I had a breast augmentation in June of last year. Everything looked great until after a car accident recently. The damage to my car was over $5,000. Since I didn't have any broken bones, I wasn't sure it was caused by the accident. My right breast has dropped. I have no pain in the breast, and it is very soft. My left breast has not changed at all. I have before and after pictures of my breast in clothes. Your help is greatly appreciated. P.S. I did follow up with my surgeon, and only got to see his assistant that day. She prescribed steroids thinking my left breast had a capsular contracture, and recommended that I do breast massages only on my left breast. My left breast isn't the issue here; it is my right breast that changed overnight as you can see in the before and after pictures.
Answer: Trauma after breast implants Thanks for the question. It is difficult to answer without examining you and seeing the issues you're concerned about. After trauma there are several issues regarding implants: First - Are the implants intact or has the trauma caused a leak? With saline implants this can be relatively obvious as deflation occurs almost immediately. With silicone implants this can be harder to detect. Second - Has the envelope (including the capsule or scar tissue) around the implant ruptured or torn? This can cause asymmetry in implant positioning. Signs (in addition to the asymmetry) can include a tearing or popping sensation at the time of trauma or bruising around the breast. Third - Has there been bleeding around the implant? This can result in a hard breast as a hematoma forms around the breast. You should see a board certified plastic surgeon to evaluate your implants. I hope this helps.
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Answer: Trauma after breast implants Thanks for the question. It is difficult to answer without examining you and seeing the issues you're concerned about. After trauma there are several issues regarding implants: First - Are the implants intact or has the trauma caused a leak? With saline implants this can be relatively obvious as deflation occurs almost immediately. With silicone implants this can be harder to detect. Second - Has the envelope (including the capsule or scar tissue) around the implant ruptured or torn? This can cause asymmetry in implant positioning. Signs (in addition to the asymmetry) can include a tearing or popping sensation at the time of trauma or bruising around the breast. Third - Has there been bleeding around the implant? This can result in a hard breast as a hematoma forms around the breast. You should see a board certified plastic surgeon to evaluate your implants. I hope this helps.
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Answer: Breast Implant Damage After Car Accident There are several things that may have happened. For example, the scar tissue around your right breast implant may have released, making your breast drop. The implant may have ruptured as well. Either way, you should see your surgeon. If you say that your left breast hasn't changed at all, then it's probably not capsular contracture. Either way see your surgeon, not the assistant!
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Answer: Breast Implant Damage After Car Accident There are several things that may have happened. For example, the scar tissue around your right breast implant may have released, making your breast drop. The implant may have ruptured as well. Either way, you should see your surgeon. If you say that your left breast hasn't changed at all, then it's probably not capsular contracture. Either way see your surgeon, not the assistant!
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October 8, 2010
Answer: Breast Implant Changes after Car Accident
From your photo, it looks like you may have a history of mild to moderate capsular contractures (scar tissue) on both sides. This shows up as firmness of the breasts, visible definition of the roundness of the implant, and oftentimes a higher, less saggy looking breast. Some patients like mild contractures when they are symmetric. Trauma to the chest can potentially "tear" part of the capsule (scar tissue), which subsequently releases it, so the breast then feels much softer and looks potentially lower or more ptotic (saggy). This is usually associated with mild transient bruising and swelling on the affected side and discomfort at the time of the injury which resolves. In addition, the implant can rupture. If the device is silicone, the best way to diagnose a rupture would be MRI. With saline, you usually see a size decrease. Regardless, the visible asymmetry in your central cleavage area, which shows in clothes, likely will need to be corrected with surgery if you don't see improvements with conservative treatment such as massage over a few months.
Helpful
October 8, 2010
Answer: Breast Implant Changes after Car Accident
From your photo, it looks like you may have a history of mild to moderate capsular contractures (scar tissue) on both sides. This shows up as firmness of the breasts, visible definition of the roundness of the implant, and oftentimes a higher, less saggy looking breast. Some patients like mild contractures when they are symmetric. Trauma to the chest can potentially "tear" part of the capsule (scar tissue), which subsequently releases it, so the breast then feels much softer and looks potentially lower or more ptotic (saggy). This is usually associated with mild transient bruising and swelling on the affected side and discomfort at the time of the injury which resolves. In addition, the implant can rupture. If the device is silicone, the best way to diagnose a rupture would be MRI. With saline, you usually see a size decrease. Regardless, the visible asymmetry in your central cleavage area, which shows in clothes, likely will need to be corrected with surgery if you don't see improvements with conservative treatment such as massage over a few months.
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February 23, 2009
Answer: Breast implants usually settle with time VVN, It is hard to tell from your description if the car accident had anything to do with it. If you were not hit in the breast area or had any force from the seatbelt on the breast region, then it is hard to say it was from the accident. However, any unilateral (one sided) change is curious and you should see your surgeon for an evaluation. Good luck.
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February 23, 2009
Answer: Breast implants usually settle with time VVN, It is hard to tell from your description if the car accident had anything to do with it. If you were not hit in the breast area or had any force from the seatbelt on the breast region, then it is hard to say it was from the accident. However, any unilateral (one sided) change is curious and you should see your surgeon for an evaluation. Good luck.
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February 23, 2009
Answer: Recommend you go see your surgeon It is difficult to tell based on your picture, but I recommend you pay a visit to your surgeon. It is possible it is related to your accident, but there are other reasons that the right breast may have dropped. Good luck!
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
February 23, 2009
Answer: Recommend you go see your surgeon It is difficult to tell based on your picture, but I recommend you pay a visit to your surgeon. It is possible it is related to your accident, but there are other reasons that the right breast may have dropped. Good luck!
Helpful 1 person found this helpful