Breast Implants: Q&A

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Is my Implant Bottoming Out?

I had breast augmentation done almost a year ago, and my left breast has always had the incision above my crease. It seems too low and outward. Is my implant bottoming out?

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20 Doctor Answers | Asked by MichelleDS in Indiana

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Are You "Bottoming Out?"

"Bottoming out" is the term used to describe a downward malposition of a breast implant, below the natural breast crease: the nipple seems to point upward the breast seems too low the upper pole of the breast lacks fullness an inframammary scar (crease incision) will seem to "move" higher on the breast, farther above the crease Do have your surgeon examine you to see if you are devloping a malposition that might require correction.... more

South of the Border?

Michelle, It indeed sounds as if your implant on the left has gone south of the border. This may be due to the technical creation of the implant pocket during your surgery or the effects of gravity, (more common with larger, heavier implants). If there is a significant asymmetry compared to the opposite breast you should consider having it fixed with an internal repair of the pocket. Most surgeons will perform this procedure with minimal or no cost if within a year of the initial... more

It might be, but we can't say for sure unless you are examined

Hi Michelle. The above answers are accurate and I agree with all of them. "Bottoming out" does happen with larger implants and with gravity. However, if your incision has ALWAYS been "high" and your nipple appears slightly higher than the center of the implant, then it is likely that the space created for the implant (pocket) was too low. The only real way to answer you is to look at both breasts and determine the cause of the high incision. Seek out a qualified plastic surgeon in Indiana... more

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It sounds like "bottoming out"

If you have a reasonably large and heavy implant, the chance of it migrating south below your crease is higher. This is what is meant by the implant bottoming out. It can be corrected by repairing the pocket but if it is large, the problem may recur. If it was below the crease from the start, there may have been a problem with how the pocket was made.

When Implants Cross The Line

Under most circumstances, Breast Augmentation through an inframammary fold incision is planned in such a way that the location of the incision should coincide with the eventual or planned level of the fold. If the implant now lies below the fold, and the incision appears to ride up onto the undersurface of the breast/implant, your implants may indeed be "bottoming-out". Larger, heavier breast implants especially, as well as those placed under the muscle, may have a greater tendency to... more

You may be right

Michelle, Sometimes after breast augmentation, the implants "settle." However, as you state, your problem has "always" been there. It sounds to me more like your implant was malpositioned from the beginning. However, without examining you and seeing your pre- and post-op photos, it is hard to tell for sure. At this point, you will likely need a revision surgery to reposition the implant. This can be done through the same incisions (assuming you either had a infra-mammary fold or... more

You are describing post breast augmentation ptosis

Ptosis describes the sagging of a breast. Almost all woman with breasts will experience some form of ptosis during their lifetime. Gravity is the number one reason. Pregnancy is another cause. As the breasts enlarge during pregnancy, the tissues stretch out and afterwards they will often not return to its original position. A third form of breast ptosis occurs as a result of the extra weight placed on the breasts from breast implants. What you are describing is none of these things- it is... more

Breast Implant Bottoming Out?

Thank you for the question. Based on your description of breast implants “too low and outward", you may be experiencing breast implant malposition ( bottoming out and lateral displacement). One of the most common complications after breast augmentation surgery is implant mal-position. This occurs when the implant is in an incorrect position on the chest wall. This may include incorrect position of the implant superiorly (“riding high”), inferiorly... more

Sound like the breast is bottoming out

“bottoming out” is the term used to describe the condition which occurs when the breast tends to look as if it has descended on the chest wall after previous surgery, whether the surgery involved implants, a lift, or a reduction. In the case of “bottomed out” implants, sutures can often be placed in the lower pole of the breast to re-elevate the breast on the chest wall. This is called a capsullorraphy and can achieve excellt results in... more

Bottoming out of breast implants

The only way to know for certain if your breast implant is bottoming out is to be examined by a board certified plastic surgeon. If this is the case, you may need a repair using a reconstructive tissue matrix, which is essentially a type of pig skin. This is also known as an acellular dermal matrix which can be sutured into place to reinforce the fold and maintain the breast implant position. Some commonly used products for this purpose are Alloderm and Strattice. Please see... more

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