Is this the start of bottoming out 3 months post op? Under muscle placement, 440cc Motiva progressive gel plus (Photo)

Yes, you are bottoming out. No, this is not because you have too-large implants, it is because your surgeon made the pockets too low, or did not factor in the effects of healing, softening, and stretch under the ever-present physical fact of gravity.I see this problem all-too-frequently when my colleagues place a woman's implants in the "perfect" position in the operating room, even confirmed by upright positioning on the operating table, and then hope to negate the effects of gravity with an Ace bandage, elastic bandeau, or supportive surgical bra. Look in any nursing home to see how trying to outwit gravity works out!Sometimes surgeons who DO take into the accounts of gravity by placing the implants a bit higher than their final desired position will STILL have bottoming out occur. At least we tried, and next time we get a bit better at trying to determine just how much to try to counteract gravity, healing, and stretch/settling over time. After a few years and thousands of implants some of us actually get pretty good at this. But bottoming out still occurs occasionally despite everyone's best efforts. When it does, blaming the implant is not the proper "solution," IMHO. Just repair the capsule, over-correct it a bit to allow for gravity and healing a second time, and have your patient wear a supportive bra to help the healing day and night for at least 3 months (longer is better). Successful repair is not guaranteed, but switching to smaller implants simply shifts the "blame." Not necessary, and frankly (since you would have to go down a substantial amount to make a difference), simply trading one problem (bottoming out) for another (too small implants, too-wide cleavage, and less upper pole fullness) makes no sense to me. Just my two cents' worth! Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Large Implants due to their weight, gravity, thinning of tissues, chronically not wearing a bra, loss of elasticity and other factors may cause continued stretching so that your breast implant is no longer supported in its ideal position. This results in the progressive lowering of the inferior breast crease (inframammary fold). When the implant moves South to an undesired inferior position it results in the loss of volume and flattening of the upper pole of the breast, too much volume at the lower pole, increasing the distance from the fold to the nipple and finally the nipple position being abnormally high ( pointing up) and not centered. Similarly, the pocket can also stretch to the side (lateral) so that when lying down your implants fall towards your arm pits or sides, causing the “Side Boobs” appearance.Bottoming out and Side Boobs Contributing Factors:Larger/Heavier ImplantsImplants placed above the pectoralis muscleChronically not wearing a bra when uprightOver dissection of the Implant PocketSmooth ImplantsLarge swings of weight including pregnancySkin and soft tissue laxity, loss of elasticity

Yes, your implants are bottoming out. This is why your nipples appear too high. The only solution at three months out to perform a revision surgery where the lower portion, where the fold used to be, gets stitched back down to reinforce and lift the implants. Then, an under wire or support bra while it is healing. Discuss this further with your surgeon, or with a second opinion.Best of luck!Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

from your photos it appears that your right implant is lower and causing your nipple to sit higher. You would need to have the lower pole to be repaired to raise the inframammary fold to match the other side.

You do appear to be bottoming out a bit.  In general, only a procedure to tighten your lower pole would be indicated.  However, a smaller implant would put less tension on the repair and would likely entail less of a risk of this occuring in the future. 

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph. I can see your area of concern and though nothing replaces an in-person examination it appears that your implants may be settling too low on your chest causing your nipples to become elevated.  Treatment would involve revision surgery to tighten the lower portion of the implant pocket and possibly a reduction in the size of your implant to avoid recurrence.  Voice your concerns to your surgeon, they can offer the best advice.  

Hello,Thank you for the question and photos. Yes, it does appear that your implants are sitting slightly too low- especially on your left. I recommend that you be seen by your Plastic Surgeon in person for examination and discussion of options.All the best

Not all incisions are placed directly at the fold and many are often above the fold. From your frontal view the implants do not look like they bottomed out.  Best to evaluate in person.

If the implant is moving lower and the point of projection is now below the nipple, yes, the implant is bottoming out. We suggest a firm under-wire to support the breast and do let your surgeon have a look to help out.

When a breast implant migrates below the original placement
location with the bottom of the implant just above the infra-mammary crease, we
call this “bottoming out.” There are several causes of this downward migration
of the breast implant. Usually, some attempt had been made to lower the crease
to accommodate a breast implant whose base diameter is larger than would
otherwise fit in the natural breast. If not done correctly, the anatomic
attachment of the skin of the breast to the chest wall can be obliterated.
There is then nothing to hold the implant up. With the weight of the implant,
and constant gravity, maybe lack of support by lack of wearing a bra
continuously, the implant can settle downward. One of the earliest symptoms, in
my patients, has been the feeling that the breast has to be constantly adjusted
or just feels heavy. We look for the incision line, which was previously placed
at the crease, to have migrated upward onto the breast. When we see this early
on in the postoperative phase, it will never get better with time and will
require a secondary repair. While some plastic surgeons may rely on suturing
techniques only, I have found that unless we un-weight the implant by making it
smaller or strengthen the tissues below by making them less stretchy, that the
same implant, with just sutures placed
on the bottom of the pocket, will, over time, recur it's bottomed out position.
I have used part of the capsule as well as the lining of the deep muscles and tissues
over the ribs in the capsule beneath the breast implants to rotate upward to
hold the breast implant in a higher position and therefore obliterating the
extra space that has been created between the correct infra-mammary crease and
the one created by the downward displacement of the implant. I call this a
three flap technique, as the skin, the capsule and fascia (lining of muscles),
as well as a dermal flap all contribute to creating a hammock like support of
the lower portion of the pocket. When these tissues are insufficient to hold
the implant up, or a previous attempt has been made with sutures, I will
oftentimes rely on the addition of another type of tissue called an acellular
dermal matrix of which my preference is Strattice. This Strattice ,or pigskin,
does not stretch and can be sewn in to the bottom of the new location of the
crease to support it just like a hammock would. Although this is costly, I
consider this an insurance policy against having to redo this again. I would
recommend that you try and find a plastic surgeon with experience in
revisionary cosmetic breast surgery. Good luck.