Horrible muscle distortion post explant. How can this be fixed? (Photo)

Question

I had silicone implants under the muscle for cosmetic purposes for exactly 4months before explanting.Hated the feeling of implants&will never consider reimplanting.Explanted for 1.5years now&whenever I flex I have horrible distortion in my breasts.One surgeon has recommended removing scar capsule that was left in&repairing muscles w/alloderm &a small fat graft to fill in the hollow areas &behind my right nipple to perk it back out.I would like to have multiple opinions before making a decision.

Franklin D. Richards, MD · Answer

Some breast distortion with chest muscle contraction is normal in all patients with implants placed behind the muscle. Your distortion seems significant and you have what is called "window shading" after breast augmentation. The right appears worse than the left. There are many reasons that this can occur to include the cutting or post-op tearing of the pectoralis muscle along the sternum or scar adhesions between the pectoralis muscle and the skin. Muscle repair and capsulectomy are fraught with high recurrence rates. Changing the implant from the submuscular position to the subglandular position is totally corrective and the the issue will not recur. This can also be done with less severe distortion in patients that do not want to have any visible breast changes with chest muscle contraction after breast augmentation.

George Bitar, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  You have windowshading of the muscles after explant.  Re-attachment of the muscle with reinforcement would help to improve the deformity.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD, FACS · Answer

You'll most likely need to have the scar tissue removed and Strattice placed to help prevent the tethering that is going on.

Mary Gingrass, MD · Answer

Agree with all the comments so far. Your right breast is particularly difficult to fix because it appears that the pectoral is muscle was aggressively detached from the eternal border. I think that your problem can be improved but will be difficult to correct entirely.

Khashayar Mohebali, MD, FACS · Answer

That is a difficult problem to fix.  When your implants were first placed, the muscle was cut.  It either wasn't repaired or the repair was inadequate when the implants were removed.  You need to have an attempt for reattachement of the muscle.  It may be retracted and need either seri or strattice to repair.  Fat grafting may or may not help hide some of the deformity.

Horrible muscle distortion post explant. How can this be fixed? (Photo)

Answers (10)

Answer: Animation deformity

Answer: Animation deformity

Answer: Animation deformity

Answer: Animation deformity

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implant Removal

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Horrible muscle distortion post explant. How can this be fixed? (Photo)

Answers (10)

Answer: Animation deformity

Answer: Animation deformity

Answer: Animation deformity

Answer: Animation deformity

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implant Removal

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