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10 Year Old Implants: Too Far Apart and Rippling - Can They be Fixed?

I have 10 yr old saline, under muscle implants. I've nursed three children. If I get them redone, can they make them closer together? They are so spread apart they are almost under my armpits. Can this be fixed? I want to avoid a lift, is that possible? Does it cost more to have them redone? What kind would you suggest? Thank you.

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19 Doctor Answers | Asked by runnermomof3

Doctor Answers (19)
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Wide Set Implants Can Be Improved

To improve the position of the implants and prevent them from drifting toward your armpits, the size and shape of the implant pockets (the space in which the implants are sitting) need to be changed. Closing the sides of the pockets will bring the breasts toward the center of your chest and prevent the excess drifting toward the armpit when you lie back. Using an internal support will be an important part of success and preventing recurrence. This is done with a graft... more

Breast implant revision

You will need wider (gel) implants than you have to get closer to the midline and make cleavage plus you need the lateral pockets closed off so the implants don't drift out there again. This is not for the rookie surgeon so please go the the best and most experienced surgeon in your area. It will not be cheap but it should be worth it.

Breast implant revision?

Thank you for the question and picture. Yes I think you will have an excellent results with revisionary breast augmentation surgery. This may involve removal of your current breast implants, capsulorraphy (repair of lateral aspect of each breast implant pocket with permanent sutures), possible use of allograft laterally if rippling is severe, and re-augmentation with silicone gel implants. Before undergoing revisionary breast surgery it will be very important to communicate your... more

Implants placed too far apart and has rippling

Usually saline implants needs to be changed every ten years, for several reasons. But in this case, the implants are too widely placed and this is a skinny patient. In this case, the pockets need to be revised. The implants need to be moved more medially and preferentially silicone gel implants needs to be placed under the muscle to help with rippling.

Rippling saline implants

This is actually not that unusual of problem. Most of us who do breast surgery have seen patients like you. My biggest issue with your situation is how thin you are and how much laxity there is in your skin envelope. Unless you go to a bigger implant ( I do not recommend), this is going to be tough to correct without a lift and removal of some of that skin to tighten your skin envelope. Changing your implant pocket and going from saline to silicone with a mastopexy to... more

Implants too far apart

Some correction of your problem can be afforded by revision of the implant capsules by plicating the lateral pockets and expanding the inner pockets. Because you have minimal breast tissue and need to keep the implants under the pectoralis muscle, you will be limited in the degree of medial positioning of the implant and may have a bit more space between the breasts than you would find ideal. I would also suggest using silicone gel implants due to your thinness, which... more

Implant revision

I would advise gel implants under the muscle and a pocket modification either with capsulorraphy stitches or accelular dermis such as Alloderm or Strattice depending on the thickness of your tissues. I don't think you would need a lift. This will not be less expensive or easier that your original surgery. Revisional surgery is always tricky.

Breast implant revision

Different things could be done to improve your appearance. You may need some tightening in order to change the shape of your breasts. It is difficult to really tell just by the one photo. Changing the implants from under the muscle and using silicone implants should also help with ripples and positioning of them.

Implants Under the Armpits can often be Improved

I feel you can get breast that are closer together and less "under the armpits" From your pictures, it appears as though your implant pockets are too far to the sides. Conceptually, this is pretty simple to address, however, we must still respect the native position of your breasts. From the position of your nipples, the breasts to appear to be "wide set" on your chest. I'd estimate from your pictures that a breast lift could be avoided at this time. My... more

Breat implant revision with acellular dermal matrix

Based on your photos I would recommend using a synthetic skin substitute which is also called Strattice. This will make it easier to recreate a new pocket and relocate your implants. Best wishes, Dr.Bruno

Implant Rippling and Malposition

Hello Colorado962, From looking at your photo, I believe you can have your wishes come true. Assuming your implants are not firm, a combination of capsule sewing called capsulorrhapy in the lower and outer sides of the pocket, and capsule openning called capsulotomy in the upper and inner sides of the pocket will be necessary to revise the pocket shape and improve implant position on your chest wall. New implants should be replaced, and preferably with silicone gel filled... more

Revision implant surgery for unnatural space between breasts

There are different terms for describing the problem of breasts too far apart, and different contributing factors. One thing that is very important in preventing it and in correcting the problem is selecting implants of the right diameter. When the pocket doesn't provide enough support on the sides, then the implants move apart. In some cases the correction is fairly simple, such as suturing up the pocket on the side (called a capsulorrhaphy) and creating space for the implants to move... more

Implant revision

You certainly could have a revision of your implants with adjustment of your pockets to close them down laterally.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Remove and replace

This problem can be corrected with removal and replacement. You would need to exchange your old implants with new memory gel implants with a different profile and correct the pocket.

Widely spaced rippling breast implants

Your chest is very broad and your breast naturally is widely spaced. The breast implants must be centered on the nipple to 'look right'. The thin cover and ripple calls for a silicone gel breast implant and we would favor a lower profile to give a wide base diameter which will provide in turn more cleavage or inner fill. A high profile implant will look like balls on your chest and are best avoided. During the repair the side of the capsule can be closed to keep the breast and... more

What to do for your breasts?

Dear Colorado, the good news is it can be fixed and I believe the repair is fairly straight forward. That doesn't equate with simple however. If I am correct your breasts fall even further apart when you lie down, almost to the point of looking flat chested. So we know your lateral pocket is too large and you have rippling that is fairly severe. You don't tell me if you can move the implants medially (towards the breast bone if you have a push up bra on.... more

10 Year Old Implants: Too Far Apart and Rippling - Can They be Fixed?

Yes your issues can be addressed by a boarded PS. Make some in person appointments. I recommend a lateral capsulorraphy or tighten by suture and/or ACELLULAR DERMAL MATRICE. Release of medical capsule, Insertion of a HP implant of chosen size. Best from MIAMI

10 year old implants

It is possible to correct this situation, but it is not easy. You will need larger, wider implants to decrease the space between your breasts, silicone gel implants will give you better results than saline. I agree with Dr. Rand he is giving you good advise.

Implants wide and rippling

Y ou have saline implants, so we know they are intact. You also are thin, and do not have a thick layer of tissue covering your breast implants. Although it is difficult to determine from the photos, I think they are sitting a couple centimeters lower than ideal. First, with regards to the rippling, a change to silicone implants should result in lower rippling, especially in those that have a thinner layer of breast and muscle tissue over the breast. Second, The implants are... more