It is usually corrected with revision surgery.
It is very distressing to discover that your breast implants have shifted from the ideal position. In most cases, patients will inquire, “How to fix a displaced breast implant?” when there is visible asymmetry, “bottoming out” (implant going too low), or lateral displacement (implant falling toward the armpit). At Lin Europe Clinic, we hear you and know that you are looking for your symmetry and confidence again. The answer to this is totally based on when the displacement happened and how severe it is.
Implant displacement is when the “pocket” made by the surgeon is too big or gets stretched over time whereby the implant device can move into an undesired spot. While some cases of displacement can be easily corrected without surgery in the very beginning, most displaced implants which have already been displaced for some time, will require surgical revision. This article explains the level of treatments to get back your perfect figure.
Early Intervention: The Power of Support and Massage
It’s possible that you don’t need to use a scalpel if you find the displacement within a few weeks or months after the operation. At that time, the internal scar capsule is not yet fully formed. By massaging the implant and ensuring it is in the correct place, you can “train” the pocket to heal around the implant properly.
- Displacement Massage: Your doctor might advise you to manually push the implant into the desired position several times a day. Therefore, if your implant is located too high, you can do aggressive downward massage to relieve it.
- Specialized Bras and Bands: Let’s say an implant is bottoming out, it is important to wear a bra with a very firm underwire and not to use the stabilizer band. On the contrary, when an implant is too high, the stabilizer band is used to push it down.
- Taping: There are times when a surgeon might use medical tape to physically secure the skin and implant in the correct vector while the internal tissues are getting united.
Note: The above methods are effective only during the time when the capsule is still soft. After scar tissue has matured (normally after 6 months), it becomes almost impossible to use non-surgical methods to fix the problem.
Surgical Solution 1: Capsulorrhaphy (Internal Stitching)
Where the pocket has permanently stretched in the case of displacement; “capsulorrhaphy” is considered the best standard repair. The surgeon through the initial incision accesses the breast and the operation involves using stitches to close the pocket in specific areas.
Imagine that you have a loose dress that needs tailoring. If your implant is sliding sideways into your armpit (lateral displacement), the surgeon will stitch the outer side of the internal pocket to close that space. The newly created wall physically blocks the implant from moving out again. Thus, a capsulorrhaphy procedure that effectively tightens the envelope, locks the implant back into its central position on the chest wall.
Surgical Solution 2: Pocket Change or Mesh Support
Quite often, the patient’s natural tissues are too weak to hold even a stitched implant. In “bottoming out” (gravity constantly pulling the implant down), such a situation is typical. With the help of a surgical mesh (such as Galaflex), we can reinforce the mesh repair in such cases. This bio-scaffold works like an internal bra and thus, additionally it provides the bottom of the pocket with extra strength.
Also, changing implant’s plane can resolve the problem. For instance, if a subglandular (above the muscle) implant has become very saggy, migrating it to a submuscular (below the muscle) position can offer a tight, newly created pocket with a higher level of support. “Pocket conversion” is a very efficient method not only of fixing long-term displacement but also to get the desired upper pole fullness.
Symmastia Repair: The “Uniboob” Correction
When the implants move toward the middle of the chest in symmastia, the skin between the breasts becomes separated. This leads to the loss of cleavage and results in a single “uniboob” shape. The tricky part of this repair is that the tissue which was dividing the pockets has been damaged.
The solution normally includes internal stitches of the medial (inner) borders of the pockets so that the separation can be reinstated. The surgeon may combine the use of capsulorrhaphy and permanent internal sutures to the sternum (breastbone) to reattach the skin when the skin is very loose. They should wear a special separator garment or bra type “thong bra” for weeks after the operation to keep this fragile repair safe and allow it to heal.
Recovery After Displacement Correction
Skin and muscle have already been stretched so recovering from a revision surgery will very likely be a bit easier than the first time your breasts were augmented. That being said, the limitations are tougher. No matter what, you have to keep the repair safe. For example, after lateral displacement correction you may not be allowed to sleep on your side for six weeks. And if you had bottoming out fixed, then going braless is absolutely out of the question.
The only way for the internal stitches to be ensured the strict adherence of the protocols. We at Lin Europe Clinic give you comprehensive “do’s and don’ts” specifically based on your repair type. Besides, we keep an eye on your recovery to spot even the slightest signs of recurrence.
Breast Revision in Turkey
Turkey boasts one of the best revision plastic surgery centers in the world. The surgical team at Lin Europe Clinic Istanbul exemplifies this as they offer the most skilled surgeons who have an exact knowledge of anatomy and geometry – a combination necessary for surgical correction of a displaced implant.
Presenting solutions for patients experiencing complications from their previous surgeries performed by other providers is how we show our expertise at Lin Europe Clinic. With our “all under one roof” approach, we take care of everything for you and your revision stays smooth and uninterrupted. Along with advanced surgical techniques, we offer cordial care and attend to your needs from the moment you land VIP airport transfer to your post-op checkups. We don’t just repair the implant; we also build your trust in the journey once again. You are welcome to restore your figure in Istanbul where technical perfection meets a luxurious ambiance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fixing Displacement
If it happens just a few days after a surgery, you can sometimes fix displacement with massage, taping, or compression garments. When the scar capsule is established and becomes hard, surgery will be the only option to fix it.
Bottoming out means that the implant has slipped too low on the chest, thereby making the nipple look upward. The only way to correct this is by surgically tightening the bottom of the pocket.
A supportive bra can prevent a displacement from getting worse but rarely will it fix an already established problem. Besides, special surgical bras are crucial during the recovery of the correction.
Capsulorrhaphy means the surgeon internally suturing the pocket to make it smaller and hence the implant will be fixed at the right place.
The success rate is very high if the operation is done by a competent specialist. The risk of the implant shifting again is greatly diminished if reinforcement with mesh (such as Galaflex) is used.
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