When I Lay Down my Chest is Flat and Implants Fall to the Outsides - is That Normal?

Its been over a year since my BA. I still would like them larger but that's another matter. When I lay down on my back, my implants fall to the sides of my chest and upward to my armpits. Can I have unintentionally widen out the pockets? Is this fixable? Should I even be concern about this because it's the norm? Can the pockets be made smaller so they don't go where they shouldn't?

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by marymarymary in sanantonio

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Implants falling to the side

When a patient without implants lies down, her breasts will shift sideways. The question is whether your implant pockets are too large and, if so,should you undergo capsulorraphy. A consultation would be necessary to evaluate whether your condition warrants further surgery. It is unlikely that you did anything to contribute to widening of the pockets.

Implants drifting into armpit when laying down usually indicates the pocket is overdissected on the side (laterally)

Hello, What you are describing is often the result of a breast implant pocket that has been over dissected laterally (on the side). How much dissection is overdissection can vary but implants sliding into the armpit when laying down is a fairly good indication. This is rarely the result of something the patient has done. The most common source is over dissection of the pocket during surgery. The pocket can be repaired by suturing it to the appropriate amount. All the best, Dr Repta more

Lateral location of the implants

It is normal for breasts/implants to move to sides when we lay flat. However, it is not normal to have implants fall off the chest and into the arm pits. This is due to implants stretching on the implant pocket because of the weight of implants and stretching of the muscle. This can be fixed with placing sutures laterally to decrease the pocket. Please talk with your plastic surgeron for limitations of surgery and possible recurrence of the problem. more

This isn't unusual.

What you're experiencing is that the pockets that your implants sit in have stretched a bit to the side allowing your implants to shift over when gravity allows it. This can be corrected if it really bothers you by closing the lateral pocket (the part that is most to the side.)

Breast "flow"

A little movement of the breasts to the sides when you are laying down is normal and natural, but if your implants are sliding that far, it is too much. One reason may be that the pocket is too large and needs to be reduced. This is done by placing rows of sutures along the edges to make it smaller. This is not as easy as it sounds especially if there is a lot of space that needs to be closed up. Sometimes the sutures don't hold. More recently the use of... more

Implants Falling into the armpit

Yes, this happens to many patients.... yes, it is fixable. The procedure is called capsulorrhaphy (internal bra) when a surgeon would go in and place permanent sutures to improve the implant placement on the patient's chest wall. Not all surgeon's do this procedure so please check the experience of the surgeon you go to. You may be able to increase the implant size at the same time (1 surgical procedure) but without examination, it's difficult to say.... more

When I Lay Down my Chest is Flat and Implants Fall to the Outsides - is That Normal?

Yes you can improve the position by further surgery. It is called an open capsulorraphy. Best to discuss in detail with your surgeon.

Is it normal for the implants to go to the sides when laying down? Is this fixable?

Because of the curved shape of the chest wall, when you are in a supine ( laying down) position the gravity pull the implants or natural breasts down to each side. Evidently the larger the breasts or the implants there is more gravitational pull. The same way, when you are in standing position the breasts or the implants are pulled down. With implants the capsules( pocket-scar around the implants) can gradually stretch and become larger on the side. You can aggravate this... more

Breast implants falling to the outsides

There is often a fine line between what is expected or normal postoperative appearance and what is unusual. All breast tissue and implants will move with different positions (unless there is a lot of hard scar tissue), but the extent of how far is what really matters. Without an examination, it's difficult to say whether it is "normal" or not - and the real question is whether the movement bothers you. I would recommend you ask your plastic surgeon to evaluate... more

When I Lay Down my Chest is Flat and Implants Fall to the Outsides - is That Normal?

Saline breast implants have a much greater tendency than silicone gel devices to fall to the side when the patient lies down. This 'fall-out' usually develops over a couple of years after surgery. This is due to the saline implant's greater weight, as well as to its generally thinner scar tissue capsule compared to silicone gel implants. Also, implants that have been placed under the muscle are subject to the downward and outward push of the pectoralis muscles. This... more