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Do Implants Move or Change Shape After Pregnancy?

asked 3 years ago by Jai in Louisville, KY
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 2,213 times
Tags: after pregnancy, pregnancy

I had breast augmentation, under the muscle, using saline smooth shelled implants 8 years ago. I had a child three years ago and my implants are now visible through the skin with rippling and the left implant seems to have shifted slightly causing mild aching. Does it sound like these need to be replaced or is this all normal?

15 answers to Do Implants Move or Change Shape After Pregnancy?

Breast tissue and skin changes after pregnancy

The breast tissue and skin itself changes after pregnancy because of the homonal fluctuations. After breast feeding the tissues involute and the skin is stretched and thinner. I would advise waiting until about 6 months (or later depending upon your childcare situation) after the completion of breast feeding to undergo an exchange to siicone responsive gel implants, with or without a lift depending upon your anatomy. Good luck, Dr. Walden

Jennifer Walden, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon

Pregnancy and nursing change the breasts

A woman's breast will change following pregnancy and nursing and time alone. Following pregnancy and nursing, breast will enlarge and engorge, and then will atrophy or involute. This will leave the breast 'droopier' and thinner, and can cause the nipple to descend. If you are thin to start with and have little breast tissue, you will notice that you can feel the implant much more. This is especially common with saline implants where rippling can be noticed. You should visit your... more

Sanjay Grover MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

What has changed is your own tissue

Preganacy causes many changes in the breast tissue and that is more likey the cause of the differences you see rather than any implant change. If you are unhappy with your current status and if you are done having children, you might consider having surgery to improve the result.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Replace the implants only if they look bad or feel uncomfortable

To Jai, Hi! Pregnancy does not cause implants to change, but the passing of 8 years can cause change. In any case, you do not have a medical problem. If you find your breasts attractive enough, leave things alone.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Implants Change after Pregnancy?

Thank you for the question. Breast implants do not necessarily change position or shape after pregnancy. However, the overlying breast tissue and/or skin does often change. The exact change the specific patient will experience during or after pregnancy is not predictable. Some common changes seen with the breasts after pregnancy include " involutional hypoplasia" (breasts become smaller) and/or breast ptosis (" drooping"). The changes the... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant issues

Rippling of the implant is more common in very thin patients with poor soft tissue coverage. Over filled salines may improve the rippling or possible exchange to silicone gel implants or even adding another layer of coverage such as Alloderm.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

The implants don't change so much, but the breast does

It is very common to have major changes after pregnancies in the breast area. Typically the breasts get engorged and then involute later. This causes stretching in the skin and change of nipple position. The changes you describe are not uncommon but many different changes and severity of changes can occur. I think that you can get some of these issues resolved with a revisional surgery. Make sure you are finished with your family first. All the best.

Talmage J. Raine, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

All bets are off after pregnancy

Anything can happen during pregnancy. Implants can get hard. Breast tissue can shrink or enlarge. The important question is: do your breasts look like what you would like them to and, if not, are you motivated enough to do something about them? If you are satisfied, then you can leave them alone since cosmetic surgery is completely elective. If you see things you do not like, visit a plastic surgeon and see what options you might have.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Your breasts have changed, the implants are probably unchanged

Hello, Pregnancy causes a great number of changes in a woman's body. As the pregnancy progresses, the breasts and milk ducts enlarge in preparation for breast feeding. Once the baby is born, the process of breast feeding causes a daliy filling and emptying of the breasts. Once breast feeding stops, the breasts sometimes lose some of the firmness and actual size that they had before preganancy. The end result can be a thinner envelope around your breast implants, which can now be palpated... more

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

The body changes with pregnancy

The breast and implant may have indeed shifted downward as a result of the pregnancy and engorgement of the breasts. After pregnancy, the breast tends to loose glandular tissue, and so there is less padding over the implant- ergo, you may now have ripples, and feel the implant. You should not have pain, however. This may be a sign of a contracture. My advice is to check with your doctor. The reasons to have surgery would be pain or dissatisfaction with the appearance. Your surgeon will... more

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Loss of breast volume is the problem

It is possible that two things are happening. Following a pregnancy some breasts lose volume making the implant more palpable. It is also possible that you have developed a degree of capsular contracture this may be causing some of the displacement of the implant and your pain. Both of these conditions are not totally unusual following a pregnancy. An evaluation by a plastic surgeon will give you options for restoring the size and shape of your breasts. This most likely will include a... more

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Implants do not change, your skin does

Jai, Implants to not change with pregnancy. However, your skin may change with pregnancy. In response to the hormonal changes in your body during pregnancy, your skin responds just like all of the other parts of your body. To this effect, the skin may be looser, thinner, etc. You may need to have an adjustment surgery, but it is not due to the implants. It is more likely due to your changing body. Good luck with your surgery.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Implants do not change after pregnancy

Implants do not change due to pregnancy. Your breast, however, does. The volume of your breast, the skin tone, and the shape can all be affected by pregnancy changes that occur. The first thing you mentioned was visibility of your implant now and seeing rippling - that is likely due to loss of breast volume which can happen for some women specially if you have also lost weight. Once you have less volume, there is less coverage over the implant and therefore you can see the implant easier... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

The implants don't change, but the tissue around them can

Hello, Pregnancy comes with weight gain followed (usually) by loss and breast swelling due to milk letdown that also settles later on. These changes can stretch the breast's skin envelope as the tissues are swollen followed by relaxation after the swelling comes down and the weight is lost. This changes the shapes of breasts, those with and without implants in them.

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

This a normal change

You have lost fat from your breast after pregnancy. You may need to have examination by your plastic surgeon if your implant causing discomfort. You may need breast lift or revision of the implant pockets.