I recommend you follow up with your breast surgeon. You may be experiencing a complication called implant contracture or a related complication.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

How long ago was your surgery? Were your implants placed over or under the muscle? Depending on your answers to these questions, it could be one of the following: too soon after surgery, hematoma/seroma, capsular contraction. What to do depends on the cause. Call your surgeon.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Ask your plastic surgeon; there are many variables. How much larger is the left than the right breast? Remember: Your breasts are sisters and not twins! No woman's breasts are symmetrical. Lastly, how soon after surgery did the breast become harder and larger?

Published on Jul 11, 2012

You did not mention how long you have had your implants in. You may have a capsule in your left breast if you have had implants for a little while. If you have just had surgery, you may have a hematoma. You should call your surgeon and have him/her look at it to determine what the problem is so that it can be resolved. Good luck in your recovery.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

I don't know how long ago you had your surgery, but if it has been months, then see your surgeon. This would then indicate that you have a capsule, and it may need to be released. There may also be fluid there.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Without having more details and photos, its difficult to give you any specific answers. Did you have your surgery recently or years ago? is this a new change or is this recently after surgery? One cause of a breast hardening, is the development of a capsular contracture. The solution to this often involved additional surgery, including removing the capsule and placing a new implant. Is the difference in size something noticed soon after surgery, or is this something new after having the implants for years with similar size breasts previously?

Published on Jul 11, 2012

This maybe the result of a capsular contracture or possibly rotation of the implant. I recommend that you return to your surgeon for evaluation and advise as to what to do about it. On occasion early capsular contracture can be managed non-surgically if this is infact what you are dealing with.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Implants are inert and unless they are ruptured or infected, they do not change. However, the breast can undergo many changes. If the breast is hard, there are several possibilities that include but are not limited to rupture and/or capsular contracture (hardening of the breast tissue around the implant. A thorough evaluation by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon will help delineate not only the cause, but also, the appropriate therapy.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for your question.
If you are concerned that one side is more firm than the other, I would recommend that you visit with your surgeon and allow him/her to examine you to make sure that everything is OK.
Best wishes.
Tom Pousti MD
www.PoustiPlasticSurgery.com

Published on Jul 11, 2012

If one side is larger and firmer than the other side, you most likely have capsular contracture around the implant itself. This can cause the breast to become firmer and immobile. Usually this requires surgery to remove/ release scar tissue, but an examination by a plastic surgeon would be the first step. If you are early on in the healing process, this could just be normal healing ( each side takes its own time). However, if it had been more than a few months, contracture is the first thing to target. I hope this helps.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for your question. You may have capsule contracture on your left breast. You should visit your surgeon to address these concerns.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

If they were previously the same size, you may be experiencing capsular contracture. This is a hardening of the scar tissue capsule surrounding the implant. It causes it to feel hard and look rounder and sometimes bigger. The best thing to do is have your plastic surgeon evaluate the problem. You may need to have the implant replaced and capsule removed.

Published on Jul 11, 2012