Breast Implant Revision: Q&A

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Uneven Nipples After Breast Augmentation and Lift

I recently had breast lift and implants (200 cc, 1 cup size bigger, age 26 no kids) 2 weeks ago, and my nipples look like something out of a child's coloring book. They're completely uneven, choppy, and not at all near perfectly circular. Will these eventually fix themselves? I also thought the breasts would be higher. Does this look like a well executed lift?

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46 Doctor Answers | Asked by ajonesca in santa monica, ca

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Augmentation mastopexy results

As you can see from the other answers, you have a result for this short period of recovery that is about as good as it gets. Hopefully you will evolve to appreciate that over time.

Yes, you are uneven. But you are far from seeing your FINAL result.

Like most of my colleagues, I am going to ask you to relax and let things heal before rendering final judgement on your plastic surgeon's work. Your mastopexy augmentation looks very well done, by the way. Let's address your concerns as listed. First, uneven nipples. The irregularity around the suture line is due to the sutures, and as they dissolve and the tissues heal and the scars mature, this will settle to a degree that is quite good for most patients (everyone IS... more

Breast Asymmetry

Yes, you are asymmetric and yes you can be corrected if need be. When I do combination breast augmentation/Mastopexy, I will allow three months to pass before any reasonable assessment can be done. This will allow enough time for your soft tissue to settle and allow your skin to relax. If after that time you still notice asymmetry a corrective surgery can be safely performed. Remember of all the cosmetic surgeries we perform this particular on... more

Uneven Nipples after Lift and Augmentation

I concur. It is really too early to early to judge. Your photo looks pretty reasonable for just two weeks post-op. The nipples usually look somwhat artificial early on. Also nipples are not perfectly circular and perfectly even in anybody in real life and you should not expect them to be that way after surgery..................As speaker after speaker stated at the most recent ASPS meeting, Augmentation/Mastopexy is one of the MOST difficult operations we do. Many surgeons do them in two... more

Nipples Uneven After Surgery

The good news is that it is really much too soon to judge the final appearance of your results, including the size, shape and position of your nipples. The "bad" news is it will take some time (months) to allow enough healing to judge if all is well or if some adjustments are desirable. For now, discuss your concerns with your surgeon and try your best to hang in while healing progresses.

Recovery from breast (any) surgery

Dear Ajonesca, So far so good! Recovery from any surgery is always different in appearance in the first few weeks after surgery. Your surgeon will know best how things are coming along- as planned or not. From you photo things look like they are progressing well. The details you are pointing out are excellent and you are very astute as to the result you would like. You will know better by the 3 to 4 month mark. Follow up with your surgeon and haiving your questions answered will help... more

Need time to allow the breats to achieve their final shape

Your lift looks fine for one week post surgery. Symmetry is the curse of plastic surgery. If you only had one breast then there would be nothing to compare it to. Prior to a breast lift careful measurements are made in an attempt to achieve symmetry and a nice result. The fact is that despite performing the exact same procedure on each side the two breast will heal at different rates. One side will always drop faster, have less bruising and hurt less. In time things will even up. In... more

Looks good, not perfect

You are obviously recently post op. Overall the size, shape and symmetry of the breasts looks very nice. I agree that the left nipple is lower than the right, but I feel that the shape of the areolas looks nice. This is a very difficult operation to get a nice result, and you have a very nice result. It will get better as the wounds mature. The nipples may or may not even out over time. If not, you may ask your doctor to raise the left one (difficult to lower a high nipple). This is... more

Areolas are swollen early on.

Hello All areolas are swollen early on and it will take a couple of months for all the swelling to disappear. Please remember that areolas are not perfectly circular in any woman. They have a slightly irregular shape with pigment fading out from them. From the photo, it looks like the breasts have a good shape and the nipples are in good position. I am not sure what you mean by having the breasts be higher. The upper portion of your breast would be right under the collar bone and the... more

Scar therapy and time will positively influence your result

It is difficult to for patients to judge their results following an augmentation mastopexy at two weeks postop. Some irregularity around the nipple is not uncommon early as we take up the extra skin in this area. Time will likely help this. Different physicians use a variety of methods to expediate scar improvement. This would include the use of massage of the scar, silicone gel sheeting, taping, as well as various emollients. The position of the implants will change slightly as the wound... more

Breast asymmetry

Breast asymmetry is a natural phenomenon. Almost every women has some degree of asymmetry. The before picture of this patient has a lower left nipple and a higher crease under the breast on the left. Her left breast is bigger than her right as well. These asymmetries carry through to the after photos as well. This is a normal amount of asymmetry. Regarding the nipples they always have a funny appearance for the first 6 weeks and work themselves out.... more

To early to judge

It is very early in your healing phase and breast tend to swell unevenly after surgery. You seem to have a nice result and I would wait at least 2 to 3 months before making any judgment of the results. It takes about 6 to 12 months to have the final result. Remember you have to be realistic they will never be perfectly symmetric! Good Luck !!!!

Excellent result in early phase of healing

You have an excellent result and are still in the early phase of healing. Don't spend too much time obsessing because they will improve dramatacally in the next few months. I usually tell my patients that scars look their worst between 2 and 3 months. It will take 4-6 months before they look good. Asymmetries can easily be fixed with a monor procedure under local anesthesia.

Asymmetry after breast aug and lift

Hello, It's hard to rate the result of plastic surgery sometimes when its neither an A+ nor an F. I think additional time for healing is needed. From the front view the thing that jumps out the most is the left breast nipple/areola is a little too far to the side and down. The asymmetry can be easily fixed if you decide to do so in the future. All the best, Dr Repta

Uneven after Breast Augmentation / Breast Lifting surgery

Please allow yourself time to heal. It is obvious that the photos posted are in the early phase of the recovering process. No one will ever guarantee 100% perfection after any cosmetic procedure so please beware. When comparing the before photos to your after photos, you can see that your surgeon has done a nice job - you can see that there was breast asymmetry before surgery. Things will continue to change as you heal. You look good. You should be happy! more

Great breast lift

I agree with many above, they look GREAT! I see the asymmetry- did you have any pre-existing asymmetry? After you heal and things are settled you will notice that the scars will fade considerably . If the areolas are still off that can probably be fixed. I think you have a great improvement and a great result.

It looks great!

Although there was a slight asymmetry in your breasts, result actually is quite good. At this time, two weeks after surgery, it is impossible to tell the following result. This may take several months after surgery, and I am sure that they will do well. So be patient, wait several more months, and speak your surgeon about the result.

Wait and See

At this point you are too early out to determine - you need to be patient because it definitely takes weeks even months for things to settle out-keep consulting with you Dr.

Breast asymmetry after surgery

As you can see by the consensus here amongst the many answers... you have a pretty nice result for two weeks after surgery. It takes time for surgical scars to settle, for the final shape and size of your breasts to appear. Given 3 months, I would predict you will see a great result. Scars will settle down, the breasts will settle down a little bit. Your two breasts will never be identical and that is normal. Nobody is perfectly symmetrical. Think of them a more

Give your body time to heal!

It looks like you have had a well-executed augmentation/mastopexy, and now you need to give yourself time to heal. Post-surgical swelling causes some distortion over the first several weeks, and this will sometimes change from one day to the next. You have some mild asymmetry at this early postop time, but certainly well within the range of normal anatomic variability. It is possible that revision surgery will be appropriate down the line to adjust for persistant... more

Breasts after a breast lift

It is normal in the beginning for things to seem uneven. It seems most of the doctors that have responded to you already are in agreement, you should give it a little time to settle. For only being two weeks post op your scars actually look to be healing nicely. I hope your recovery goes well. Also, never fear, revisions are usually a great possibility. Good Luck!

Breast symmetry after surgery

It takes at least a month for things to settle after your type of surgery. Combining breast implants with breast lift is a challenging surgery, it takes expertise and talent to achieve the desired result. Your mild asymmetry could very well improve over time. Even thought you were asymmetrical after surgery, your desire for more symmetry is not unreasonable. In my practice we strive for beautiful shape and symmetry in all patients. On occasion if the result... more

Concerns about appearance after breast lift / augmentation

I think the responses and general positive nature of the surgeons' responses should put you at ease. Two weeks after surgery is certainly no time to be evaluating your result after a procedure as complex as a breast lift combined with augmentation. Many of the concerns you have will certainly improve over time as long as you listen to the advice given to you by your surgeon for proper postoperative care. Certainly your concerns can be addressed by the surgeon who... more

You appear to have a very good result

Your photographs show a very good result. You are asymmetric, with your left side being lower physically. Check your shoulders and compare their heigh. That said, you have a beautiful contour. The uneveness and choppiness is due to tissue swelling and this should correct itself over the next 6 months. To me, your shape and roundness is as good as it gets. Give yourself time to heal.

Uneven nipples after breast augmentation with lift

When a patient has an augmentation with a lift, I advise them that it really takes 6 weeks to be able to tell what their results will look like, and up to 6 months for the sutures to dissolve to determine the final shape and size of the areola's. That being said, you are only 2 weeks post op. Your left nipple areola looks a bit lower than the right, but the implant may still be settling, and things can change. If you still have uneven nipples after 6 months,... more

Breast augmentation / lift results

The breast augmentation / lift is one of the more challanging procedures to get 100% perfection. The surgeon not only needs to lift and shape the breasts but needs to do all that and respect the nerves and blood supply. You are only 2 weeks post-op. Be patient, there is still some healing and relaxing of the tissues that will continue well into the 6th to 8th week. Slight asymmetries will always exist. The amount of lift or height of the breast is limited by your inframammary fold (the... more

Breast lift and asymmetry

First, no two areola are exactly the same or round. In fact many are ovoid. Second, no two breasts are exactly the same. Some asymetry is normal and it is IMPOSSIBLE to get them exactly the same. Your breasts look very nice especially when compared to your pre-ops. Be patient and let them heal.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Time and realistic expectations needed for breast augmentation and lift results

I would give more time for the breast to settle down. It already looks pretty good but few things wil change in the next few weeks or so. Give it time and do not stress out about it. Plastic Surgery is a science and art. 100% results simply do not exist. Best of luck!

Breast Lift results

Breast Augmentation and Breast Mastopexy results are dynamic in the first few months after the procedure. In the initial setting, variations in healing and edema will likely obfuscate the final result. I advise patients to be patient with their mastopexy / breast augmentation results for the first few weeks. However, maintain a close relationship with your surgeon in order to identify particulars that may be permanent.

Uneven nipples after breast augmentation and lift

I would like to join the opinions posted by my colleagues. For a fresh post-operative result, your results are GREAT and they will continue to improve with time. If you stepped back and critically looked where you were BEFORE surgery and where you are now -- the improvement is tremendous. Some postoperative concerns about imperfection of discomfort is normal. But a healthy dose of reality and of realistic expectations should exist before any operation, especially Cosmetic surgery is done.... more

Too early to tell

From what I see, you look to have a good result after your operation but you have a lot of healing to do. Healing is almost never symmetrical so time may very well erase your perceptions. My guess is that you are going to be pleased but it will take a few months. Also, no two breasts are perfectly symmetrical before or after surgery. You have to accept this.

Breast asymmetries exist in many patients

Overall, you appear to have a nice result for only two weeks post op. Of course it is not perfect as you suggest; however, you can see that you were quite asymmetric preoperatively. Give it some time to allow for your breasts to heal. If you are unsatisfied after several months, you may benefit from a small revision at a later date.

Every woman's breasts are asymmetrical to some degree

Small asymmetries are common. Every patient has two different breasts before surgery. As a result, they usually tend to heal a bit differently. Breast implants also will settle or drop over the first month or two once implanted. Occasionally, they descend at different rates. Be patient, most likely this discrepancy will even itself out.

In search of perfection always, but not quite reaching the absolute

This is an excellent early result and the surgeon has been keenly accurate in his design and execution. Some vagaries of asymmetry exist with all plastic surgical operations at careful scrutiny. We always strive for perfection, but yet fall short of absolute! The breasts will continue to remodel, change over time, and shake out. but this outcome is masterful. The preoperative asymmetry of the nipple line axis is quite noteworthy, and the surgeon's attention to this has been artistic. The... more

Nice augmentation/ mastopexy result

If the nipples do not "round out" a small revision may be in order. Otherwise this looks like a very nice and natural result. The degree of lift is largely defined by the patients anatomy. The inframammary fold is a an anatomic landmark the usually defines the bottom of the breast. It does not look like any further degree of lifting would have been possible without an ill-placed implant or "star gazing" nipples. Both complications we as plastic surgeons try... more

You look quite good

Hello, I do not know what your discussion with your surgeon before your procedure was like, but you look about as good as we usually can get. You are very close to exactly even. Small differences are quite common as is some degree fo recurrent sag of the breasts. You should be quite happy.

Must Give It Time

Two weeks is very early to be too concerned about the breast appearance. In addition you do have to take into consideration where you were before the surgery. Meaning what kind of asymmetry did you have. There's still swelling now and once that's gone you can have a better/objective look at the result. At this point I do see asymmetry but it's minor and after things settle out it's likely everything will be fine. So give it time. If after 6 months you're still not happy with the result... more

Excellent Breast Lift Result !

Judging from this photo this is an excellent result from your breast lift. The nipples are usually never naturally perfectly even preoperatively. Neither are two breasts on the same patient perfectly the same. We all have natural asymmetries in all parts of our body. Areolae are never perfectly round naturally preoperatively. Although as surgeons we make them perfectly round at surgery, areolae tend to take on their natural preop shape after the breast lift. Likewise nipples are never... more

This is a great result. Breast lifts will settle. Breasts are never even.

As a surgeon, my advice is that I believe you have an excellent result. Tissues are elastic and the shape cannot be absolutely predicted despite the best of surgeon's efforts. IF you were made of clay, we could guarantee you a perfectly even result. We would use a mold and your results would never change. But your are not made of clay, your breasts are complex combinations of skin, fat, mammary parencyhma, firbrous tissues, skeletal frameworks, etc. When we build houses they settle.... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Asymmetry After Breast Augmentation and Lift

It is very common after an augmentation/lift combination to have some asymmetric swelling immediately after surgery. Two weeks is very early in the healing process and often what may appear as asymmetry at this time frame will correct itself as the swelling subsides and the implants fall into place. This process can sometimes take several months. Be patient. It looks like you will have a very nice result when things are healed.

Breast lift concerns

I agree with my colleagues that it is too early for you to judge your final outcome at this time. I would give it minimum 3-6 months before making judgements since your breasts can and will probably change. If at that time you are unsatisfied, I would discuss with your plastic surgeon. Best of luck to you!

Uneven nipples early after breast augmentation and lift.

Thank you for the photos. You are every early in the post operative course. The incisions look as though they are healing well. There will be swelling and other factors that will change as the healing process continues. With time these variables tend to even out. Please continue to communicate with the plastic surgeon and let him/her know your concerns.

Breast aug/mastopexy results

Breast aug/mastopexy results i agree that based on these photos you look quite good you had a great deal of sagging pre op allow time to settle and stretch and see where you are in 3 or 4 mos. these are complex procedures to get the optimal result

Uneven Nipples After Breast Augmentation and Lift

Swelling and tight skin make it impossible to tell what your final result will look like in the early post-op period. The shape will change as skin relaxes, swelling resolves and implants settle. I am not implying that everything will look perfectly even over time, just that it takes 3-6 months to see your result. It is important to give things time to heal before making any judgement. Best wishes, Michael Vennemeyer, MD

Breast augmentation with a lift

I know it is difficult to be patient with the healing process but two weeks is very early after surgery. From the pictures you provided it appears your implants are symmetric and the nipple height is even. As for the boarder of the areolas, these usually round out with time and become more even and smooth. I always tell my patients that it takes 3 months to see your final results. Continue following up with your PS and discuss your concerns. I hope this helps you... more

First Several Weeks after Breast Augmentation/Revision do not represent final result

At least from your photo you seem as if you are within the normal range of recovery for just being 2 weeks out. Skin has what are called viscoelastic properties- that means that its elastic nature evens out the unevenness and "choppy" areas over time. Usually it takes the first 2-3 months or longer to get a reasonable idea of the final result. Optimistic Patience at this point rather than worry is appropriate.