Edge of Implant Feels Like a Squishy Bump on Side of Breast

At 3.5 mos. post-op I felt a small bump on the side of my breast near my armpit, @ the time my implant dropped. I saw my GYN for my annual appt.2 wks prior and it wasn't there. I immed. saw my PS and he said it was the edge of my implant and wasn't concerned. Why did this happen?

Will the implant eventually slip out of the pocket? Will the bump ever go away? I can pop it in & out. Is there any harm in having it? I had a mammogram before my sx and it was clear. I have silicone under the muscle.

Tags:

Comment on this

8 Doctor Answers | Asked by swimchick in San Francisco CA

Doctor Answers (8)
Community Comments (0)

BUMP IN BREAST IMPLANTS THAT CAN BE FELT? WHAT IS IT? What to do?

This is an edge of the gel implant. Every plastic surgeon has seen this occur. I have seen it in my own patients. Sometimes it does go away and some times it does not. I have had patients massage it around and out and gone but sometimes it just stays there. Why does this occur in some breasts and not in others. The edge feel is one of the big complaints in saline implants but generally was not to occur in gel. It does occur unfortunately. ... more

"Bump" on side of breast from implant is not a concern.

But it bothers you enough for you to keep "fiddling" with it, doesn't it? You implant pocket is well-healed (though not completely matured and softened) at 3 1/2 months post-op. With more time, this may settle, but it will definitely NOT do so if you keep "popping it in and out." Your implant pocket may have a small "tear" or hernia in the tissue layers here, and the bump is the implant protruding through that internal area of relative weakness. It is of... more

Edge of implant

It is hard to say without seeingb you. More than likely it is the edge of the implant. It is under the muscle, so when you contract the muscle you will feel more of the implant out to the side. This is normal. I assume you are quite slim. A heavy person does not feel it so much.

Feeling your breast implant

Hello, Generally being able to feel your implant toward the armpit is not uncommon seeing as there is less muscular coverage as you move toward the armpit. Have you plastic surgeon comment on the other larger issues, but they are not usually a problem with a well done operation in the right hands. Best Regards, John Di Saia MD

Implant palpability

Certainly in some positions most implants are palpable. As you were concerned it was smart to have it checked out by your surgeon.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Likely cause of the "Squishy Bump"

The most likely cause for the "squishy bump" you have described is a small fold in the surface of your implant. The point at which the fold ends usually feels like a "corner". It is not dangerous, but can be annoying if it becomes visible. A common cause for a fold to develop in the implant is scar contracture, e.g., the thin layer of scar tissue that surrounds the implant may have contracted or shrunk, squeezing gently on the implant. Such folds may or may not... more

Edges of the implant on the side or under the breast

Even with submuscular coverage the side and the bottom of the implant is not covered by the muscle. Unless there is good tissue coverage it will be possible to feel the edges of the implant where the muscle does not hide it. Folding or ripples, though much less than with a saline implant, still do occur. The implant will not slip out of the pocket, and there is no harm in feeling the edge. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Feeling the edge of a breast implant

Without an exam this can only be discussed in generality but the implant is not under the muscle laterally, and in an athletic slender patient it is not uncommon to feel the edge of the implant laterally or inferiorly. It would be worse if you had saline.