Implants below incision/crease, 6 days post op. 485cc subglandular textured Sientra rounds on 12/21.

Question

I had my first post-op appt today. My PS removed steri-strips, and seemed dismissive with my questions. My right breast sits higher than my left; he said it was fine & they’re even when I lay down, so don’t worry about it. I looked at my incisions, & noticed that I could see & feel the bottom edge of the textured implant just below the incision, & below the pocket. Waiting on a call back from PS. Is this normal, & what can I do?

Erika Sato, MD, FACS · Answer

Definitely contact your PS to make sure all is okay, but I can tell you that it is common for one implant to sit higher in the early post op period. Implants drop at different rates. One may drop right away and the other may take longer. Textured implants do not move as much as smooth ones so it will be worrisome if one implant is 1-2 cm higher. It has been my experience that the textured implants move ~5mm or so over time. The placement in the OR is key to the result with these implants. Remember you breast are sisters and not twins and there may be difference in your chest wall (bone structure) that can lead to differences in the perceived projection and height of the implant. If that is the case, you may not be able to get perfect symmetry. The breast tissue at the lower aspect of the breast is very thin especially if you were small breasted before the augmentation. It is no uncommon to be able to feel the implant in the lower and lower outer quadrant of the breast. That is usually were you see rippling over time. That is why the cohesive gel implants are so popular because they cut down on this rippling. As far as your incision being above the lower edge of the implant, this is also very common. If the incision is placed in your infra-mammary fold (IMF) at the time of surgery, it will end up being 1-2 cm higher then the lower edge of your implant once things settle. PS take into account your breast plate along with the implant size etc to decide where to place the incision. It is common to place it lower than your natural IMF so that once things settle it ends up in the fold. If you look at a lot of photos of augmented women you will see that this is a common issue.

Melinda Haws, MD, FACS · Answer

while I know the most difficult thing to hear is that you need to wait, you need to wait!  You are no where near your final result and you won’t be at your final result until at least 3 months out from surgery. At this point, take a deep breath and follow your surgeons instructions. Some asymmetry is absolutely normal at this stage.  Early in my career, jumped the gun about operating early only to discover that my concerns were all swelling related.  So keep your follow ups and just know that until you are 3 months out at least, things will change.  I hope this helps!

Implants below incision/crease, 6 days post op. 485cc subglandular textured Sientra rounds on 12/21.

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Sientra Breast Implants

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Implants below incision/crease, 6 days post op. 485cc subglandular textured Sientra rounds on 12/21.

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Sientra Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.