Can Implants "Crush You" and Cause Breathing Problems?

Hi there-

Immediately after surgery, it is not uncommon for patients to say they experience a feeling of pressure on their chest, with mild to moderate discomfort when they try to take a deep breath.

This should not be confused, however, with INABILITY to take a deep breath... Breathing happens entirely inside the chest, when the diaphragm moves up and down, causing the lungs to expand and fill with air. This is possible because we have a rigid rib cage in which this mechanism is enclosed. Because breast implants do not alter the rib cage or the diaphragm, there is not a possibility that having implants would change the way you breathe or actually restrict breathing somehow- although as mentioned, early in the postoperative period they can cause some mild discomfort with deep breathing.

Very rarely, when implants become very old and affected by thick scar tissue (capsular contracture), discomfort of varying severity and character may be experienced as well, but I have never met a patient who described this as a difficulty breathing.

Early in the post operative period patients will often describe a chest tightness and difficulty taking a deep breath but this generally resolves within a few days.

If you have trouble breathing immediately after implants you need to let your surgeon know right away since there may be a rare medical emergency.  However, during implant placement, the muscle is lifted and stretched to allow placement of the implant.  This muscle stretching may cause some discomfort which is usually alleviated with muscle relaxers for the first couple days after surgery.  To truly have effects on breathing, you would have to have extraordinarily large implants placed - as stated above.  Good luck with your surgery.