Breast Implants: Stories

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I Have a Ripple in One of my Breast Implants. Why Did This Happen and What is Done to Fix This?

bee.emm7
posted 3 years ago
updated 3 years ago

Worth It
Cost: $6,500
San Diego, CA

I am a 22 year old female and I had breast...

19 Dec 2009

I am a 22 year old female and I had breast augmentation surgery about 3 and a half years ago. I have had no problems and have been very happy with my surgery and end results.

Prior to surgery I had naturally bigger breast 34 full B, smaller C and received 250cc implants. Recently I changed my diet and began exercising daily, causing me to loose about 10 pounds now weighing 105 pounds at 5'3''.

However, along with the weight loss I have noticed that my right breast implant has what I think I could call a ripple, directly beneath the nipple. If you press it, you can actually feel it 'pop' in and back out with out pressure. I also have noticed that sometimes with a spots bra on and a thin t-shirt that after exercising and becoming cold, you can see a subtle arch shaped line where the ripple is (a little to the side of my actually nipple). And It does cause me some discomfort when I am cold and my nipple becomes hard. However all the time it makes me have an uncomfortable feeling as I know this is not normal.

I know I need to make an appointment with my plastic surgeon and am going to this week but with the holidays coming up, I know that I most likely won't be able to get in for about another week. My question is, what is this? why did this happen and do you think I will have to have correction surgery? and if so, do you think the doctor would charge full price or have a correction price?

My question is, what is this? why did this happen and do you think I will have to have correction surgery? and if so, do you think the doctor would charge full price or have a correction price?

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Comments (3)

William Aiello, MD 29 Dec 2009

Over the years your body scars internally and you also modified your body and lost weight. As such your implant pocket has changed. It may be correctable in a number of ways but most likely your surgeon will charge you. Depending on what he feels will correct the problem will dictate what the costs will be. You may need a capsulectomy to remove scar tissue or change from saline to silicone implants or release of some scar under the nipple. Without seeing him these are just guesses.

View answers from William Aiello, MD

espresso 27 Dec 2009

My guess is that the surgeon won't be replacing your implants, and will only need to work on your one breast, so the costs should reflect that. Depending on what he feels needs to be done, you might be able to get the repair under a local anaesthetic. This would of course depend on your own mental comfort with that notion, and whether the surgeon would recommend sticking with a general, etc. If the implant is rippling, then it might need to be replaced. Or if they're saline, maybe it'll just be a matter of adding more saline, even assuming your surgeon is willing and able to do so. My concern is whether the skin has thinned in the location where you indicated there's a bump that you can poke. You're right, there's no way to guarantee seeing your surgeon quickly, but it would be best to book as soon as you can, that way if things become increasingly problematic you could call back and see about getting a consult sooner rather than later.

Memphis gal 22 Dec 2009

Rippling is a common occurence with saline implants--I'm not sure about silicone. I have it too on the sides if I bend over a certain way. Even if yours are submuscular, this is happening because of the decrease in fatty tissue in the breast--likely due to your weight loss. I went in with very little fatty tissue--all skin basically. It's the fat that hides the ripples. Why yours is on the front is a bit confusing though. Could just be that you don't have much fat there.