Saline breast implants, July 2022, how do I know what caused my rippling? (Photo)

Question

I got saline breast implants in July of 2022, so almost a year ago. The surgery and recovery was a breeze. Everything seemed like it was going great but a few months ago I noticed one small ripple on my inner left breast. It didnt phase me too much. Fast forward to today, I have ripples all around both breasts. Is this my fault? Did I lay wrong? Did I not massage enough? Should I have worn the special bra longer? I skipped my 3rd follow up because I’m worried of being told I ruined them.

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

Breast implant rippling can occur for various reasons, and it's not necessarily your fault. Some potential factors that can contribute to implant rippling include the type of implants used, the amount of breast tissue you had before surgery, your body's natural healing process, and the placement of the implants. Saline implants have a higher tendency to develop ripples compared to silicone implants, as they contain a fluid-filled solution.

Massaging the breasts and following post-operative instructions, including wearing a special bra, can help minimize complications, but they do not guarantee complete prevention of rippling. Although it is recommended to attend all follow-up appointments after surgery, skipping one appointment should not necessarily be a cause for undue worry or guilt.

I would strongly advise you to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in breast surgery who will be able to physically evaluate your specific situation, examine your breasts, and discuss the best course of action. They may recommend additional treatments or revision surgery if necessary.

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

John Reilly, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,

You tend to see more rippling with saline implants above the muscle. You did not do anything wrong! The swelling has subsided now and so the tissue between the implant and the skin is thinner which allows you to see the rippling. There is some additional component perhaps from the capsule, ie the "bag of scar" that develops around all implants, could also contribute to the visible rippling. There is nothing to do about it other than additional surgery where you can either choose silicone, put the implants under the muscle or consider fat grafting.  Best of luck.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear noidea0,
saline implants tend to ripple more than silicone implants in general. Rippling can result due to many factors including thin skin, poor implant position etc. Sometimes, you can over fill the saline implant to help a bit, but this may not feel as natural.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Brian K. Reedy, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question! You likely didn't do anything wrong. Saline implants do ripple more than silicone implants. If your implants are over the muscle, that will create more rippling as well. I would strongly encourage you to follow up with your doctor to discuss options. Good luck!

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question. Its possible that some of the swelling went down and now you are more aware of the rippling, or perhaps you lost some weight so the natural breast tissue is thinner around the implant. Its most likely nothing that you have down wrong, speak to you plastic surgeon about this concern.

Jonathan Heistein, MD · Answer

Hi.  It is unlikely that the rippling is your fault.  Several factors contribute to the appearance of rippling, and they can be addressed if you want.  Saline implants typically show more rippling than silicone implants.  If the implants are on top of the muscle, they show more rippling than if they are under the muscle.  Rippling also shows more in women that don't have a lot of breast volume.  So if you wanted to fix any of these issues, it is possible, but each would require another surgery.   So if it doesn't bother you too much, then you can stay with what you have.  But if you want to do something, then you could consider switching to silicone implants, putting the implants behind the muscle (if they are on top now), and even doing some fat grafting (but this last one isn't usually worth it for mild situations).  Best advice would be to ask your doctor when you are at an in-person appointment, and then he/she can give you more accurate options and expectations.  Best of luck!

Karl William Schwarz, MD · Answer

Your recovery was a breeze because you likely have the implants under the gland and the reason you have rippling is because they are saline implants under the gland.

A saline implant will always ripple more than a silicone gel implant, and an implant placed directly under the gland will always ripple more than an implant placed under the muscle.

Change the implants to silicone and placing them in a sub-muscular location with fat grafting will correct with problem.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Visible rippling is a risk with implants, and more prevalent with saline implants.  It is unlikely that you did anything to cause the rippling nor could you have done something specific to prevent it.  There are several potential causes for rippling to be visible.  If you have concerns I encourage you to visit with your surgeon.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Ripples are more seen and felt with saline implants. that is the nature of water in a bag. When you have minimal tissue to cover, the ripples are noticed. Going larger makes ripples worse.

Saline breast implants, July 2022, how do I know what caused my rippling? (Photo)

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