My Impants Are Moving Sideways, What Do I Do?

More than likely the implant has not shifted unless the physician did some internal work to widen the pocket.  By having a smaller implant you have less fullness medially to the breast which gives the appearance of it dropping out laterally. In order to correct this the implant pocket needs to be reduced with sutures internally.  It is not unusual for this to happen over time, more so with saline than silicone. I would suggest you return to your physician and suggest a pocket adjustment. I would not operate on a patient for pain alone, however, this this rarely improves after surgery. Good luck!

When your  implants were downsized, the pocket then became too large for the smaller implants. Probably it was not made any larger than it was prior to the revision surgery, but now it is more noticeable. This can be corrected with sutures to close down the lateral extent of the pocket, but what concerns me is your pain. Downsizing the implants should not be a source of pain, and lateral displacement also is not a reason for pain. I would be hesitant to do any kind of surgery while you are experiencing pain.  The pain may also be from capsular contracture around the implant, but that explanation is opposite to your statement that the implant is very mobile in its pocket. You can try gentle massage of the implant and anti-inflamitories.

Regards,

Daniel Medalie, MD

The pocket sounds like it is too large. It may need to be revised to accommodate a smaller implant.
 

Too large a pocket = lateral displacement. You need revisional capsule surgery to closer down the pocket. Sorry. 

Sounds like with the smaller implants the pocket may be too large.   The pocket may need to be revised to accommodate a smaller implant.

Thank you for the question.

Based on your description it sounds like you're experiencing lateral (sideways)  implant malposition when you like down.This can be corrected using an internal suture technique decreasing the size of the pockets on the sides and moving the implants toward the midline.

One of the most common complications after breast augmentation surgery is implant mal-position. This occurs when the implant is in an incorrect position on the chest wall. This may include incorrect position of the implant superiorly (“riding high”), inferiorly (“bottoming out”), medially (“symmastia or uni-boob”) or laterally (falling outward into the axilla). 

Please make sure you seek consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon  who has extensive experience  with revisionary   breast augmentation surgery.

I hope this helps.

It sounds like your implants have an overly large pocket to move around in.  You have gone down in size so the base diameterof your implant will be smaller.

Your surgeon may also have performed excision of the old capsule, so again, more room for smaller implants to move sideways.

This shifting of the implant to the side when you lie down may be causing your pain and it may not resolve.

I would recommend that the pocket is made smaller by placing internal sutures at the side of the chest so that the implant does not move so far outwards.

This would mean that you will have to have another surgical procedure.

May I suggest that you go back and have a chat with your surgeon about any surgical options.