Are my implants bottoming out?
From your photos it looks like the distance from your nipple to breast crease has lengthened over the past 6 months, which happens for most breast implants that push the limits of a person's frame size and breast footprint like your implants do. How much the implants drop and stretch the lower breast depends on implant absolute size, implant size relative to breast footprint, implant position, and genetic skin and soft tissue characteristics. Stretching of the lower breast and implant bottoming out is most significant during the first 6-12 months. Stretching will continue to some degree after the 1 year time point, but it is usually much slower.
Dear Michaela61242,bottoming out occurs when the implant falls below the current breast crease or inframammary line. It's more likely to happen with inframammary incisions, which is why I try not to use the inframammary approach to any breast surgery.Bottoming out can also occur if an implant is too large for the breast pocket. That is why it is important to choose an implant size that's correct for your body. I perform numerous measurements in the office to determine optimal implant size for my patient's bodies.If you are concerned, please check it with your plastic surgeon for reassurance and to further discuss your options and possibility of revision.Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
