Do Breast Implants Cause Stretch Marks?

Dear ...,Usually breast implant do not cause stretch marks.However, they can do that occasionally.It depends how big the implants were and how resilient your tissues were to accommodate the quick expansion of the volume.Typically those pink stretch marks become invisible after a period of time and are well-tolerated.Hope this was helpful,Dr Sajjadian

Breast implants can cause stretch marks, although it is unusual.  There are new creams that can be applied to the skin when the stretch marks are red and first start to appear.  We have found these creams are very useful and can prevent the stretch marks from becoming permanent. It is not possible to predict if you are going to get stretch marks after breast augmentation.  However, if you have other stretch marks, it indicates you may be at higher risk.

Thank you for your question.  While it is very rare for patients to develop stretch marks following a breast augmentation procedure, it can happen.  Stretch marks occur when there is a loss of skin resiliency paired with distension or stretching of the skin.  Stretch marks are actual tears within the dermis and often arise after rapid and excessive weight gain, significant and rapid growth spurts and commonly secondary to pregnancy.  As far as ways to tell if they can occur pre-operatively is concerned, it is very difficult to predict.  A prior history of stretch marks may be indicative of your skins tendency to develop stretch marks, but not all of the time.  For patients with pre-existing stretch marks, they can become more or less obvious after a breast augmentation.  I hope you find this helpful!

Usually, breast implants don’t create new stretch marks. If you already have stretch marks, implants might make them less noticeable, temporarily redden them and make them more visible, or not change them at all.

Stretchmarks may develop with larger implants, but if you don't have a tendency to develop them, then you may be okay. It's really genetic disposition and weight fluctuations that are big factors.

         When rapid expansion
of breast tissue occurs, the breast skin can be stretched resulting in the
development of stretch marks. This can occur with rapid weight gain, puberty
and pregnancy. In addition, placement of breast implants can cause this
phenomenon as well.

 

         Stretch marks
following breast augmentation are associated with several variables. Stretch
marks are more likely to occur when implants are placed on top of the muscle
where they impact the overlying skin directly. They are also more likely when
larger implants are utilized.

 

         The patient’s skin
characteristics are also important. Some patients have greater biologic
tendencies to form stretch marks. Stretch marks occur more frequently when
patients have tight skin envelopes as well.

 

         Unfortunately, once
stretch marks occur, not much can be done to minimize them, avoidance is the
best strategy. The use of moderate sized implants in a sub muscular position
usually minimizes the potential for this problem.

Thankfully, the answer to this question is “extremely unlikely,” but there are some factors patients need to understand that can affect their risks for stretch marks.
I have performed many hundreds of breast augmentations using all types and sizes of  breast implants for Scottsdale and Phoenix women and I can only remember 2 or 3 patients ever developing significant stretch marks as a direct result of surgery. Therefore, stretch marks are not a complication I usually worry about for my patients. However, I will assess a patient’s risk for stretch marks and advise her on how to lower the chances of developing skin irregularities.
For the most part, the tendency to form stretch marks is genetic. Stretch marks are caused by small rips in the deep layer of skin called the dermis. Once they occur, they can cause a red or pink appearance, or they can cause thinning of the overlying skin. Contrary to popular belief, cocoa butter and other ointments do not prevent stretch marks in people who are predisposed to forming them. Rapid expansion of skin in patients with poor skin elasticity and weak skin strength is the main factor.
Before breast augmentation, I assess each patient’s skin quality. Patients with thin, weak skin will not tolerate large implants as well as patients with strong, elastic skin. With these patients, I am more cautious about placing bigger implants, as they are at risk not only for stretch marks but also for skin stretching and drooping. The less weight the skin has to support, the better the breasts will hold up.
Patients who have a history of severe stretch marks on other areas of their bodies, such as the legs, buttocks or abdomen, are at higher risk for breast stretch marks (once again, because of genetic predisposition). I caution these patients about the risk so they can factor it into their decision about whether to have implants placed.
Ultimately, the risk for stretch marks is low, and those patients who get stretch marks with breast augmentation would also likely get them with breast growth during pregnancy. However, implant size and weight should certainly be factored into the decision-making process in patients with thinner and weaker skin. This is one of the many factors I evaluate in order to obtain the best results for my patients, and it is another reason why each surgery must be customized to the individual patient.

Although it would make sense that stretching the skin would cause stretch marks (striae), in fact I have not seen this in my more than 25 yrs of practice and experience with  thousands of breast augmentation patients. This however has been reported so is a very uncommon to rare occurrence. What I have seen however is existing white stretch marks become pink for several months afterwards and then fade. 

In general, unless you have excessively sized implants the breast implants do not cause stretch marks from pregnancy or growth.

 

Stretch marks are actually scars in the dermis.  Usually the skin stretches foo fast, and/or the skin resiliency will not allow the skin to stretch beyond a certain point.  Some predisposing factors may be;  Very large breast implants especially in a very young patient, (skin has not been stretched by pregnancy, etc).  Poor quality of skin.  Genetic predilection to stretch marks.  On the whole, it is very unlikely that placement of implants will cause stretch marks.