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.