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Visible Rippling Just 3 Days Post-op, Possibility of Getting Better? (photo)

asked 8 months ago by pacificgirl7 in San Francisco, CA
Latest answer by James McMahan, MD
Question viewed 550 times
Tags: silicone implant, 3 days post-op, over muscle, rippling, worried

I have 330cc silicone implants placed over the muscle. I had very little native breast tissue in my upper pole, and am 5'2" 115 lbs. I'm already seeing rippling 3 days post op. Help! It's in the middle of my chest, where the skin has stretched the most. Is there any chance that this will improve and that the rippling is actually due to the skin being swollen and stretched too tight? Any chance this could get better as the implants settle or will it only get worse? Thanks for your help.

15 answers to Visible Rippling Just 3 Days Post-op, Possibility of Getting Better? (photo)

Visible Rippling Just 3 Days Post-op, Possibility of Getting Better? (photo)Answer:

Probably the only chance you have for this to resolve on its own is if the capsule that will form over the next few months gets a bit tight. I have seen that put enough pressure on the implant to help “iron” out some of the wrinkles, but that is rare. So I would give it time and see if you get lucky and that happens, but from your “before” pics I would say that to go under the muscle, you would have needed and would still need a lift..Implants in thin women does cont... more

John J. Corey, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Rippling after breast augmentation

Notwithstanding the excellent answers of other responders, visible and/or palpable rippling on the surface of augmented breasts may result from a variety of factors, and management of the problem depends on which factors apply in your case. Your pre-operative skin excess (increased breast surface to volume ratio) does not appear to be completely corrected by augmentation alone. Pocket size, if too small, may cause a fixed wrinkle or ripple. Skin thickness, implant... more

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

Rippling, Breast Implamts, Subglandular

It's unfortunate your implants were put above the muscle as you have very little thickness of breast tissue to hide the ripples. The result is slightly blunted, ie better, right now because of swelling and will not get better but will probably become more obvious over timw as the swelling lessens. After a few months and healing is complete it is easy to go back and cover the upper part of the implant with the muscle. Make sure you have a surgeon that has experience with that operation.... more

Ronald V. DeMars, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

Rippling only gets worse over time

Unfortunately, rippling virtually never gets better on its own and typically gets worse over time. There are many reasons to put implants under the muscle including less rippling. Implants under the muscle also have lower risk of capsular contracture, less sagging over time, they are less palpable, they tend to feel more natural and the implants get in the way less for cancer screening mammograms.

James McMahan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Rippling of the breast 3 days after surgery

I am sorry that you are unhappy with your results. They were predictable. You don't say whether the implants are saline or silicone. Silicone shows less ripling. If they are textured the rippling is more visible. As the swelling goes down you will see the rippling get worse; not better. Your breasts are also a bit lax. A tighter skin envelope would be better. I would have recommended a subpectoral placement of silicone implants and... more

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

Rippling 3 days postop

Hi there: Are you really only 3 days postop? Your breast appearance is more consistent with a longer term result, and it would be truly remarkable for you to have the photographed appearance at 3 days postop. I'm not saying you're wrong - but it's important for you to confirm that this detail is correct in order to properly advise you. The good news is that the lower poles look good and the implants are appropriately positioned. The bad news is that for... more

Howard Webster, MBBS, MBA
Melbourne Plastic Surgeon

www.arcplasticsurgery.com.au

Unlikely to improve but there are options

Hello, Time alone is unlikely to improve the rippling that you are seeing with your breasts. It is a two part problem really with the lack of tissue thickness being #1 and the laxity of your skin #2. You can prove this to yourself by tightening the breast around the implant. When the implant to skin ratio is better the rippling goes away. Unfortunately tightening the skin that is thin and has lost its elasticity is unlikely to hold for the long term and the... more

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Correcting Wrinkling of Implants

Implant charachteristics, such as wrinkling or the edges of the shell are more visible in women with thin tissues in the overlying breast and more likely in an over the muscle placement. These features can make your result look less natural. Silicone implants perform better than saline when it comes to implant visibility. Submuscualr dual plane positioning gives more cover. Sometimes it is necessary to use a piece of acellular dermal matrix such as alloderm or... more

Mary Lee Peters, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.maryleepetersmd.com

Early Implant Rippling After Breast Augmentation

Unfortunately, once someone has a ripplin issue with the breast/implant, it does not get better on its own. Rippling is simply the result of the tissues being too thin to fully mask the device itself. Because of this, you see the folds of the implant through the tissues. This is the reason that it is nice to place the implants submuscular when possible. Adding a little bit of extra tissue between the outside world and the implant helps. It is not perfect, but it... more

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon

Rippling will not improve

You have small amount of breast tissiue over upper pole of the breast. You would have had less noticeable rippling with silicone ,smooth and implants. I would recommend to wait few months and the change the pocket to submuscular position. You will need lift to get firmer breast. The other option is fat grafting over the implant to add soft tissue.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Visible Rippling Just 3 Days Post-op, Possibility of Getting Better? (photo)

Great photographic demonstration of post operative rippling. Sorry but above placement is more prone to result in this issue. And I doubt there will be any improvement over time of healing. Again sorry.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

RIPPLING

Unfortunately the rippling will not improve with time. The only way to correct this problem would be to move the implants to a submuscular pocket. I would discuss your options with your surgeon.

Todd B. Koch, MD
Buffalo Plastic Surgeon

www.toddbkochmd.com

Rippling After Breast Augmentation

Thank you for the question and pictures. No unfortunately, I do not expect the rippling to improve with time. The rippling is related to the fact that you did not have much “coverage” in the superior and medial aspects of the breasts. Some general thoughts regarding rippling may be helpful...Palpability and rippling of breast implants may be related to several factors. These include the amount of soft tissue and breast tissue coverage over the breast... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Wrinkling Will Probably Not Get Better

One of the biggest issues with Implants above the muscle, especially if textured, is the potential for rippling. As the swelling subsides, I suspect you will see more of the implant. The best option is to be under the muscle for more coverage. That may mean that you need a lift (which I suspect you and the surgeon were trying to avoid). Good Luck!

Brian Klink, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

www.solanoplasticsurgery.com

Wrinkles above the muscle from breast implants

In my opinion it would have been the better choice to go under the muscle as you would likely not be seeing the issue you have. Also, what you have will not self-correct as if it is from swelling. In fact, as swelling subsides it will probably look worse. Your breasts are droopy and asymmetrical in the preop photos. I would have recommended submuscular implants and lifts, because implants above the muscle don't lift the breasts.