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Why Does my Breast Look Deformed when I Flex the Muscle?

asked 1 year ago by Sacramento9219 in Sacramento
Latest answer by Sam M Sukkar, MD
Question viewed 2,064 times
Tags: deformed, flexing, muscle

I am one year post-op. My right breast looks deformed when flexed. Why does this happen? How complicated is the revision surgery to correct this issue?

8 answers to Why Does my Breast Look Deformed when I Flex the Muscle?

+3

Muscle flexion deformity and double bubble with implants: how to correct

Your problem is unfortunately common and preventable. It is caused by the release of the pectoral muscle attachment from the ribs, which is routine but the edge of the muscle then heals into the scar capsule. When you flex you can see exactly where the muscle is pulling up. The groove across the breast, where the myuscle is attached, then creates the double bubble. The simplest method to correct it is conversion to a split muscle technique. There are photos on my website illustrating how... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+2

Under the muscle

The deformity caused by placing a breast implant under the muscle is worse than any potential implant visibility of a silicone implant placed above the muscle. Silicone implants above the muscle rarely cause visibility issues. All of my patients are shown a video of sub muscular breast implant animation deformity. After viewing the grotesque shape of the breast and the fact that the implants get pulled away from the midline decreasing cleavage, they almost all choose silicone above the... more
Sam M Sukkar, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2

Muscle flexion

What you are experiencing is  the pectoralis muscle contracting. This can happen with submuscular implants. Some say releasing the muscle more may help..but I am not sure. The only way to improve this is to place the implants in a subglandular pocket, but this may predispose you to more rippling.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

Muscle contraction deformities after breast implants

Pectoralis Major muscle contraction deformities can be a significant complication after submuscular augmentation mammoplasty in a small percentage of cases.  Unfortunately you are one of those few.  It can always be corrected by converting your augmentation to an above the muscle implant relocation.  But why give up the many benefits of below the muscle implant placement, such as the more natural look above your nipples, and lower contracture rate.   I have also... more
Raymond A. Capone, Jr., MD

Pittsburgh Plastic Surgeon
+2

You have detached inframmary fold and uneven pectoralis muscle release

Your pictures show a detached pectoralis muscle and infra-mammary fold tissue from the chest wall and implant migration. This is a hard problem to fix and may require more than one surgery to fix it. Looking back to your original surgery,you had too much sagging and there were a need for a lift. The treatment will need to involve replacing the implants,reattaching the infra-mammary ligaments and possible lift. The other option is to remove you implants and do lift and fat grafting at the... more
Kamran Khoobehi, MD

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+2

Deformity of the breast caused by muscle contraction compressing breast implant

What you are seeing is your pectoralis major muscle contracting and compressing the underlying breast implant causing the deformity. This is one drawback for submuscular implants but at the same time it is this type of actions which helps keep the rate of capsular contracture lower versus above the muscle. The extent of the deformity can often be decreased by a partial release of the muscle and muscle fibers which reduces the force of contraction.
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast Augmentation and Muscle Deformity

When the implant is placed under the muscle, the muscle can attach to the capsule around the implant and cause this effect.  This is a difficult problem to correct, but the advantages of placement under the muscle are lower rates of capsular contracture and other problems.
Jeff Scott, MD

Everett Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast shape change with under the muscle breast implants

What you are experiencing in your breast augmentation is a deforming effect the chest muscle will have on the breast when the chest muscle is flexed firmly. Relax the muscle and the breast looks fine. This is the drawback in under the muscle breast augmentation. The reason we do this however is the better contour and coverage of the implant, and lower capsular contracture rate. If you are greatly bothered and can handle the risk of a visible upper implant edge, the implants can be safely... more
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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