Shrinking Saline Breast Implants?

asked 3 years ago by hawaiiangirl in Georgia
Latest answer by Christopher L. Hess, MD
Question viewed 835 times
Tags: saline implants

I loved them up until a few months ago when they started shrinking in size and rippling and they freely move around to the point of being painful. Is this normal?

They feel disgusting. I'm insecure about them now and they bother me day and night. They are underneath the muscle. When they move I can feel air bubbles in them all over. The doctor never told me this could happen. I feel as if there are baggies half full in my chest.

9 answers to Shrinking Saline Breast Implants?

Relax you're going to be fine

First of all it is very uncommon for both of the implants to rupture simultaneously. Second, it they do indeed rupture air does not enter the implant but the fluid escapes and the shell ruptures. The rupture rate is <1%/year so you have to consider how long they have been in. Saline implants will soften in the first 6 months which is actually a plus for those that choose saline over silicone. If the implants are truly ruptured they tend to lose all fluid within a very short period of... more

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

Difficult to know what is happening without an exam, but you may need gel implants

It's hard to know what is exactly going on without examining you-- it may be that what you are experiencing is normal for saline implant augmentation. However, if there is a slow leak or if the appearance of the implants in no longer acceptable, then one option would be to switch the implants to gel. Cohesive gel implants tend to have less rippling (although the chance of rippling exists with any type of implant, especially if you are very thin) and many women feel that these implants... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Shrinking Implants

Dear Hawaiian Girl Your symptoms do not sound normal- always difficult to tell from an online description. You should return to your MD to have a check up. With Warm Regards, TMB

Trevor M. Born, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Saline implants ripple more than gel implants

It would be good to know how long ago you had your surgery. It would be odd for both implant to rupture and deflate at the same time but it is a possibility and an evaluation by your surgeon is the most important thing. If you have lost weight recently, then you may notice the implants more at there is less tissue coverage. At that point switching to silicone gel may help. See your surgeon and go over your options.

Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Unusual symptoms

What you are experiencing is not normal. You really need to see your doctor for an evaluation. It sounds like there is more going on than just a simple leak. It would be helpful if you include the timeframe of your implants - how long you have had them, etc. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Go to your doctor

You have some unusual symptoms. First, it is possible though very unlikely that both inplants would leak at the same time. Additionally, it is unusual that you would be able to feel air bubbles. Finally, with a leak, you should not feel pain, which makes me think that something else may be going on (perhaps in addition to a leak), so get seen. Remember that inplants should not be expected to last forever, so expect to have additional surgery in the future. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

You might need to switch to gel

Other than the pain, much of what you are describing is normal for a saline implant after the swelling has gone down. It would have been ideal for you to have known some of this before surgery, on the other hand, what you are describing is worse than most people describe and cannot be totally predicted by any surgeon. I would suggest you go to your doctor and express your concerns and discuss possibly changing to gel implants where the ripples and wrinkles will be much less of an issue.... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Sounds like the implants have leaked/are leaking

It sounds like you implants have or are losing fluid. It would be unusual to have a leak in both at this early after susrgery. What does you doctor think? A physical exam can usually diagnose the problem. If they seem to have leaked, they can be replaced with restoration of breast appearance.

G. Gregory Gallico III, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Pain, shrinking, rippling... what's normal?

Breast size can wax and wan for the few weeks after surgery as tissues swell, edema resolves, tissues stretch and tighten. Cerainly after the first 3 months or so, your size should be relatively stable. Significant shrinking may signal a leak which can happen at any time. Pain is variable and can occur months latter on an intermittent basis. Often this is a sharp, stinging or electrical shock type painrelated to sensory nerve stretch or injury. Usually this abvates and is not a debilitating... more