Fliping implant??????

[hotmama23]

Hello I have a question for you but before I ask I will tell you a little about myself and what is going on. I am one year post op from a redo BA and I developed CC so my plastic surgeon went in and fixed it on 10/7 and while he was in there fixing the cc he said that part of my problem was that my implant had filped upside down so he turned it around. Well I just had my post op app today and my plastic surgeon seems to think that the implant has fliped yet again. He has also told me that he has never had anything like this before and is not sure on what to do about it. I was just wondering if you have ever had anything like this before? If so what do you do to fix it? Is there any way for me to massage it and flip it back myself? Im am feeling very alone right now and have never heard of anything like this before either and just trying to get some imformation on it. Thank you for your time!

[drdonrevis]

Good afternoon,

I have encountered this a number of times- sometimes you can tell it preop and sometimes it is a surprise.

If you can recognize it preoperatively, it is often possible to massage the breast and flip it back the right way. Problem is, it usually flips back over again eventually. This is probably because the implant surface is smooth and the pocket may be a bit too big.

One way to fix this would be to go wiuth a textured implant. I favor these implants for special situations, and this would be one of them. The capsule "attaches" to the implant surface, perventing flipping.

Good question!

Sincerely,
Don Revis, MD
www.SouthFloridaPlasticSurgery.com

[hairgirl]

How can you tell if an implant has flipped?

[hotmama23]

Thank you for your help. I dont know about the pocket being to big or not cause I cant see in there but I dont know about a textured implant because I have overs and very little brest tissue to star with so I dont know iif that is the way Im going or not but I like to know all of my options before makeing any decison.

Also just wondering about the pain im having. I was having this pain before he did the surgery to fix the cc but I still have the same pain now. Also noticing in the problem breast (my left) that the hole implant is moving when i use my muscle. Now with overs they have never done this before and still my right one does not do this so could this be another problem or do you think it has anything to do with the problems Im already having. Im sorry for asking so may questions but my plastic surgeon had never seen anything like this before and could not really give me any answers!! But thank you so very much for your time and help!!!!!!!

[drdonrevis]

Good morning,

I'll answer the previous two posts together.

As to how do you determine if an implant has flipped over, this usually creates a shape distortion where the breasts no longer look the same. Many patients can actually flip their implants back and forth.

Pain related to this situation may be because of your previous CC or because you may have bottoming out as a result of your capsulectomy. The implant flipping over shouldn't cause pain.

Best Wishes,
Don Revis, MD
www.CapsularContracture.com

[hotmama23]

Thank you! I dont think that I have bottomed out in the left breast becasue it is sitting up a lot higher then the other one. So I dont know what the pain would be from. How do I go about trying to flip the implant back over myself?

[drdonrevis]

Basically you massage the implant and try to find the edge to flip it over- it's not easy to do but I have seen patients be able to show me this technique before.

Best wishes,
Don Revis, MD
www.BreastAugmentationRevision.com

[hotmama23]

Ok I will have to try that. Now if I do get it fliped over is there anything that i can do to keep it from fliping again?

[drdonrevis]

Good afternoon,

Not really anything I knopw of to prevent recurrent flipping other than switching the implants like we discussed earlier.

Best Wishes,
Don Revis, MD
www.SouthFloridaPlasticSurgery.com

[hotmama23]

Thank you! I do have another question for you. I have the smooth round overs and in the problem breast (left) When I flex the muscles in my chest the left breast goes way up and tighten and the right breast stays just as soft. So my question is with cc can it attach itself to the muscle and make the breast move when using the muscle? I hope this makes sense and Thank you so very much for all the help!! You have put my mind at ease a little which ahs helped me sort some of this problem out.

[drdonrevis]

Good afternoon,

When overs develop a CC< they can attach to the muscle because they are sitting right on top of the muscle touching it. A CC typically gets more firm, uncomfortable and/or painful, and when they move it is usually up and out.

Best wishes,
Don Revis, MD
www.BreastAugmentationRevision.com

[hotmama23]

Thank you that is what I was thinking now I just have to tell my plastic surgeon what Im thinking. I think the best way to fix all the problems (or at least try) in my left breast is to open me up and take everything out clean it all maybe make a new pocket and put the implant back in. Kinda like getting a new BA in just my left breast!! Do you think that would help, hurt, or not make any difference? Also what would be the best way to tell my plastic surgeon with out offending him?

[drdonrevis]

Good afternoon,

Just sit down with your plastic surgeon, tell them what you are feeling, the research you have done, the discussions you have had, and tell him what you want to do. The let him have a turn to give you his opinion. An honest, open face to face discussion is the best way to settle these matters.

Best wishes,
Don Revis, MD
www.BreastAugmentationRevision.com