After deciding to undergo breast augmentation, you rarely think about what could go wrong with the implants. Usually, you’re thinking about how your new breasts will look, and you can’t get over the excitement of trying on new bras and bikini wear in a few months. But here is the thing; while your new breasts may give you back the confidence lost, it’s also crucial that you prepare yourself for the procedure. This includes setting realistic expectations about the results and understanding the risks and side effects. Breast implant rippling is a potential side effect of breast augmentation.
One look at breast implant rippling photos, and you will realise why it’s vital that you set realistic expectations and prepare for whatever may go wrong. While it’s normal to experience some rippling feeling with your breast implants, visible rippling can be a problem. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Breast Implant Rippling?
When talking about breast implant rippling, you’re referring to the folds and ripples on the breast implants. It’s more likely to be seen in very petite patients or when you’re leaning forward. Rippling is one of the side effects of breast augmentation using implants. When the implant ripples beneath the skin, you can visibly see the wrinkles of the implant.
While all breast implants can ripple, the amount of rippling and how much you can see the rippling varies between individuals. Many patients are not aware of any rippling inside. They can’t see any ripples or wrinkles around the implants, and although there may be some rippling inside, it’s nothing to worry about.
What Does Breast Implant Rippling Look Like?
When you can see the rippling, and it’s visible to the naked eye, that’s a sign that you need to seek help. If you can see the breast implant’s edges, folds, or ripples through the skin, that’s breast implant rippling.
Sometimes it’s not uncommon for a thin individual to lean forward and see rippling around the chest region. The problem occurs when you can see rippling around the upper inner breast, or either breast looks unnatural. At this stage, it will probably warrant corrective surgery.
What Causes Breast Implant Rippling?
Breast implant rippling causes include:
- Too little natural breast tissue to cover the implant
- The implant’s capsule is too small
- Saline implants tend to cause more rippling than silicone
- The implant is too large
- Weight loss after surgery
- An implant placed over the muscle
- More common in round implants than anatomical shaped implants
As you can see, there are various reasons that an implant may ripple. However, the main reasons an implant will ripple are placement, the width and size of the implant, and the implant material. Your surgeon can prevent rippling by using the right size implant and ensuring enough breast tissue to cover the implants.
When talking about breast implants, it’s easy to only think about the cup size or volume (like Motiva 400cc), but it’s also essential to consider its width and profile. Under-filled saline implants can also cause rippling. Since saline implants get filled during surgery, some surgeons opt to overfill the implants to avoid underfilling.
However, this is tricky as overfilling saline implants can also cause rippling. Saline implants also lose volume over time and are more likely to cause rippling than silicone implants. Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel.
Choosing an experienced and expert plastic surgeon with extensive knowledge of breast augmentation is the best way to prevent rippling in the first place.
Does Breast Implant Rippling Get Worse?
It’s not uncommon for a breast implant to ripple, but it’s not always visible on the skin. If you have little tissue covering the implants, it’s unlikely that your breast implant rippling will go away.
If the rippling doesn’t bother you and you still love the look of your breast implants, then there’s no medical reason to have corrective surgery. Rippling doesn’t pose a danger or risk. However, if you are concerned about the look of your breasts, speak to an expert breast surgeon. Because the severity of rippling can vary significantly, each individual might have a slightly different experience.
Can You Prevent Breast Implant Rippling?
Breast implant rippling correction is something you can undergo at a cosmetic surgery facility of your choice. But before you get to that point, it’s essential to understand what you can do to prevent breast implant rippling in the first place.
Size of the Implants
When choosing a breast implant, most women focus more on the cup size or volume. In reality, these factors are not the only ones that surgeons consider when selecting the right breast implant for you. When it comes to size, the projection or profile of the implant plus its width are essential factors to consider since they equally affect the aesthetic outcome and help prevent rippling.
The best implant width should be the same or under the diameter of the breast. This diameter needs to be on the lower side if you have little breast tissue. If the implant is too small and narrow, there will be little to no cleavage, and in some cases, it causes upper pole fullness. If the implant is too wide, it will likely ripple along the edges.
In addition to the width, the projection of the implant is crucial. Round implants, for instance, may have the same width but different projection degrees. Lower profile implants tend to be wider, flatter and have more roundness to your upper pole. On the other hand, higher-profile implants project more in the centre of the breasts. Petite women requiring narrower implants may need to have higher profile implants.
Placement of the Implants
Most plastic surgeons recommend placing breast implants under the muscle. This way, there will be enough natural tissue between the skin and the breast implant, reducing the chances of the implant rippling in the future.
You can place the implants in a partially submuscular position, which may lead to rippling in the breasts’ lower and outer poles. Total submuscular and subfascial placement prevents rippling throughout your breasts. However, this placement isn’t ideal for everyone, so talk to your plastic surgeon about the best option.
Material of the Implants
If you decide on breast augmentation, you will have to choose between silicone and saline-gel filled implants. Silicone implants are preferred since they cause less rippling in most breast augmentation and reconstruction cases. Gummy bear implants are also ideal since they are least likely to ripple and have the lowest chance of capsular contracture.
One of the ways you can ensure that your implants don’t ripple is by choosing an experienced plastic surgeon to perform the procedure.
How to Fix Breast Implant Rippling: What to Do if You Think You Have Breast Implant Rippling?
If you think you have visible breast implant rippling, the first thing to do is contact an expert plastic surgeon. There is no amount of massaging or skin products that can get rid of the implant rippling. In most cases, you will need revision surgery. Here are some of the options for correcting implant rippling:
- Fat transfer – one approach is to remove fat from one part of the body using liposuction and inject it into the breasts as a natural filler.
- Moving the placement of the implants may also reduce rippling
- Changing saline implants for silicone
- Changing the shape of the implant
- Tightening the scar capsule
The best way to correct breast implant rippling depends on the cause. For instance, fat transfer could be a suitable solution for patients with very little natural breast tissue to make ripples less noticeable. However, if you’re experiencing bad implant rippling, you may need to replace your implants with a different shape or change their placement. The right solution ultimately depends on the individual patient.
For those considering breast augmentation, you must understand the procedure’s potential risks. Like all surgeries, it comes with its own set of risks and possible side effects. That’s why it’s so crucial to choose the right plastic surgeon.
Breast Implant Rippling Treatment London: Breast Revision Surgery at The Harley Clinic
The first step in correcting breast implant rippling or fixing an unsatisfactory breast augmentation is finding the right Harley Street breast surgeon. Find someone who is a good fit for you. After your cosmetic surgery consultation, you should feel completely confident in the process and be ready to move forward. Despite having a previously negative result, your new plastic surgeon should put you at ease and talk you through how they will fix the issue.
If you’re experiencing breast implant rippling and unsure what to do, book a consultation today at The Harley Clinic. We can talk through your options and create a personalised treatment plan.
