Bitar Institute - Fairfax

A: There are a few reasons if the implants are in different positions after surgery. The most common is that you are still recovering. Based on your photographs, it is difficult to tell how far out from surgery you are. It may take 3-6 months for implants to settle into their final positions. If you are still early in your postoperative period, then I would give the implants more time to settle. The implants may be in different positions because of pre-existing asymmetries, such as one breast fold may have been higher than the other. It is difficult to tell if you had asymmetry based on the preoperative photo you provided. Finally, it can be related to capsular contracture. Be mindful that a capsule will always form around an implant. The question is whether the capsule is a creating a problem, such as changing the position of the implant, making the breast feel hard, or causing pain. It sounds like you are doing the correct things. I would recommend continued follow-up with your surgeon.

A: Choosing the implant size can be one of the hardest decisions with breast augmentation. Every plastic surgeon has their own method to pick the correct implant size with their patients. The choice of implant is determined by combining your goals for size and the appearance of the breasts with a detailed assessment of your height/weight, breast dimensions, and chest width. In our practice, we generally have patients bring photographs of the desired appearance of their breasts after augmentation. We also have them try on breast implants in the office. Bigger is not always better. There will be more thinning of the skin and soft tissues, making the implants more visible. The increased implant weight and thinning of the tissues may lead to loss of support with time, so the implants sag. Based on your ideal photos, the breasts are wide and stick out beyond the chest wall, and your arms may strike the implants with running or lifting things. I would recommend discussing your goals with your surgeon, so collectively as a team, you can determine the best implant size for you.

A: The depressor septi nasi muscle can be treated nonsurgically with botulinum toxin injection to inactivate the muscle. The botulinum toxin will wear off in 3-4 months and will require repeated injections to maintain the effects. For a more permanent solution, the depressor septi nasi muscle can be cut from inside to mouth to avoid an external scar. This will undoubtedly weaken the muscle, but sometimes the ends of the muscle will still scar together, resulting in some motion still. I would recommend consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss the options.