Breast Augmentation with Prominent Sternum?

Question

I had a consultation on Breast Augmentation. I have a prominent sternum, and my nipples are slightly to the side. I asked the doctor if it's possible to have some nice cleavage after Breast Augmentation.He proposed to keep the Breast implants centered under the nipples, but extend the pockets a little bit toward the center of the chest, so when I put on my bra, I can have some nice cleavage. I wonder what complication this would cause? Should I still ask for a cleavage?I want a safe BA that would cause the least complication and lowest risk possible both in the short and long term.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Yes, it can be difficult to create sufficient cleavage in patients with prominent sternum (pectus carinatum) following breast implant augmentation surgery. Furthermore over time the breast implants tend to slide outwards and down the chest incline. In these patients, I frequently advise them to wear nocturnal support garments to minimize this tendency when supine

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD, FACS · Answer

It sounds as though your plastic surgeon has a good plan for you without actually meeting you in person. Breast implants are wonderful for improving cleavage while increasing the size of your breasts. There are many different ways of putting in the implants, so make sure you review this with your surgeon. Also, breast augmentation has very few bad potential complications, so you should be okay in the short and long term. Check out some before and after photos before you make your final decision. Good luck!

Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD · Answer

Your condition is called Pectus Carinatum ( latin for "bird like" chest")
A lot of good advice has been given on this forum, I would only add that the best option for you will be to use a High Profile implant.
The high profile implant projects more from the chest wall, counteracting the effect of the prominent sternum. 
I hope the link I provide below will help you understand the whole issue of projection and chest types a little better. It goes into high placed implants versus medially placed implants, both of which are referred to as having "good cleavage"
You may not be able to get a super defined medial cleavage, but with a high profile implant and proper placement (higher?) you may get closer to what you want.

Ricardo A. Meade, MD · Answer

There's nothing that can be done about your prominent breast bone, at least nothing reasonable. You need to have a standard breast augmentation done and your breast bone will still be prominent. If your nipples point a little to the sides, they'll appear to point a little more towards the sides just as a natural effect of the surgery. Remember that the augmentation will enhance every aspect of your breasts (both good and not so good). Ultimately, you'll still be very excited about your result since the augmentation factor is no longer of concern.
You can't really place the implants any closer together if they're being placed under the muscle. You don't want him to split the muscle along the center just to satisfy you insisting on cleavage. I also don't think you should get a bigger implant to cause cleavage. Cleavage is usually something you see when someone has a bra on and it's pressing the breasts together. It's not really because of a certain style, position or size of an implant -- so you should reconsider changing your implant with that intention in mind. 
You should revisit with your ABPS board certified plastic surgeon on these issues and clarify your expectations so everybody is thrilled after surgery.

Steven Teitelbaum, MD · Answer

If your breast bone is prominent and your breasts point to the sides, that's the way nature made you and nothing a plastic surgeon can do will fundamentally change that.
Your surgeon may try to move the pockets towards the center, but that sets up three possible problems.
First, if they divide the muscle along the breastbone, then you will see visible implant edges and will have an uncorrectable deformity.
Second, if the implants are moved too far towards the center and the nipples are wide, it will make the nipples even wider and more off-center appearing relative to the breast mound.
Third, there is almost nothing to do to keep the implants towards the center in a chest that has the shape I think you are describing.
Another common surgeon and patient error in logic is selecting a larger implant in the hopes it gives cleavage.  It just looks more fake, and the wide distance between the breasts looks all the more odd because of the larger sizes of the breasts, which will progressively fall to the sides.
The implant must be properly placed under the breast; it cannot be located to a particular position on the chest wall.  Accept your basic configuration; do not try to shift the implants too far to the center; and select an implant that fits your breasts on objective, quantifiable tissue-based parameters.
I've given you more specific advice than I ordinarily would for a specific situation, but you describe a pattern that I frequently see.

Garrett A. Wirth, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Most likely, it sounds as if you have Pectus carinatum. It sounds as though your surgeon has correctly diagnosed the issues including the nipple positioning and the plan sounds a very reasonable.  The idea is to work towards some cleavage without creating more lateral nipple displacement as well as to help camouflage the pectus carinatum issue.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Generally speaking, patients with pectus carinatum, present with a relatively prominent sternum and a somewhat laterally inclined chest wall. A well executed breast augmentation procedure may help to camouflage the patient's concerns surrounding  pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum for patients.  In your case, care must be taken during the dissection of the breast implant pockets to avoid movement of the breast implants to the sides. Select your plastic surgeon carefully and communicate your goals carefully as well. You may find the attached link, dedicated to patients with chest wall concerns, helpful to you. Best wishes.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Implants placed under the muscle will prevent further cleavage. Placing implants above the muscle may allow for more cleavage, but be careful what you wish for. If you push to get more cleavage, you may get a symmastia, or a "uni-boob."

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

Breast augmentation in the strictest sense is enhancement of the natural breast. There are certain characteristics which are present that can be softened by the process of breast augmentation, but if the chest is wide and broad and the nipple widely spaced cleavage will be reduced and there is no effective way to erase this characteristic from the breast. The implant must be centered within the breast under the nipple and any attempt to move the implant toward the center of the chest would produce a rather poor result. Also placing a still larger implant to increase cleavage also may result in a canyon effect or a deep space between the breasts which are unable to meet in the center of the chest.
It is important to accept some of the differences that make you unique and remember that augmentation is enhancement of your natural breast. Working within the limit of what your breast and tissue will do will give you the best and most lasting result.
Best of luck,
peterejohnsonmd

Scott E. Kasden, MD, FACS · Answer

In performing a breast augmentation, evaluation of the patient including the patient's goals, and the patient's physical presentation are key  to achieving a successful result. With this information, proper selection of implant can be made.
It is important for U. the prospective patient to understand what happens to the implant dimensions as the size changes. Simply stated, round implants hold a volume of fluid which is either saline or silicone gel. As the implant gets larger they hold a larger amount of volume. The size that people referred to really is a volume in cc's.
As the volume increases so does the size of the implant. The 2 dimensions that may change in the implant RD projection and the diameter. As the implant increases in size, it does still mainly by increasing the diameter while to a lesser extent the projection. In some instances, between size steps, there is no increase whatsoever in the projection. Therefore it is essential to get a correctly sized implant in terms of the diameter in relationship to the size of the chest.
Therefore, it may be beneficial for you to explore with your surgeon different sized implants (different diameter sizes), to see what size would be best for your chest wall and chest configuration. I hope this helps.

Breast Augmentation with Prominent Sternum?

Answers (13)

More Breast Augmentation Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (13)

More Breast Augmentation Questions

Breast Lift versus Breast Augmentation

Stop Exercise Regimen Before Breast Augmentation?

Transumbilical Vs Conventional Breast Augmentation

Waiting Period Between Breast Augmentation with Lift and Rhinoplasty?

How fast can capsular contracture develop after breast augmentation?

Stinging Pain Normal 17 Days After Breast Augmentation?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS