Is it possible to shift my breast pocket to obtain cleavage? Will this increase he risk of symmastia occurring? (photos)

Hello, thank you for your question. Often times some patients with wide cleavage think an implant will help improve the cleavage but actually we can not change the cleavage without risking symmastia of the midline. One thing that may improve the appearance is fat grafting to the area. Speak to your plastic surgeon about this option.

Dear Marie_go,
many women seek improved cleavage. Narrowing the cleavage plane can be done very carefully by a skilled surgeon. Moving the implants too far medially can result in synmastia or unaboob which is very difficult to correct. That being said, the right amount of pocket dissection and implant selection can create excellent cleavage.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

You will need a bigger implants to get the cleavage, if the surgeon do it properly it’s no problem, you won’t have symmastia

Anatomy does play a role in cleavage, a wider natural sternum may limit cleavage. With breast augmentation, pockets are developed to fit the breast implant; at times this capsule needs to be released medially to help give more cleavage. Too much dissection, can risk symmastia and rippling. At times, mesh can help support the breast implant from dropping to the side.

Thank you for your question. A large portion of my practice is dedicated to revision breast surgery. Your situation is very common. I have treated this many times with the internal bra-capsulorrhaphy surgery with a mirror image capsulotomy-opening up the pocket. In fact, I wrote the very first paper on this procedure. You should be able to have a very nice cleavage without risking symmastia. Best wishes to you.

It's possible that your breast implants were placed too far apart during your initial breast augmentation surgery, which can result in a lack of cleavage. However, it's important to note that not all women are anatomically suited to achieve close cleavage after breast augmentation, and attempting to force the breasts together too tightly can lead to complications such as symmastia, also known as "uniboob."

Shifting the implant pockets more towards the center of the chest can potentially create more cleavage, but this is a complex procedure that should only be performed by an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon with expertise in revision breast augmentation. The surgeon will need to carefully evaluate your existing breast implants, your anatomy, and your desired outcome to determine if this is a viable option for you.

It's important to have realistic expectations and to understand the risks and potential complications associated with any revision surgery. You should discuss your concerns and goals with a qualified plastic surgeon, who can help you determine the best course of action to achieve your desired outcome while minimizing the risk of complications such as symmastia.

Best of luck !

The bases of your breasts cannot be moved. With implants, we can expand your bases some and bring the breasts somewhat closer. However, your anatomy will not allow your breasts to come together. You were probably just moving breast tissue and skin prior to implants.

It appears that you have a wide sternum with very little fat under the skin. Moving the implants more medial (only if you are subglandular, not submuscular) will give you better cleavage, but there is a good chance that you might have rippling or see the edge of the medial implant.

Thank you very much for your photographs. I do agree that your implants appear to be very wide apart. Based on your photographs I believe this appearance is based on the location of your implants and not due to some natural widening of your cleavage area.

My first question would be if your implants are placed under the muscle or on top of the muscle. Often implants placed on top of the muscle tend to spread further apart than implants placed underneath the muscle

Second, are your breast implants soft and freely movable. If your implants feel firm and do not move well this could be caused by capsular contracture or scar tissue around the implants. If the implants are very firm and not movable he will need surgery to correct capsular contracture.

Happy if your implants are soft and freely movable and a revision of your breast implant pocket may be possible to bring the implants closer together. And experienced plastic surgeon who carefully modifies her breast implant pocket semesters should not occur. If your implants are on top of the muscle a conversion to implants under the muscle would also be indicated.

You look like you have a naturally wide gap between the breasts and very thin tissues. It is not easy to create the look it sounds like you want and there are risks in trying. One is unibreast, the other is wrinkling and rippling of the implants if you divide the muscle completely to get more central and then all there is on the implant is skin. That's assuming you are currently under the pec. But some judicious widening of the pocket and a wider base diameter implant should get some improvement. Needs to be done by a very experienced expert in breast implant revision.