Should I Get A Revision Of My Breast Implants?

Q:  Dr. Eppley, I had breast augmentation about six months ago. I went from a 34B to a 34D and they are under the muscle. While the size is satisfactory, they still feel  and look fake. They still feel hard, although not as hard as right after surgery. One breast is also higher than the other one and they have not dropped like my surgeon said they would. What do you recommend I do now?

A: While it is true that breast implants can initially be high due an immediate skin expansion effect, some settling or dropping of them can usually be expected as the lower breast skin relaxes. This is an effect that will occur within the first few months after surgery. I usually like to see it happen by no later than six weeks after surgery. While some settling can still occur up to several months later, you are at a point in time where no change will be seen. Besides a high position, your breast implants feel tight because the tissue pocket that contains them is somewhat too small. A small pocket around a bigger implant will feel tight or hard. What you need now is revisional surgery. The breast implant pockets need to be opened up on the lower pole, one side more than the other. This will drop down and even out the implants and, with larger pockets, make them feel softer. Breast augmentation revision is your next step.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana