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Reconstructive Surgery (Expert Forum)
Problems after breast implant removal
Answered by
Archibald S Miller III, MD,FACS - sternal reconstruction, augmentation, face lifts, breast reconstruction, liposuction/body contouring, abdominoplasty, Breast reduction risks, breast reduction, skin care
cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of tulsa
Tulsa - OK
Questions in the Reconstructive Surgery Forum are being answered by Dr. Archibald Sanford Miller III, MD,FACS, the Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine.
Problems after breast implant removal
by margesang101, Jun 30, 2009 12:47PM
Hi,
I recently had my breast implants removed and am pretty disappointed on how my natural breasts are looking right now. I had the removal 4 months ago and my breasts are not the same! My left side is larger than the right (almost one size bigger), and the assymetry is totally off between the two - one sits higher than the other. And the breast that is bigger, also has a hard line around it which is making the shape look different than the other one. I had to have drains for about a week after my implant removal because one of the implants was actually ruptured (the smaller breast that is most like my original breasts before surgery was ruptured). In the past 4 months, I have had to go back to my plastic surgeon twice for him to extract fluid that was still in the larger breast. When he extracts the liquid it does go down a little and looks more normal. But now it just is looking really bad and I am concerned. One thing to note, is that I had my breast implants revised by my original doctor 2 years ago because I had a case of symmastia, and the breast that has the hard line and is bigger is the breast where the pocket was mostly corrected for the symmastia. I went to a different surgeon for removal. My new surgeon seems to think the complications are from the pocket revisions from earlier surgeries - is this true? I recently went to my primary physician for a physical and he noticed that the bigger breast feels different than the smaller one and suggests I go see the plastic surgeon again.
Is it normal for breasts to be bigger after removal of implants? What does it mean if I have this "hard line" under one breast which is causing a different shape than the right breast? Any insight you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
I recently had my breast implants removed and am pretty disappointed on how my natural breasts are looking right now. I had the removal 4 months ago and my breasts are not the same! My left side is larger than the right (almost one size bigger), and the assymetry is totally off between the two - one sits higher than the other. And the breast that is bigger, also has a hard line around it which is making the shape look different than the other one. I had to have drains for about a week after my implant removal because one of the implants was actually ruptured (the smaller breast that is most like my original breasts before surgery was ruptured). In the past 4 months, I have had to go back to my plastic surgeon twice for him to extract fluid that was still in the larger breast. When he extracts the liquid it does go down a little and looks more normal. But now it just is looking really bad and I am concerned. One thing to note, is that I had my breast implants revised by my original doctor 2 years ago because I had a case of symmastia, and the breast that has the hard line and is bigger is the breast where the pocket was mostly corrected for the symmastia. I went to a different surgeon for removal. My new surgeon seems to think the complications are from the pocket revisions from earlier surgeries - is this true? I recently went to my primary physician for a physical and he noticed that the bigger breast feels different than the smaller one and suggests I go see the plastic surgeon again.
Is it normal for breasts to be bigger after removal of implants? What does it mean if I have this "hard line" under one breast which is causing a different shape than the right breast? Any insight you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Doctor's Answer
by Archibald S Miller III, MD,FACS, Jul 11, 2009 05:26PM
, Jul 11, 2009 05:26PMTo: margesang101
The line you describe is likely the old inframammary crease line where your breast was originally attached to your chest. I will be willing to bet that the larger breast is a persistent "seroma", or fluid collection. You probably will need a small procedure that will remove the seroma pocket, then have another drain placed. Yes, a site where multiple procedures are done tend to scar more, and have more complications. A seroma is treatable, but is still painful and irritating to the person suffering from it.
arch s miller ms md facs
arch s miller ms md facs
