The No. 1 cosmetic plastic surgery is still breast augmentation and for a good reason. Through this procedure you can not only increase your breast size but also improve the shape of your breasts with the help of implants. Many women choose this procedure to get equal, perky and good-looking breasts. However, as with every surgical procedure, breast implants can also have some post-op complication such as breast implant malrotation.
This malrotation can happen in two ways, either through breast implant rotating or flipping.
Implant malrotation – breast flipping
Flipping as a type of implant malrotation is the most typical post-operative complication after a boob job and it is one of the most common cause of revision surgery. This occurs when the implant, or implants, in one or both your breasts don’t remain fixed in their position. Instead, they flip and the back surface starts facing forward. Something like flipping a burger when you barbeque.
What can cause breast implant malrotation or flipping?
There’s not one unique cause why implants flip. Sometimes this implant malrotation can happen for various reasons, which can include:
Trauma – Most common cause of implant malrotation
If your breasts experience some sort of trauma after surgery, this can easily result in implant flipping. Trauma can occur due to an accident, strenuous sport activity or something entirely different. When this happens, breast implant moves from their position and they can either flip upside down or rotate 180 degrees from back to front.
Not enough rest after breast surgery
Having new boobs is exciting, we agree on that. And we also understand that you would very much like to show off. However, taking it easy, resting and some degree of post-operative immobility is necessary in order for the breast implant to sit and fix well. Some women, on the other hand, tend to massage their breast too vigorously and strain their chest muscles before consulting their doctor. And when the implant doesn’t sit properly, it can easily flip.
Breast implant malrotation can also happen due to the implant type
Compared to the early days, when breast augmentation first started out, today you can find various types, shapes and sizes of breast implants. Some of them have a smoother shell and rounder profile which makes them easier to flip than others. Of course not all smoot implants will flip. Some utilize special adhesive technology that will keep them steadily fixed on the surrounding tissue.
Capsular contracture
Once you have your breast augmentation, your body will naturally start forming scar tissue around the implant site. This is called capsular contracture. During this time, you will experience intense scaring, chronic pain, some minor discomfort (since the thick layer that forms will start putting pressure on the implant) and your breast implant might even get flipped.
Too big implant pocket
During your surgery, the plastic surgeon will create a pocket beneath your breast mound or chest muscle where the breast implant will go. However, if the pocket created is too big, it will leave enough room for the implant to flip. Of course large pockets can’t occur only due to surgical errors. Other factors such as gravity, lactation, ageing etc. have to be considered as well.
In our next post we will be focusing on this topic regarding how does it look like when your breast implant flip, how is it diagnosed and fixed.
