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Why Did One Of My Implants Never Settle? Was It Place It Too High?

asked 8 months ago by ras79 in Morganton, NC
Latest answer by David Bogue, MD
Question viewed 199 times
Tags: 3 years post-op, drop, placement

Three years ago, I had teardrop implants placed transaxillary. My left one never settled all the way, at my post-op my surgeon only recommended intensley massaging it. My question is: is there anything that can cause it to drop? Three years after, I still catch myself massaging it! Did he not place it low enough or is it because I'm left handed? I can flex my pec muscle and move my implant up on the left, the right one is perfect

8 answers to Why Did One Of My Implants Never Settle? Was It Place It Too High?

One implant didn't settle because it can't--it is textured and is fixed in place now!

Teardrop implants are textured because their shape means positioning is critical to achieve a "normal" appearance. (Imagine a teardrop implant upside down, for example!) Once the texture is "adherent" to the adjacent tissues, it does not move, and it is designed NOT to. Textured implants, BTW, should NOT be massaged, so if in fact you do have teardrop implants, they are almost certainly textured, and massage is nonsensical and should never have been recommended initially,... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Implants "settling" into the pocket

Unfortunately, sometimes one side settles into the pocket and one side doesn't. It is very common for one side to settle faster than the other but if you are 3 years out of surgery, things are not going to change with massage. I find that aggressive massage can help within the first year after surgery. Without examining you, I wouldn't be able to say what is happening but if one side is sitting higher than the other, you may benefit from revisionary breast surgery.... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Teardrop implants and position.

There are several reasons why your implant never "settled." Most likely, the pocket was not dissected to the correct position. Teardrop implants require precise pocket dissection and placement so that no rotation occurs with the device. Some surgeons will routinely use drains to eliminate any fluid accumulation to prevent implant rotation. Another possibility is capsular contraction, however this is usually an elevation of the implant from a previously lower position on the chest... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Breast implants

I would not expect the implant to move or settle after three years! I cannot comment on your surgery 3 years ago however if you want that implant to be lowered you will most likely require a surgical procedure to release the muscle or the fold

Stephen A. Chidyllo, MD
Red Bank Plastic Surgeon

Implant at Three Years

No I would not expect your implants to change at this late date and if one is too high then revision would be required. Photos and an exam by your plastic surgeon are required. Is one implant too low or is one too high. Lowering one implant is far easier than raising the other.

Richard Linderman, MD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

High breast implant after three years

If your implant has remained high after three years it is going to stay that way. The fact that the implant moves upward instead of down and outward suggests that the muscle and fold were not released and that your implant never really had a chance. The pocket must be released and revised to set things straight. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

Implant riding high

We commonly see implants somewhat high during the first several months after surgery. The implants usually drop, however. Now that you are 3 years out from surgery, I would not anticipate any improvement with massage. The cause of the asymmetry may never be determined. It may be due to problems with placement or with capsular contracture. If you developed a capsular contracture on the left side, it is likely to keep your implant riding high. I would... more

Eric T. Emerson, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

If your Implants are uneven 3 years post surgery,you would need surgery to correct it

You may had uneven breast before surgery and the implants have exaggerated the difference.Your before and after picture would have been helpful.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

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