Problems after breast implant removal

[margesang101]

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!

[margesang101]

Thank you Dr. Rosenberg for the information. I am going to see my plastic surgeon on Tuesday for a follow up and I will ask him if he completely removed the capsule after removing the implants. Regarding the possibility of a new capsule forming due to the seroma, can I see if this is present with an ultrasound? Would the capsule (if there is one) be the reason for the hard line surrounding my breast creating a different shape than the other? Another important question....the last time I saw my surgeon a couple weeks ago, he had to extract fluid but this time it wasn't a clear yellow fluid - it was actually bloody. He seemed confused as to why it was bloody. Is there a reason for why it was red and bloody?

Thank you

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

It is really hard to exactly diagnose your problem without an examination.  With your history if requiring drainage on the larger side, you clearly had a seroma (accumulation of serum in the implant pocket).  The serum could still be present, making that side larger, or you could have additional scar tissue build up in reaction to the seroma.  It owuld be interesting to discuss with your surgeon if he completely removed with capsule that naturally develops and surrounds the implant.  In rre cases, a new capsule forms around a seroma and requires surgical resection.