Answers
"Five years ago I had saline breast implants inserted. Since then, I have decided that they are too large for my small frame. What are my options at this point to reduce them? What are the risks and recovery time second time around?"
— Answered by Richard A. D'Amico
Englewood, NJ
Assuming that the only issue is the size of your breasts, I will describe the options available to you. Other complicating situations like scar capsules (excessively "firm" breasts), implant displacement, or sagging of breast tissues would require additional surgical procedures.
Your implants could be removed under a light anesthetic -- either conscious sedation, or a light general anesthetic -- and new implants placed which you feel are more proportional to your body frame. Currently, most plastic surgeons use saline-filled implants. They can be placed either behind the breast tissue, or beneath the pectoralis muscle. For my patients, I prefer submuscular placement (beneath the pectoralis muscle), because this placement may interfere less with mammography and provides a natural-looking result.
