Will Large Implants Lead To A Bad Back?

Breast augmentation is a popular cosmetic procedure, and one of the most common requests at our Newport Beach plastic surgery office. Breast implants have the potential to completely change a woman’s self-esteem and confidence and are extremely popular in Orange County and Los Angeles. If your chest size has created stress in your life, breast augmentation is a smart option to consider.

Yet before you decide on the type of implant, you have to take your body, desires, and realistic outcomes into consideration, and one of the most important considerations is the total weight.

The Effects of Weight Imbalances on Posture and Health

Breast reductions are growing in popularity because large breasts are prone to causing back problems, back and neck pain, and more. Yet many women – and even some plastic surgeons – forget that the same issues can occur with implants as well.

Not long ago, researches in Italy completed a study to determine what effects breast implants could have on posture based on their weight. Women wore sports bras with pseudo-implants that varied in their total weight, including:

• • 300g (0.6 lbs)

  • 400g (0.9 lbs)

  • 800g (1.76 lbs)

Participants would switch bras on different days and be asked to perform the same tasks they would normally perform.

Results Indicate That Excess Weight Can Cause Strain Quickly

Logically, one would assume that the greater the weight, the more strain it would place on posture and lumbar support, and that turned out to be the case. However, what was interesting to researchers was that it didn’t take much weight to cause a significant change in posture. Although most women were able to successfully handle the 300g implants, the 400g implants showed an immediate increase in cervical lordosis that was steady all of the weight to the 800g implants.

Although 800g implants affected lumbar lordosis more than the 400g implants, and were certainly more likely to cause back problems and other long term issues, 400g implants were not much better – at least in the short term.

Should You Skip all Large Implants?

It’s important to keep in mind that the data doesn’t indicate that larger implants are necessarily going to cause significant issues in the long term. The body does have a way to adjust, and this study did not look at long term pain, posture, or success rates among those with larger implant sizes. Exercise and purpose can also play a role, as those that continue to exercise their back muscles and work on their posture, or benefit from large implants in their career, may find that larger breast implants still have several advantages that smaller implants do not.

Yet for those looking for cosmetic surgery that does not have a strong opinion about implant sizes and is looking to determine which size is going to both matches their needs and improve their life, it’s important to take the weight of the implants into consideration. For many, you may find that a slightly smaller size actually improves your life significantly more than a larger size could, as a result of improved posture and long term health in addition to the aesthetic changes.

Receive Expert Consultation on Breast Implants in Los Angeles and Orange County

Dr. Agha is proud to offer Newport Beach, and surrounding cities in Los Angeles and the OC with expert level consultations and support, so that you can ensure that you’re choosing the implant that makes the most sense based on your frame and goals. We’ll talk about the different size implants available, and determine which one combines the look you’re trying to achieve with the best fit for your body type.

If you’re interested in learning more about our breast augmentation services, call us today at (949)644-2442.