Left Saline Breast Implant: Shooting Pain when Breathing, Lump in Center of Breast. What Does This Mean?

Question

I have saline implants that are appraoching 8 yrs old. I have a lump in the same place on each implant: directly in the center of each breast. When I asked surgeon about this several years ago, he said that scar tissue had likely formed around the port used to fill up the implants during surgery. About 2 yrs ago I stared feeling pain when breathing or lying on my left side.This lasts for a few days then goes away, comes back every 8wks. I can feel the lump when I touch it but it is not visible.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Best to obtain a mammogram/ultrasound of the breasts, and a chest X-ray to try to determine the cause of these issues. Also in person examination could be of help.

Richard Linderman, MD (retired) · Answer

If the lumps are symmetrical and in center of breasts, you may well be feeling the valve of the underlying implants. The may be palpable but rarely do they cause pain . I would recommend a mammogram and physical exam to help determine the cause of your discomfort.

Daniel Greenwald, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Saline implants stretch over time, as does breast skin and breast tissue. If you have some scar trapped in the filler port it may be pulling on you in a way that irritates a local nerve. Massaging the area may help, but you probably will require a surgical release. if you are going back to the OR consider exchanging the saline implants for silicone: they are softer, more natural, and will last forever.

Left Saline Breast Implant: Shooting Pain when Breathing, Lump in Center of Breast. What Does This Mean?

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