Is the PS at Fault if my Implants Go to Far Towards/Under Armpits? (photo)

Hello Jodyanne,

To answer your question succinctly the PS is not at fault, because there is no apparent deviation from what would be considered a normal result, at least by the photographs posted.  Additionally, you more than likely signed off on the myriad of complications listed in your preoperative consent forms, including implant dropout/malposition.  Having said that, I am not saying that you should be happy with your result. 

Without actually knowing the conversations you might have had with your PS prior to surgery, you probably got just what you asked for, based on statistics and what I know from personal experience.  Unfortunately, most plastic surgeons do not stress strongly enough how important it is to choose an implant that is appropriately sized for the patient's anatomy.  Additionally, larger implants are less predictable than smaller implants with regards to healing and the potential for complications like yours.  Similarly, higher profile implants are less predictable than lower profile implants.  You are an example of someone with implants that are too big for your chestwall/breast width and have suffered dropout and malposition into your armpits.

To be blunt, you cannot have that much augmentation. It doesn't matter that your friend/sister/cousin got the same size (or bigger) implants and she is doing fine. You won't.  Get used to the idea that the breasts you want in terms of shape and position on your body need to be smaller. 

Revision surgery is more complicated than primary breast augmentation, and should be performed by highly experienced revision breast surgeons.  Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and membership in the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery are also important as well.

Best of luck!

Hi Jodyanne.

Your plastic surgeon must place your implants where Mother Nature has placed your breasts and nipples.

Your nipples sit far out in the direction of your sides. Therefore your implants sit out to the sides.  If they did not, and sat close together near the center of your chest, then your nipples would be way out on the outsides of your breasts pointing sideways.

I ALWAYS discuss these issues with my patients before surgery. There is no disappointment when people know exactly what to expect.

Finally, you don't tell us what type of implant you have. You probably know that saline implants are heavier than silicone gel devices and do have more of a tendency to fall out to the side over time.

 

Your result is not optimal and you want confirmation that your plastic surgeon did something wrong so he/she will fix the result at a discount. Not knowing what you looked like before surgery or what exactly was done at surgery it is impossible to know what factor(s) contributed to a less than optimal result. Your posted photos show a wide inter-nipple distance with the left nipple further from the midline than the right and a left breast set lower than the right.

I suspect there was some asymmetry before the surgery with a wider than usual internipple distance. These should be addressed by a skin procedure just before or during the placement of breast implants. I do not believe adjustments to the breast implant pockets alone will suffice.

Before undergoing any additional surgery you need to clearly understand what the problem is and what measures can be employed to fix or improve it. Do not proceed without a clear game plan or you will be destined for even more disappointment.

The majority of surgeons will do early revisions after surgery without charging additional surgical fees though you may still have to pay operating room and anesthesia costs.

My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You need to consult with i.e. personally see a board certified plastic surgeon in order to receive a formal evaluation and develop a doctor patient relationship.