Improving the shape of your breasts with a breast augmentation can have a profoundly positive effect on not just how you look, but also how you feel. The right size breast implant for your anatomy and needs can help to create a torso that is in proper proportion. Since the human eye is designed to perceive a body that is in harmony as being more attractive, vital and youthful looking, breast implants may make you feel more confident, courageous and comfortable in your skin. The many positive benefits associated with a breast augmentation is one of the main reasons that the procedure continues to be one of the most popular in the world. But it is not without potential complications including implant rippling. This is when wrinkles on the surface of the breast implant are visible and palpable. As a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in breast surgery, I am passionate about delivering a safe, exemplary result without complications so here are some thoughts on how to treat and prevent breast implant rippling.
What Causes Breast Implant Rippling?
My idea of a successful breast augmentation is to deliver a result that is as natural looking and feeling as possible. No one wants to see wrinkles on their breasts, especially not when they’ve paid good money for their dream chest. There are a number of factors that can result in breast implant rippling such as:
- Saline implants
- Implants placed over the muscle
- Breasts implants that are too big or too small for patient anatomy
- Inadequate native soft tissue coverage
The single greatest thing that you can do to prevent complications in general, including implant rippling, is to schedule an in-person consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who excels in breast surgery.
Breast Augmentation Consultation
Many patients don’t realize that preventing complications starts long before we ever step into the operating room (OR). Improving your body contour with a breast implant is always a balance between art and science, between your desired outcome and what your anatomy can sustain. During our meeting, I will listen to what bothers you about your appearance. Most new breast augmentation patients come in with photos of how they’d like to look. This is incredibly helpful as sometimes what you think is the problem is not actually the issue. I will ask you a series of in-depth questions about your medical history, family history, prior procedures and how your body responded. Then, I will conduct a thorough physical exam to assess:
- Native breast volume
- Nipple position in relation to inframammary fold
- Breast skin tone & texture
- Degree of sagging, if any
Together, we will discuss the best treatment plan for you. Every body is unique which is why the internet can be misleading. Your favorite influencer may look great with a 300cc implant, but this doesn’t mean that size will work for you.
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Why Breast Implants Are Like Goldilocks
When it comes to choosing a breast implant, I want you to remember the story of Goldilocks and the three bears. We are looking for the range of implants that are just right for your body. Sometimes, the look that a patient wants to achieve may not be possible with their unique anatomy. For example, if I place a too large implant, particularly in breast tissue that has stretched due to pregnancy and/or breast feeding, this tissue is going to be too weak to hold the implant in place over time. This can result in implant malposition and rippling. However, the latter may also occur with weak breast tissue and a too small implant as there isn’t enough volume to keep your breast skin taut. I want to find the implants that are going to improve your body contour without running any risk of a post-op complication like rippling.
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Treatment Options for Breast Implant Rippling in Boston
So, while the best way to avoid breast implant rippling is to prevent it from happening in the first place, what do you do if that ship’s already sailed? Luckily, there are quite a few effective treatment options for addressing rippling. These include:
- Exchange saline implant for silicone
- Reduce the size of the pocket that holds the implant
- Change the size of the breast implant
- Re-drape breast skin with a breast lift
- Place soft tissue support such as GalaFLEX®
- Fat grafting to the breast
The right one for you is going to depend on what’s causing wrinkles on your breast implant to become visible. Breast revision surgery may sound daunting, but don’t you deserve to have the breasts that you want?
To find out more about a breast augmentation, breast revision surgery, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Chestnut Hill office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.