12 year old implants, dropping and pain. What could be causing this?

Question

have 12 year old breast implants. My right breast has dropped and is painful. It started when i would bend down about 4 mths ago. Know its painful all the time and i cannot go with out a bra. Especially when i lay down. What can this be?

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Your implants need to be evaluated.  A sudden change in the implant/breast position accompanied with pain may indicate a serious issue like an implant rupture.  Please seek evaluation by a board certified plastic surgeon.

Lu-Jean Feng, MD · Answer

You can tighten the inferior pocket of the breast implant with sutures so that your implant can be prevented from falling.

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

It is difficult to explain your symptoms without a physical exam. There is a possibility that you have developed a capsular contracture. This could explain both the pain and movement of the implant. If this is the case, removal of the scar tissue and perhaps changing the implant  pocket often yields good results.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Your particular condition is impossible to diagnose but on balance breast implants seldom cause breast pain. Nevertheless, you should check in with your plastic surgeon for a thorough examination.

Peter J. Capizzi, MD · Answer

The capsule around the implant compressing breast tissue may be the cause for your discomfort.  Self exam is important as well as an exam by a physician to ensure the breast itself is fine.  My advice is to have a BCPS who specializes in cosmetic breast surgery to assist you at this time.

Yuly Gorodisky, DO, FACOS · Answer

Your implants may have lost the support of your breast tissue and are bottoming out. The pain may be due to the stretching of the skin and tissues in a new area.  You should see a plastic surgeon who does revision work to be evaluated and come up with a treatment plan.  You may need to have a procedure using a dermal matrix type of mesh to support the implant and prevent it from bottoming out.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Without an exam it is difficult to say what you have pain. There are many causes of pain but a detailed history and exam are critical.

Rick Rosen, MD · Answer

thank you for your question. I would suggest you see a board certified plastic surgeon for an evaluation. Chances are that it is just a capsular contracture that can develop over time, and can pull the muscle causing the pain. It also can distort the breast. Whether the implant is ruptured or something else is occurring is why the examination is so important.

Heather J. Furnas, MD · Answer

Assessing breast pain is difficult, but it's possible that the capsule, which is the scar around the breast, softened and enlarged or tore, allowing the implant to drop. The nerves in the area may be newly stretched, and possibly causing pain. It is possible that wearing a bra pushes the weight of the implant up and relieves some of the pressure on the nerve. However, breast pain can have other causes, so you should see a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in breast augmentation. He/she can examine you and discuss possible causes.All the best.

Matthew H. Steele, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Without an exam, it is obviously hard to know what is going on, but you may be experiencing capsular contracture.  This occurs when the scar sac around the implants becomes smaller. This can result in upward or downward migration of the implant, a change in shape, look or feel of the implants, and pain.  You may also have some "bottoming out" of the implant.  Be sure to find a board certified plastic surgeon to examine you and discuss possible revisionary surgery. Good luck.

12 year old implants, dropping and pain. What could be causing this?

Answers (13)

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