lower the bar to your chest until it just touches.
- Pause for a second before pushing back up through the same controlled movement.
Incline dumbbell fly
This move isolates the chest muscles and hits the inner and outer sections of the pectorals, says Pla. Follow these steps to perform the exercise:
To best stimulate the upper chest, perform the exercises on a 30-45 degree incline bench.
- Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your arms straight and palms facing each other.
- With your chest up and a slight bend in your elbows, lower the weights out to the sides until you feel a good stretch across your chest, then raise them back to the start.
Decline Chest Press
This exercise has the potential to plump up the bottom of your chest with some additional muscle mass, since it works the muscle directly under the fullest part of the breast tissue, Plsa says. Follow these steps to perform the exercise:
- Perform the exercise on a 30-45 degree decline weight bench.
- Start by lying flat on the bench, keeping your feet fixed in the pads. Position yourself so that your head is directly underneath the bar, or you can use dumbbells.
- Press your upper back into the bench, so that your upper body is stable.
- Reach up and unrack the bar. Keep your arms straight as you bring the weight up directly over your chest. Your arms should be fully extended.
- Take a deep breath and lower the bar to your chest until it just touches.
- Pause for a second before pushing back up through the same controlled movement.
Surgical Ways to Get Bigger Boobs
If you want a drastic change in the size of your breasts and you are healthy enough for surgery, there are a few different procedures that are great options.
Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation is a type of breast enlargement surgery that involves inserting breast implants to increase the size of the breasts.
There are two different types of implants: saline and silicone, says Javad Sajan, MD, plastic surgeon at Allure Esthetic. Saline implants are filled with liquid saline solution, whereas silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel. These implants are typically placed behind the pectoral muscles.
This procedure can give you the most dramatic change in breast size compared to other surgical procedures. In fact, Sajan says patients can even increase their breast size by up to three cup sizes. Check with a plastic surgeon to see what a safe and realistic increase would be for you.
Breast lift
While a breast lift won’t directly increase the size of your breasts, it’s possible that a lift can create the illusion of having larger breasts, says Sajan.
“The primary function of a breast lift is to correct saggy breasts and reposition the nipple for a perkier, more youthful-looking breast,” says Sajan. The procedure involves removing extra skin and tissue that is causing the breast to sag and then repositioning this tissue.
Breast fat transfer
A breast fat transfer can give you some of the most natural-looking results, says Sajan.
However, not everybody is a good candidate for this procedure. First off, it’s only recommended for patients who want a modest augmentation (one to two cup sizes). Secondly, you need to have excess fat on your body.
Sajan says generally, qualified candidates will have one or two good harvest areas, most commonly the abdomen and the back. The fat will be harvested, purified, and then injected into the breasts.