Do my inframammary folds need raised? Also what can be done to soften the transition from my chest to implant on left side?

Dear Goldenbear,

breast revision surgery is the most difficult plastic surgery procedure performed. Botched breast surgery alters normal tissue planes and laxity, the ability of breasts to heal properly, and leaves scar tissue that dramatically affects the level of difficulty of the corrective surgery.
Many patients come in to correct poor outcomes from their initial surgeries. The most common problems are due to implant malposition, bottoming out of the implant, poor scarring, and incorrect implant size.
While the type of revision required will depend on the result of the previous surgery and the desired result of the patient, some revisions involve extensive pocket repair that may or may not need specialized external bras.
If you are considering breast surgery revision, you should speak with a board certified plastic surgeon and have yourself properly assessed. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations. Also, you have to make sure that your surgeon understands your breast augmentation goals.



Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

You have several options, which can be done in combination with each other or in solidarity.
1) Switch to a lower profile implant that will give you a smoother transition from your tissues to the implant.
2) Fat grafting
3) Place an anatomic shaped implant (not recommended due to potential for rotation in my experience)

Dear Goldenbear,

Thank you for your question and for sharing a photo. To fully evaluate whether your inframammary fold needs to be raised and to better understand the sharp transition you’re describing on the left side, additional photos from multiple angles (frontal, side, and oblique) would be very helpful.
From this single view, it’s clear that your breasts have slightly different shapes, but it’s difficult to make a precise assessment without seeing how your implants sit in different positions. Sometimes a sharp transition or “step-off” can occur from implant malposition, thin tissue coverage, or loss of support at the fold. Solutions can include capsulorrhaphy (internal pocket repair), fat grafting to soften transitions, or raising the fold to improve implant position.
Ultimately, the best guidance will come from an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can examine your tissues, pocket, and implant relationship in detail.

Warmly,
Earl Stephenson, Jr, MD, DDS, MBA
ESJ Aesthetics — “Where Confidence Takes Shape!”