Tendon Under Armpit is Tight After Breast Implants

The chord in your armpit is a clotted lymphatic duct.  It is not a vein nor is it a tendon.  I have done several thousand transaxillary breast augmentations and see this problem about 80% of the time.  I agree with many of the previous responders.  Ibuprofen, stretching, and time will make these clotted, redundant, unnecessary lymphatic ducts vanish.

Don't worry.  This is very common and it will go away.

Dear 1234Me,

What you are describing is a Mondor's cord- otherwise described as a sclerosing thrombophlebitis of the subcutaneous veins of the anterior chest wall- it sounds far more worrisome than it typically is.

It has about a 1% incidence after breast augmentation, and is typically self-limiting.

I recommend to my patients it is best treated with anti-inflammatory meds (such as Ibuprofen). It usually goes away after a few weeks.

I hope this helps,

Sergio Pasquale Maggi, M.D., F.A.C.S.

This appears to be more of a thrombosed vein than a transected muscle. Massage and exercise should help.

The cord you are seeing may be a vein  that more than likley will resolve on its own. Massage may help and anti-inflammatories. You should  be seen by your surgeon ot advise you.

It is not unusual to develop a tight tender cord across the armpit after axillary breast augmentation. It's not a damaged tendon. 

This will get better as you continue to heal, but I do recommend some stretching and massage to speed up the resolution:


Stand next to a wall

extend your arm as high above you as you can; if it helps, "walk your finger up the wall for a better stretch

lean toward the wall to further stretch your arm 

at the same time, use your opposite hand to massage the tight cord

continue to lean a bit more into the wall


Do this for 2 or 3 minutes, at least 4 or 5 times each day, more often, if possible.

Be patient: it will take several weeks to get the cord resolved!