Are Air Bubbles in Implant Normal?

Question

I have silicone implants (under the muscle) and as I dont have much breast tissue and have gone to 565ccs I am experiencing more rippling and what seems to be an air bubble on the top of my left breast.

	I am not worried about the rippling as ive had other implants before, this is my second time. What is concerning me is the air bubble. I can push it in and out and it feels crinkley and crispy.

	Is this normal? Will it go away? I had the second surgery (to increase size) 4 weeks ago.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

This Is perfectly normal and will disappear in the next few weeks. It is from air and fluid (irrigation, local anesthetic, serum, etc) in the pocket which will be naturally absorbed over time.

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

It would be
extremely unusual to have free air within the breast pocket four weeks after
surgery.For this reason, what you’re
feeling is probably related to a bulge in your implant.This is noticeable because of the thinness of
your overlying soft tissue.This also
explains the rippling that you’re experiencing, as well.Breast augmentation has extremely
high satisfaction rates, but occasionally rippling can occur following this
procedure.This can occur with either
saline or silicone breast implants.Several factors have been associated with rippling following breast
augmentation.These include saline
implants, large implants, thin soft tissue, and placement of the implants on
top of the muscle.The potential for rippling can be
decreased in several ways.It’s
important in high risk patients to avoid using implants that are large relative
to the patient’s native breast tissue.Firmer implants, such as silicone and cohesive gel implants, can also decrease
the potential for this problem.Submuscular placement decreases rippling by increasing the soft tissue
coverage over the implants.Surgeons
should avoid over-dissection of the pocket and avoid implants that are wider
than the patient’s breast tissue.Finally, overfilling the implant when using saline may help to minimize
rippling.Despite these maneuvers, rippling
occasionally may still occur.It’s important
to realize that in the vast majority of patients, rippling isn’t a problem and
even when it does occur, most patients are still very happy.If you’re concerned about rippling
following breast augmentation, consultation with your plastic surgeon is
appropriate.Depending upon the
specifics of your previous procedure, your surgeon should be able to formulate
a treatment plan that’s appropriate for you.

Sean Younai, MD, FACS · Answer

Most plastic surgeons and breast manufactures say that while saline implants can form ripples, silicone implants do not form ripples. In my clinical experience, as it has also been this young ladies experience, silicone implants can also ripple and it can show if you are very thin or that the implant has not been placed under the muscle.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

It is normal for air bubbles to be trapped in tissues after surgery, however they tend to get absorbed over time and at 4 weeks you should not have air bubbles.

	If it does happen to be an air bubble it is not within the implant so you do not need to worry about you implant.  It is also possible you're feeling the implant itself.  Sometimes the rippling and folds can be very deceptive and even to an experienced plastic surgeons it may be difficult to determine if a finding is the implant or something else.

	Your best course of action is to watch if this goes away and to see your plastic surgeon.

	Sincerley,

	Martin Jugenburg, MD

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

Although this is common in the first few days after breast surgery, by 4 weeks, most patients should have reabsorbed any "extra" air or fluid in the pocket. But I have had patients notice (and sometimes worry) about a breast "sound" that is almost "felt" as much as it is heard. The French call this "Bourdonnement" and this literally translates as buzzing, vibrating, rubbing, etc. This is actually a friction rub, and physicians learn this physical sign in their first medical school classes in which they listen to chest sounds and literally hear irritated, inflamed lung tissues sliding roughly against the inside of the chest cavity, causing the half-heard, half-felt sounds. In your case it is the slick surface of the implant sliding against the incompletely-healed tissue capsule that causes this "crinkly, crispy" sound.

	This is entirely normal at this point in your recovery, but I would consider asking your surgeon for an anti-inflammatory such as Celebrex for a week or two, or perhaps a course of ibuprofen. This may be all you need to reduce or eliminate the sound. Inflammation may also be a possible predictor of early capsular contracture, and a leukotriene inhibitor such as Singulair or Accolate may also be a consideration. Best Wishes!

Jeremy S. Hurren, BSc, MBBS, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

It would not be normal to have an air bubble in a breast implant and it is most unlikely that you do. However, the feeling you are experiencing is quite common and at 4 weeks it is most likely to be the implant. If there was air around the implant following your operation it should have absorbed away by 4 weeks. This is early in your recovery process so it is too early to judge your result. If you are concerned I would advise you to see your surgeon.Best wishes

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.

	Although you may be feeling the implant close  to the surface  you are not feeling air within the silicone gel implant.  It is likely that you're feeling a &ldquo;knuckle&rdquo; of the implant  through an area of the breast tissue where there is least coverage.

	Consultation with your  plastic surgeon may be helpful to give you peace of mind and to discuss treatment options.

	I hope this helps.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

At four weeks after surgery, it is not likely that you are truly feeling an air bubble at the top of your breast. That air would have been completely absorbed within weeks after your surgery, most typically by 7 to 10 days after surgery. What you are feeling is the interface of the new implant up against the old and exiting breast capsule. This creates two smooth surfaces up against each other which can be made to slide across each other, creating that crinkly feeling as you manipulate it. This phenomenon may go way with more time as further healing takes place.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Are you sure it is an air bubble? When was your surgery?  More details would be needed to understand what you are describing. In any event, you should probably review this with your surgeon.

Bivik Shah, MD · Answer

The air bubble is not inside the implant so there is nothing to worry about.  The problem with rippling can be improved using acellular dermis to create a sling around the implant.  Good luck!

Are Air Bubbles in Implant Normal?

Answers (11)

More Breast Implants Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (11)

More Breast Implants Questions

How Many CCs to Achieve a Size D?

Sleeping on Stomach or Side After Breast Implants (Long-Term)

Silicone Implant Feels Lumpy and Heavy

500cc or 550cc for 5´6" and 119lbs?

How Do You Know when There is a Rupture with Silicone Implants?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS