Breast Augmentation: Q&A

Ask a Question

Is the PS at Fault if my Implants Go to Far Towards/Under Armpits? (photo)

My implants are about 4mths old, When i lay down they move right under my armpit and sit down my ribs low. What can be done and did the PS make the pocket to big? should he fix it at cost?.

Tags:

Comment on this

19 Doctor Answers | Asked by jodyanne in Los Angeles, CA

Doctor Answers (19)
Community Comments (0)

Implants that go to far towards the armpits

There are several reasons why implants may fall too far to the sides when you lie down. Yes, it is possible that the pockets were made too far laterally, but this should reveal itself very quickly after surgery. The pockets can be made perfectly, and yet a patient's tissues may stretch over time due to the weight of the implants...the larger the implants and the thinner a patient's tissues, the more likely it is that this may occur. Post-operative stretching of this... more

Implants that end up in the armpits

Thank you for the photos. You do not state what size implants you have. Looking at the photos, they are too large for your chest wall, so it is not a surprise that they slide off laterally. In the supine position they go lateral as any woman's large breasts would do. In the upright positon, they seem a little low, leaving your upper chest flat without a bra. Now it could be malposition or most likely your tissues are not elastic enough to support these large implants and... more

Large implants falling towards armpit after breast augmentation

Based on your after photos, it does appear as though you have inferior-lateral migration of your breast implants. A before photo is definitely needed to give you a more definitive diagnosis, but some conclusions can be drawn from the following observations: Your augmentation was sub-glandular Your prosthesis are relatively large You appear to have laterally located nipple-areola complexes (NAC) which suggests that your breasts were somewhat far apart to begin... more

Implant pocket may be too big

Hello, It sounds and looks like your implant pocket is too big on both sides. This can be repaired by a "capsullorhapy" or repair of the implant pocket/capsule. All the best, Dr Repta

Positioning of breast implants

The implants can migrate outwards if the implants are too heavy, if the tissue does not provide enough support and if the pocket has been created too large. Without seeing a 'before' picture it is difficult to know the exact cause of the problem, but you may need a revision with a smaller/tighter pocket and possibly a lift.

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS

4 reviews

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Is the PS at Fault if my Implants Go to Far Towards/Under Armpits? (photo)

Hi Jodyanne. Your plastic surgeon must place your implants where Mother Nature has placed your breasts and nipples. Your nipples sit far out in the direction of your sides. Therefore your implants sit out to the sides. If they did not, and sat close together near the center of your chest, then your nipples would be way out on the outsides of your breasts pointing sideways. I ALWAYS discuss these issues with my patients before surgery. There is no disappointment... more

Implant position

Many times the pockets become larger due to the poor quality of tissues. It can also happen with the pockets being created too large.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Did my Plastic Surgeon make the Breast Implant pockets too big?

Hard to assign singular blame when we do not have all the facts and when it is obvious that your result could be due to your choice of large breast implants. Despite everything you read here and other less reputable websites, there is a finite limit on how large an implant can be squeezed into the average woman's chest. We refer to the LAWS of Physics Gravity, Momentum Inertia as laws because they always occur and do not make exceptions. When you critically look at your chest, you... more

Is the PS at Fault if my Implants Go to Far Towards/Under Armpits? (photo)

Very difficult to lay blame to the PS. You have lateral displacement and some bottoming out. Seek second opinions in person from boarded PSs in LA

Laterally projecting breasts after augmentation

The shape of the normal breast is oftentimes off to the side of the chest when laying down. The breast was created to fall this way to facilitate nursing. Some augmented breasts have the same tendency. In looking at your breast shape it appears that your areolae are pointing outward to some degree. The augmented breast will do precisely the same thing. A very full, enlarged breast will accentuate this tendency. Please don't hesitate to ask... more

Asymmetric breasts after breast augmentation

Your result is not optimal and you want confirmation that your plastic surgeon did something wrong so he/she will fix the result at a discount. Not knowing what you looked like before surgery or what exactly was done at surgery it is impossible to know what factor(s) contributed to a less than optimal result. Your posted photos show a wide inter-nipple distance with the left nipple further from the midline than the right and a left breast set lower than the right. I suspect there was... more

Implant malposition after breast surgery

Without more information , an anser is always difficult.. it appears that your implants are quite large and your breasts may have had some sagging. the pocket can enlarge with big implants even if it was made correctly. you will probably need to have the pocket reduced. maybe smaller implants, maybe a lift if you want your breast higher

Breast Implant Malposition

Hello Jodyanne, To answer your question succinctly the PS is not at fault, because there is no apparent deviation from what would be considered a normal result, at least by the photographs posted. Additionally, you more than likely signed off on the myriad of complications listed in your preoperative consent forms, including implant dropout/malposition. Having said that, I am not saying that you should be happy with your result. Without actually knowing the... more

Lateral migration of implants

From your photos you have fairly large breasts, although it is impossible to tell how much is your own tissue and what size the implants are. However, large breasts are heavier than small ones and therefore, due to gravity, they hang lower when we stand and do migrate laterally when we lie down. The photo of you lying down looks to me like it is fairly normal and natural looking for your size breasts. On the standing photo, there is more fullness below the nipple level and some flatness... more

Your before surgery picture would have been helpful

You have bottoming out of the breast implants and this can be due to extra large implants or too wide of pocket. Your may have been a candidate for the lift and your surgeon tried to avoid the lift by using large implants( or you may have refused lift). You need to discuss your concerns with your surgeon ,but the fix will may involve lift or pocket revision with smaller implant.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Big heavy implants migrate with gravity

If the pockets were made too laterally, then your surgeon could be at fault. But looking at your early result, I would say this was probably not the case. Also if you look at your lying down view you will see that your chest wall angles sharply down and out thus predisposing you to lateral drift especially with the bigger heavier implants you have. This is your own body preventing you from getting the result you wanted. In an non-accusatory fashion, you should go... more

Breast Implants and Lateral Displacement

Thank you for the question and pictures. No, implants moving to the side are not necessarily due to their plastic surgeon's error. 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 (“bottoming out”), medially (“symmastia or... more

Pocket Too Big...

From your photos, it appears that you have fairly large implants that have migrated laterally and inferiorly with lower pole stretch. Fixes include a lateral and lower pocket tightening to make the pocket smaller, decreasing the size of the implants, moving the implants to under the muscle if they are over and possible use of a tissue substitute (Strattice or Alloderm) to reinforce the pocket. I am also curious if you massaged your implants - I find this often makes a pocket too large.... more

Implant Malposition

Thanks for your inquiry. Judging from your photos, it appears that you have fairly large implants, that appear in the middle photo to have 'bottomed- out' - the implant has filled the lower pole of the breast, and the upper part of the breast is empty. This has been caused by either the lower breast skin stretching out, or the pocket was made too big. I would be important to know whether or not the implant was placed in front of or behind the muscle. Fixing this problem can be... more