What should I do....please help

Starshine1967 · 10-30-2009, 04:43 AM

Hi Dr Wallach,

5 months ago I had my breast augmentation here in New Zealand and at my last consultation with my surgeon we agreed on Mentor, over the muscle, anatomical breast implants. The sizes were 350 L and 375 R because my right breast was just a little smaller than my left but you really couldn't tell that there was much of a difference. Now this where the story gets crazy.

On the day of my surgery my surgeon wrote on my chest 350cc L and 380cc R. I wasn't going to make an issue out of 5cc's so went into surgery thinking all would be okay. After a week of having my implants in, I started to get suspicious that the left implant was much smaller than the right and the difference was staring me in the face every time I looked in the mirror, so when I went back for my follow up several weeks later I asked my surgeon to confirm what size implant he had put into my left breast.

To my dismay and horror he told me that he had placed a 330cc into my left breast. Oh my goodness, I couldn't believe it and this whole experience has been a nightmare. My surgeon's reason for the 330cc in my left breast instead of a 350cc as we had agreed, was that the Mentor range don't come in 350cc's and he didn't even bother to tell me this before my surgery.
I have since been to a second surgeon on my surgeon's request who has written up a report to say that the left breast implant should be removed and a matching size implant of 380cc be implanted and I am about to go into negotiations with my surgeon to fix the problem. On top of this, I also have rippling but only when I bend forward or lay on my side.

My question to you is this:
Now that it's been 5 months and the right breast has settled and will still be settling for at least another 7 months, should I have BOTH breast implants removed and replaced with the same sized implant because I am very afraid that if only the left implant is replaced it won't catch up with the right implant that has been there already for 6 months.

Dr, I am so confused and really need some advice. I never dreamt that this would ever happen and it's been such an emotional rollercoaster for me and my husband because he has to listen to me moaning about it. Thank you for reading my story and I hope to hear from you soon

sgwallachmd · 10-31-2009, 10:42 AM

Just replace the left one, and be patient.

Starshine1967 · 10-31-2009, 04:59 PM

Thank you Dr Wallach for your advice.

10-30-2009, 04:43 AM	#1
Starshine1967 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New Zealand Posts: 14 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	What should I do....please help Hi Dr Wallach, 5 months ago I had my breast augmentation here in New Zealand and at my last consultation with my surgeon we agreed on Mentor, over the muscle, anatomical breast implants. The sizes were 350 L and 375 R because my right breast was just a little smaller than my left but you really couldn't tell that there was much of a difference. Now this where the story gets crazy. On the day of my surgery my surgeon wrote on my chest 350cc L and 380cc R. I wasn't going to make an issue out of 5cc's so went into surgery thinking all would be okay. After a week of having my implants in, I started to get suspicious that the left implant was much smaller than the right and the difference was staring me in the face every time I looked in the mirror, so when I went back for my follow up several weeks later I asked my surgeon to confirm what size implant he had put into my left breast. To my dismay and horror he told me that he had placed a 330cc into my left breast. Oh my goodness, I couldn't believe it and this whole experience has been a nightmare. My surgeon's reason for the 330cc in my left breast instead of a 350cc as we had agreed, was that the Mentor range don't come in 350cc's and he didn't even bother to tell me this before my surgery. I have since been to a second surgeon on my surgeon's request who has written up a report to say that the left breast implant should be removed and a matching size implant of 380cc be implanted and I am about to go into negotiations with my surgeon to fix the problem. On top of this, I also have rippling but only when I bend forward or lay on my side. My question to you is this: Now that it's been 5 months and the right breast has settled and will still be settling for at least another 7 months, should I have BOTH breast implants removed and replaced with the same sized implant because I am very afraid that if only the left implant is replaced it won't catch up with the right implant that has been there already for 6 months. Dr, I am so confused and really need some advice. I never dreamt that this would ever happen and it's been such an emotional rollercoaster for me and my husband because he has to listen to me moaning about it. Thank you for reading my story and I hope to hear from you soon

10-31-2009, 10:42 AM	#2
sgwallachmd Certified by the ABPS Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York, New York Posts: 1,534 Thanks: 1 Thanked 633 Times in 504 Posts	Just replace the left one, and be patient. __________________ Steven Wallach, MD, FACS www.stevenwallachmd.com

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10-31-2009, 04:59 PM	#3
Starshine1967 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New Zealand Posts: 14 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thank you Dr Wallach for your advice.