Lump After Breast Augmentation with Saline Implants Doctor Answers, Tips

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Lump after breast augmentation

Hello, Any new lumps or masses that are discovered after a breast augmentation should be inverstigated to make sure that they are not malignant. This would start by your plastic surgeon and/or primary care doctor examining you and obtaining either a mammogram or other comparable radiographic study. If there is still some doubt about what the mass is a stereotactic biopsy with a needle may be performed by a radiologist to obtain a small specimen sample. There is... more

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

www.aaaplasticsurgery.com

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Breast mass should always be investigated

I am so glad you asked this question, as it has vast implications for all women. A breast mass should always be investigated regardless of the circumstances. More than likely, the “lump” that you have detected is related to the breast augmentation. Please return to your treating plastic surgeon for a thorough evaluation, diagnostic tests, and imaging to establish an accurate diagnosis. Best of luck! I hope this helps.

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

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Any breast mass should be checked out

2timesD, Any new mass or lump in the breast should be checked out. There should not be any "water bubble" from your implants. Without seeing a picture, it is hard to give you specific advice. However, you may be feeling your implant protrude from under the muscle, but we would need more clinical information to know for sure. In any case, you should go back to your surgeon and have a thorough breast exam.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

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Masses post-op

New lumps after breast augmentation must be investigated and ruled out for malignancy. Most of these masses wind up being benign but they should be investigated. Steps to figure out the nature of the lesion could be as benign as an ultrasound. The mass may represent a resolving hematoma or, in rarer circumstances, an isolated seroma - however no breast mass should ever be ignored. See you plastic surgeon soon. I hope this helps.

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

www.trivalleyplasticsurgery.com

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Breast lump following breast augmentation

Any new lump in the breast should be evaluated as soon as possible by a qualified physician. When a breast implant is present, the lump could represent a number of implant-specific issues, such as an implant edge, ripple, fold, or valve. However, it might not be any of these things and may require more investigation. Make sure that you see your doctor as soon as possible to determine if further workup is appropriate.

Amy M. Sprole, MD
Wichita Plastic Surgeon

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Lump post breast augmentation with saline implants

Seek your surgeon immediately to evaluate this 'lump" . It could be so many things. Even a mammogram might be in order. From MIAMI Dr. B

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

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Lump after saline implants

Lumps after breast augmentation can be many things - the implants themselves, fat necrosis, retained sutures, or a pathological process such as breast cancer. First and foremost is to have the lump evaluated by your surgeon. Any lump should be considered suspicious until it has been properly worked up to rule out malignancy. You describe a lump which feels like a water bubble. This sounds like your are feeling the saline implant. At 9 months, the scar tissue around the implant is... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

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Breast Lump after Breast Augmentation

ANY breast mass should be taken seriously and be worked up promptly. From your description it may be the edge of the saline breast implant BUT that should be determined by your surgeon. Please, see him / her and have this determined. Dr. P. Aldea

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

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Breast implants sometimes have palpable folds.

Hi. Of course you should be thoroughly examined, but most likely this is nothing serious. Saline breast implants sometimes develop a "knuckle", specially if they are underfilled. This feels like a lump, but is quite safe.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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Breast Lump

I am glad you are doing a self exam - I encourage all my patients to examine their own breasts once per month. The current lifetime risk for breast cancer is about 1 out of 8 women, so all "lumps" should be taken seriously. I don't want you to get too anxious about it, but certainly do not ignore it! Go visit with your plastic surgeon and get them to examine your breast, showing them the location of the lump. It could just be the implant, but you do not want to make that... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

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Any breast lump should be evaluated

Lumps can be a normal feeling under your breast , especially after breast augmentation surgery using saline implants. These lumps usually are felt in the area by your breast fold. Feeling the implant in this area especially a saline implant is very common. You didn't mention if the implant is above or below the muscle? Also, sometimes if you have very little breast tissue prior to surgery, the implant may be felt. But it could be a suspicious breast lump. Again, a quick visit... more

Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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Couple of reasons for breast augmentation lump

Saline implants would have couple of reasons why you may feel a lump. Either you are feeling a fold and that would be more pronounced if the implant is placed above the muscle or you are very thin and without much breast tissue. Or you may be feeling the implant valve area if the lump you are feeling is in the center of your breast. Again these would be the result of the implant not having adequate coverage. However, no breast lump should be left alone without a full evaulation by your... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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Saline breast implants

Lumpiness that is felt along the inferior pole of the breast by the fold is often the implant itself. This is very common, but I would see your doctor if you are concerned.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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You are probably feeling the edge of the implant

You did not mention the thickness of your breast tissue or if the implant is above or below the muscle. Feeling the implant, especially a saline filled implant, is very common. The thinner the overlying soft tissue the more prevalent the problem. I have found that matching the appropriate base diameter of the implant to your breast base diameter and creating an appropriately size implant pocket can be helpful in preventing this problem. In any event it is common. If severe then you may... more

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

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A simple test to check out the breast lump

I completely agree with Dr. Johnson's assessment and recommendation. Any breast lump needs to be evaluated by a qualified health care professional. In the meantime to allay your fears, I offer the following suggestions. I believe, like him that it is the implant. These are the factors that help you distinguish a mass from the implant, Implant folds/get worse when you bend over; masses don't put your hand on the lower and outer part of the breast, while bending over feel if the folds are... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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Saline breast implants can be easy to feel

Saline breast implants inherently can be much easier felt, or occasionally seen when used in augmentation. The saline can ripple or in certain postions a slight fold can be felt much like a small bubble that you can displace with your fingers. The performance and appearance of a breast implant is affected by the placement whether it be under the muscle or just under the gland of the breast, and by the amount of the the natural breast tissue to cover and hide the implant. Most often we place... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

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Consult your plastic surgeon

The lump you ar feeling most likely the edge or fold of the implant. However, a cyst, persistent inflammation, scar tissue or an unknown mass cannot be excluded. I feel it is important to continue to perform monthly self breast examinations and seek a consultation with your plastic surgeon or primary care physician if you notice a change. Bottom line, if something does not look or feel right see you sureon for an evaluation.

David A. Robinson, MD
Munster Plastic Surgeon

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Probably the implant edge

As stated by the masses above, it is most likely your implant edge. Have your plastic surgeon evaluate it. Don't forget, you should have at least annual follow up with your surgeon, as well as, your gynecologist for a breast exam. Good luck!

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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Go see your surgeon!

Anytime there is a question of how things look, feel, etc the one who will know best at the present time is the one who operated on you. He/she should be able to evaluate you and give the proper advice This sounds like it is part of the implant, as a "water bublle" does not sound like a tumor or cyst. it is best to be evaluated so the appropriate care/advice can be rendered.

Michael S. Beckenstein, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

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Probably the implant

If you are thin or the implant is wide enough so that its edges sit outside your normal breast tissue perimeter, you may be able to feel the saline bag. This can feel like a fold, a sharp edge or even a point, or a bubble. Check with your surgeon.

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

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You may be feeling the implant shell

Hello Any breast lump should be evaluated by your physician so please bring that up to your doctor's attention right away to make sure there is nothing that requires biopsy or further evaluation. Having said that, we see many patients who are very thin and can feel the edge of their implant where it is not covered by muscle. In our Santa Rosa, California office we do most breast augmentation in a partial submuscular position. That means that part of the implant is under the muscle and part... more

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

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If you are worried, follow up with your doctor

Odds are it is nothing, you are just feeling a piece of the implant; however, you should set up an appointment to see your surgeon so he can check you out and reassure you. Without seeing you and feeling your breast, I cannot give you a diagnosis.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

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Could be the edge of the implant or...

Without an exam, I am speculating. You may be feeling the edge of the implant, a lymph node, a fibrocystic lesion or even something else. Most of the things that it could be are benign, and nothing to worry about. It is something you should have examined, for peace of mind.

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

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Probably Saline Implant Rippling

Hi there- as you might expect, this is a difficult question to answer without examining you and knowing some details about how your surgery was done, but it sounds like you are experiencing a bit of saline implant palpability, or the ability to feel the implant through your tissues. There are several causes of this problem, including thin skin and or tissues (the thicker your tissues, the better they will camouflage a saline implant) and a saline implant's inherently higher risk of... more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

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Can't say for sure

Without examining you, it is impossible to say for sure what this is. Go back to your doctor and ask. Most likely, if it is in the lower pole or along the outer edge, you are just feeling the implant where the tissue over it is thinner.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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Lump After Breast Augmentation with Saline Implants