Woman claims to have Europe's biggest breasts, but when does boob size become dangerous?

<i>When it comes to breasts, bigger isn’t always better [Photo: Getty]</i>
When it comes to breasts, bigger isn’t always better [Photo: Getty]

A German glamour model claims to have Europe’s biggest breasts.

28-year-old Martina Big says her breasts are now a size 32S after receiving special implants that can be further ‘pumped up’ with saline injections.

She recently appeared on hit surgery show Botched, asking cosmetic surgeons Paul Nassif and Terry Dubrow for a bum to match her huge breasts.

The doctors quickly burst her unrealistic bubble, demonstrating the dangers of having too large a bum implant.

With more and more young people feeling the pressure to look ‘perfect’, how big is too big when it comes to breasts?

For a lot of small-chested women, opting for extremely large breasts is a way of making up for the shame and embarrassment they may have felt growing up.

But doctors stress the need for patients to be made aware of the risks and consequences of large implants, saying smaller breasts look more natural, will last longer and have a much lower risk of complications.

“Making breasts larger often creates problems. Rather than enhancing the individual’s shape, the implants become too large for their frame and supporting soft tissues,” says leading plastic surgeon Douglas McGeorge.

<i>In America, the maximum recommended implant size currently stands at 800cc [Photo: AP]</i>
In America, the maximum recommended implant size currently stands at 800cc [Photo: AP]

Breast implants are measured in cubic centimetres (cc). Every 150-200cc equals roughly one-and-a-half cup sizes. (However, this can vary according to an individual’s breast tissue and chest width.)

The aforementioned model, Martina Big, has 3700cc of saline in each breast. Weighing roughly 9lbs, her breasts are way over the recommended maximum amount of 800cc (according to FDA guidelines).

There is no perfect size for a woman, says Tenessee-based plastic surgeon Dr. David Reath. On his blog, he notes that the volume of implants chosen two decades ago rarely went above 300cc.

Nowadays, it’s a different story. But Dr. Reath stresses that every individual is unique, saying “a 350cc implant could be too large for a very petite woman and not nearly large enough for a very tall woman with a broad chest. However, it’s rare to need implants larger than 450 to 500cc in most women.”

He also adds that going larger than a C or D cup will result in an ill-fitting look for a lot of women due to their breasts now being out of proportion to the rest of their body.

Not only will it result in an off-kilter look but there are several health-based reasons why a large breast implant can be a bad idea.

<i>Larger breast implants can suffer from drooping, rippling and folding [Photo: Getty]</i>
Larger breast implants can suffer from drooping, rippling and folding [Photo: Getty]

A typical breast enlargement surgery will take around 60 to 90 minutes and will usually result in a little pain, swelling and bruising as well as a tight feeling in the chest.

More serious problems that can result from breast surgery include rotating implants, rippling of the implant and not being able to breastfeed. Many of these risks are more common with larger implants.

However, the scariest prospect is the implant rupturing. If a silicone implant (which is most commonly used in the UK) ruptures, it can cause small tender lumps – known as siliconomas – in the breast. This will lead to the implant having to be removed.

If a saline implant is used, rupturing will not cause too much of a problem as saline can be safely absorbed and passed out of the body.

An oversized implant is also likely to cause sagging in the breasts (“gravity only works one way” says one doctor) simply due to it being too heavy for a person’s body. This will cause skin and tissue to stretch out and can result in asymmetrical breasts, requiring further surgery.

Day-to-day life can also become a chore; as can finding a supportive bra and clothes in general. Anyone with a penchant for exercising will find it difficult and may experience shoulder and neck pain regularly.

If you have had breast augmentation and feel your breasts are too big, you may want to consider having your implants replaced with smaller ones. However, you will need to wait at least six to 12 months to ensure all the swelling has gone down.

“Bigger is not better and all augmentations must respect the tissues of the body,” finishes McGeorge. Wise words from an expert.

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