Left chest pain after breast augmentation. What could this be due to?

Question

it has been around 1 year since i got breast implants and whenever i roll over from laying on my left side to my back i feel pain in my left chest and i would manually have to bring my left chest over with my hand. this doesn't happen on my other side. my surgeon has no clue...

Christine Rodgers, MD · Answer

Hi fishkakes, As the other physicians have noted, it is very difficult to diagnose the cause of your pain without a physical exam. You probably ought to get a mammogram and /or ultrasound to determine first if there is any issue with the breast tissue itself. If the results are normal, perhaps your doctor might consider a visit with a pain specialist to see if there is a nerve problem. Sometimes a pain specialist can try to block the pain with a medication or at the very least see if a nerve is involved. If you know the cause, the pain might not go away, but you might feel relieved to know what it is.Best,   Dr. Christine Rodgers

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Hello Fishkakes.There's no way to make a diagnosis online about the cause of your pain. However, if it only happens when you're laying down on your breast implant then you should stop doing this activity. I think your breast implant is being pushed into your rib cage and this area is very sensitive. Perhaps, with time it will get better.You can also get an MRI to view the breast, chest and the implant if you want to check on all that, but I'm not sure you will find a cause other than having a device in your breasts. The Mayo Clinic has a great page on breast pain and its treatments and I have added the link below.Best wishes, Dr. ALDO

Talmage J. Raine, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

This pain can be muscular or nerve. The nerves to your breast come from under your rib about the vertical line of your arm pit. They can be a bit stretched or impinged with the volume of the implant. Sometimes a nerve block can be very helpful. A muscle issue with stretching is another possibility.For a short term you may try an anti inflammatory on a regular regimen. An example would be ibuprofen 400 mg every eight hours for a while. You should check with your surgeon and there are issues with the stomach with ibuprofen ingestion. Check with your surgeon.All the best,Talmage Raine MD

Left chest pain after breast augmentation. What could this be due to?

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

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Left chest pain after breast augmentation. What could this be due to?

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.