by Terrye Tebbetts

I am always amazed when I hear these types of stories, yet I shouldn’t be – because unfortunately it happens all the time.  A woman decides to have breast implants – goes into it not fully knowing and understanding all the issues and all of the sudden is entertaining the idea of operation number FOUR…….this is a prime example of why balancing what we WANT with what we can REALISTICALLY have is so important.  Having breast implants can be a wonderful experience – a change in your body achieved in no other way possible….but there are limits.  Understanding those limits and having a plastic surgeon that will be honest with you about those limits is the key to a happy ending.

Question -

I think this is pre-op? I have hated my saline from day 1. I got them done 4 years ago and tried 2 revisions. Nothing made me happy, I was a barely A and got 420cc saline. Awful- barely a C and it sucks trying to find a bra. I have a wide chest and pretty much ZERO tissue. They look like tennis balls sticking out. They kept sliding out of the pockets so my ps stitched the pockets down. They suck, very ripply, don’t move, can’t be pushed up for sexy cleavage. I’ve had 3 other consults. I’m 5″5, 135. Runner, & kickboxing girl. I was looking into Moderate Plus Silicone after visiting my ps yesterday. I’m not sure what size to get.
ASAP, I’m going on a cruise to Mexico next month.

Answer -

I think the most important thing whenever having surgery – whether it is your first surgery or your fourth – as this would be for you, is to honestly outline what you expect to get from having surgery.

Above you mention that they are not big enough, yet you have zero tissue and what you have now look like tennis balls, the size of the implant and over dissected pockets let them move too much, they are showing visible rippling, they don’t move (so this can be from capsular contracture)……which of these things bothers you most and what are you hoping to correct if you have surgery?

I also get the impression that you are hoping that simply by changing from saline to silicone these issues will get better – is that what you are thinking now?

I am really sorry that you have had to go through so much with implants – but before you jump into any more surgery – I would encourage you to be honest with yourself about what you expect and find a surgeon who will be honest with you about what he or she can fix.

For example  – 420 cc saline implants in a thin, no tissue, runner type is enough to cause the stuck on look, the rippling (from traction (weight) as well as the saline filler) and an implant that is too big can add to the over dissected pockets and allow excess movement…….so if you are trying to solve those problems with a BIGGER implant – - you may find yourself in an even bigger pickle.

Define what you hope to fix – what you WANT out of this next operation.  Then meet with the surgeon again and make him or her address those issues specifically and give you an estimate – based on their experience – of how successful they have been at correcting the issues that concern you.

We only get so much tissue in life – destroying it is not an option.

About the Author: Terrye Tebbetts is one of the most knowledgeable women in the world about breast implants, with 27 years of experience educating patients and 11 years as a patient herself. For more information about breast implants or breast augmentation Dallas surgeons, please visit www.thebestbreast.com.