I think I have snoopy deformity. Is this common? Would you have done a lift based on my pre-op picture? (photos)

Dear swcadent,
breast revision surgery is the most difficult plastic surgery procedure performed. Botched breast surgery alters normal tissue planes and laxity, the ability of breasts to heal properly, and leaves scar tissue that dramatically affects the level of difficulty of the corrective surgery.Many patients come in to correct poor outcomes from their initial surgeries. The most common problems are due to implant malposition, bottoming out of the implant, poor scarring, and incorrect implant size.While the type of revision required will depend on the result of the previous surgery and the desired result of the patient, some revisions involve extensive pocket repair that may or may not need specialized external bras.If you are considering breast surgery revision, you should speak with a board certified plastic surgeon and have yourself properly assessed. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations. Also, you have to make sure that your surgeon understands your breast augmentation goals.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs. In your before picture you have your arms up which much like your after picture in the similar position demonstrates a nice result. Because you do have a snoopy deformity, you did require a lift at the time of your original augmentation.

You may indeed need a mastopexy, but I would encourage you to wait closer to a year to make that decision. There is still a chance the implants will loosen and drop enough to correct this problem. Good luck, Jane.

Snoopy/waterfall deformity is a term used to describe a situation where the breast implant is positioned too low, causing the breast tissue to sag or droop over the implant. It can occur when there is pre-existing sagging or when the breast tissue does not adequately support the weight of the implant. A breast lift or Galaflex mesh repair (which would be more suitable in your case, as you didn’t have significant sagging but a lack of support from your own tissue which should have been taken into consideration before the surgery) is often recommended to correct this issue and provide a more aesthetically pleasing result. A Galaflex mesh repair is designed to provide temporary support and reinforcement to tissues during the healing process. It is typically placed within the surgical site to provide additional strength and support to weakened or damaged tissues. Over time, the mesh is gradually absorbed by the body, and new tissue growth occurs in its place.


I hope this helps,
best of luck !

Nicely posted photos. You were on the borderline for lifting. Plus you needed larger implant to fill up the deflated appearance, like 500-700 cc. So now you can do revision by a full lift or exchange to larger implants with donut lift. Fees from $10,000. Best to virtual consult with....

From the photos submitted it appears a lift will resolve the shape issues you are having with the breasts as the skin is sagging beneath the implant. In order to determine if a lift was indicated preoperatively photos at various angles with your arms resting naturally at your sides is needed. As a general rule of thumb if when the arms are relaxed, if the nipple is at or below the breast fold a lift is indicated.

Although your arms are raised in your preop photo, you probably did need a lift. Raising the sagging tissue will help.

Hi. It seems to me that your implant is riding high on your chest and hasn’t come down. I usually see this problem when the implant is totally under the muscle or the muscle isn’t released adequately. Also, you may have benefited more from a moderate plus profile rather than a high profile implant.

Thank you for your question. Of course an examination in person is necessary to properly answer your question.

However your preoperative photographs show your nipple to be well above the inframammary crease or fold. If the nipple is above the fold then you would not have ptosis and would not need a breast lift.

If most likely the cause of your snoopy deformity is capsular contracture which is lift of the breast implants higher on the breast and posterior nipple down. If your breast implants feel firm and do not move smoothly than capsular contracture is the cause.

I would suggest a second opinion. If you do have capsular contracture that a capsulectomy in revision is possible.