Sagging Breasts After Breast Implant Exchange

I recently had implant exchange. I also had a capsular contraction in one breast. Before the surgery, my breasts were sloped, but not hanging. After surgery, to my horror, my breasts were hanging much lower on my chest. I'm still not satisfied and my surgeon claims he can't do anything about it. Now, I must always wear a support bra to lift my breasts. Another surgeon agreed to do a breast lift. But I am wondering, what happened? Could the doctor have removed some of my own breast tissue during the implant exchange, causing my breasts to hang lower now?

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by Jewel1 in Hartford, CT

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Whatever the cause, it sounds that at this point you need a breast lift

It's difficult to comment without seeing your before and after photos, but a couple of thoughts come to mind: First, I doubt your surgeon removed any breast tissue or did anything improper. What he likely did was remove the old implants and capsule and replace them with new implants. Now, these implants may be a bit too small for your breast pocket that was left after the old implants were removed, but this is tough to know without photos. Second, at this point, it sure does sound like... more

This is very unusual.

To Jewel1, Hi! I don't agree with my colleagues here. This is not common, and I have done hundreds of implant replacements over more than 20 years, so I hope I know what I am talking about. I don't know what happened. A capsulectomy alone wouldn't do this. If you had smaller implants put in, you might see this problem. I can really understand your being upset, but for your future, it doesn't matter what happened. Look forward. It sounds like you need a lift. HOW a lift is done is... more

Sagging breast after implant removal

Discuss this with more than one surgeon. IF your implants were textured and you had capsular contracture, your surgery could have released your breast tissue and unveiled a sagging breast.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Sagging breasts after implant exchange

The breasts may appear sagging after the capsule was removed because you most likely needed a breast lift also. I would talk with your surgeon.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Could be several things

It's not uncommon for breasts to look differently after an exchange. First, the fact that your surgeon removed the capsules is significant. With capsular contracture the capsule is firm and actually providing support. With this gone there is less support for the new implants. Next, if the replacement implants are smaller than the original implants than sagging will definitely happen. Finally, if the position of the implants was changed, i.e. from subgandular to subpectoral this can... more

I agree with Dr. Beraka

I have been doing breast surgery for over 20 years and can't think of a patient who had what you are describing. If your breasts were already sloped, however, you probably needed a lift at the time of the implant exchange or you certainly were going to need one at some point. Now, you know that for sure. If it is properly done, you will gain a youthful, elevated, conical and projecting breast at the expense of some incisions whose scars should fade well over time and would be worth... more

Normal response

The capsule of the breast implants was providing some support and hold. When this hold was released the breast will then show their true laxity. There probably was not any breast tissue removed. This can happen even with the same size implants. The best thing to do is to get a breast lift. These type of changes can be hard to predict. It doesn't sound like your surgeon did any thing wrong. You just need to give it a little time, about three months, and then see what needs to be done.... more

Marcus L. Peterson, MD

4 reviews

Saint George Plastic Surgeon

Not uncommon

Hello Jewel We find that many patients who have capsular contracture and have had their implants in for more than a few years are surprised to see what their breasts look like after implant exchange. The capsular contracture artificailly raises and hardens your breast. Once this contracture is released and the implant allowed to be where it should be, then the patient feels like their new soft breasts are too low. Many patients will even tell us they prefer their hard breast because it was... more