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Lumps After Breast Augmentation

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Breast Augmentation Surgery Recovery

Any lump noticed on your breast should be evaluated by a qualified physician, regardless of whether you’ve had a breast augmentation. If you have undergone breast augmentation surgery, a lump felt after the procedure could be many things and evaluation by your plastic surgeon is advisable.

Although instances of breast implants edging, rippling or folding are rare, they do occur on occasion. Saline breast implants are more prone to these issues than silicone gel breast implants.

Depending on the type of breast implant and the implant placement, the lump may be due to an implant valve or, as sometimes occurs in women with thin breast tissue, the implant itself. It may also be caused by residual scarring that will eventually subside.

In rare instances, the lump may be due to a cyst, fat necrosis, tumor or other conditions that require medical attention. Again, it’s best to have any lump examined as soon as possible to allay your fears and, if necessary, outline the proper treatment.

While a lump noticed after breast augmentation surgery may not be associated with the procedure, your plastic surgeon can provide a thorough examination, including diagnostic tests and imaging to help diagnose the source of a lump.

If you live in the Beverly Hills area and would like more information about your breast augmentation options, please contact California plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim at E. Kim Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.

For more information about the plastic surgery procedures and non-surgical treatments performed by doubled board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim in and around the Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica CA area please contact us at 310-271-6996 or click here.

Breast Lift Surgery & Weight Loss

Dramatic weight loss following a breast lift (or mastopexy) may affect the appearance of your breasts, and Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim recommends that patients be at or near their ideal weight prior to undergoing a breast lift procedure.

Of course, the effect of weight loss after a breast lift procedure varies widely depending on the individual and the amount of fatty tissue in the breasts. Women who have substantially more fatty tissue in their breasts have a greater tendency to see their breast size and shape fluctuate with their weight. Those with less fatty tissue in their breasts seem to be less affected by weight change.

In general, losing a substantial amount of weight following your breast lift may cause your breasts to droop noticeably or have less volume. If the weight loss causes extreme changes in the size and shape of your breasts, breast revision surgery may be necessary to correct the effects.

Being at or near your ideal weight prior to breast lift surgery can help provide a more predictable and desirable appearance, as well as reduce your risk of complications during and after the breast lift procedure.

Breast Lift Before & After Photos

If you live in the Beverly Hills area and would like more information about breast lift options, please contact California plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim at E. Kim Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.

Recovery periods vary by individual, but most breast lift patients are able to return to work within a week and have their discomfort, swelling and bruising subside within two to three weeks.

And while you may feel ready to resume your normal physical activities after that initial healing process, you should avoid strenuous activities for at least four to six weeks. Your body is still recovering, and during this period it’s important to stay in touch with Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim and follow his guidelines to ensure the results of your breast lift and your complete recovery.

How long until I can exercise after breast augmentation surgery?

Exercise should be resumed lightly at first, and you should refrain from chest exercises for at least a month or as directed by Dr. Kim. As you resume your fitness regimen, listen to your body and don’t overwork yourself.

Undertaking strenuous physical activity before your body is healed can lead to complications and may affect the results of your breast lift.

That said, staying in shape is beneficial to your recovery following any type of surgery, including a breast lift. Exercise and overall good health can decrease the healing time and side effects of surgery.

During your recovery from breast lift surgery, Dr. Kim will monitor your progress and gradually clear for stages of exercise of increasing intensity. Following these recommendations will help you resume your normal, active lifestyle while maintaining the results of your breast lift.

Bottoming out

Bottoming out is a potential breast augmentation complication that sometimes occurs in thin patients with minimal breast tissue. This condition happens more often when breast implants are placed above the muscle, and do not have enough skin coverage.

When breast implants “bottom out,” it means they have settled too low on your chest, making your nipple appear too high on your breast mound. If this occurs shortly after breast augmentation surgery, it usually means that the breast pocket has been over-dissected. On the other hand, if bottoming out occurs later, the cause is usually the weight of the breast implant.

Surgical precaution

Dr. Kim takes every possible surgical precaution to avoid this problem. Selecting breast implants that are a more moderate size and weight will help lessen your chances of bottoming out. If it does occur, however, bottoming out can be corrected with a follow-up surgery that involves moving scar tissue from the bottom of your breast pocket up to where the new, higher breast fold will be.

Click here see more plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim on patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

Technically speaking, breast implants have no expiration date. Modern advances in breast implant materials and technology have made them more reliable and long-lasting than ever. However, like any medical device, they cannot be expected to last a lifetime. Given enough time, breast implants will inevitably become worn out and deteriorate.

Last from 10 to 25 years

In most situations, breast implants will last from 10 to 25 years before they need to be replaced – and some may last even longer. It is wise to visit Dr. Kim every year after your breast augmentation to have your implants examined and ensure no ruptures have occurred.

The longevity of your implants will also depend on the type of breast implant you chose to have placed. For example, saline breast implants tend to rupture sooner, but they are also less likely to cause capsular contracture. Meanwhile, silicone breast implants are far less prone to rupture, but they do pose a higher risk of capsular contracture.

Breast implants can last for decades, but they are not indestructible. Eventually, they will start to break down inside your body. When a breast implant ruptures or causes capsular contracture, you should have it replaced as soon as possible.

If you received a breast augmentation decades ago – for example, in the 1980’s – it may be high time for you to have them replaced with new implants. Modern silicone gel implants come with a wide range of advantages over old implants, including:

A more natural look and feel
A lower rate of capsular contracture
Less prone to rupture
No deflation if rupture occurs

If you received old silicone breast implants in the 80’s, they may now be hard on your chest, or you might have been told by your doctor that a rupture has occurred. Likewise, if you received old saline breast implants that have since deflated, now may be the time to experience the benefits of modern breast implants.

Liposuction is among the top five most popular plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures performed in the United States every year. Complications with liposuction are extremely rare, and are less likely to occur when you choose an experienced cosmetic surgeon and carefully follow all pre- and postoperative instructions.

See liposuction before and after photos

Prior to your procedure, plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim will give you full instructions regarding how to prepare for liposuction, as well as possible warning signs to be aware of during your recovery. He will also be happy to answer all of your questions about liposuction during this time. It is important to remember that even if you follow all of Dr. Kim’s advice, liposuction is still a surgical procedure and, while rare, complications are possible.

Liposuction comes with common surgical risks including infection and excessive bleeding. In some cases, people have adverse reactions to anesthesia. Some risks that are specific to liposuction include:

Blood clots
Fat embolism
Uneven results
Improper wound healing

Working with an experienced cosmetic surgeon like Dr. Kim can reduce your risk of these complications, but there is never a guarantee with any surgical procedure. The risks and benefits of this procedure should be weighed carefully before you commit to surgery. Dr. Kim will be happy to discuss these things with you during your initial consultation.

Liposuction is a body contouring technique in which excess fat is removed from a localized area of your body. Making small incisions, plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim will insert a small cannula into your skin to gently remove stubborn deposits of fat. This procedure is an effective way to remove fat from many areas of your body, including:

Thighs
Hips
Abdomen
Flanks
Buttocks
Breasts (male and female)
Arms
Neck
Face
Knees

Defining liposuction is fairly straight forward. It is equally important to understand what liposuction is not. Liposuction is not an effective weight loss tool. To be a candidate for liposuction, you should be within 10 to 20 pounds of your goal weight. Liposuction cannot safely remove massive amounts of fat. It can, however, be used after substantial weight loss to sculpt and firm your body.

Some deposits of fat will not respond to diet and exercise. It is these deposits that liposuction targets. During your initial consultation with Dr. Kim, it can be determined if liposuction is the best solution for your body.

Breast implants do not have an expiration date; they are designed to be durable and long-lasting. However, like any medical device, breast implants can deteriorate and wear out given enough time. If your breast implants leak or rupture, they will need to be replaced. For some women, this won’t happen for over 30 years. For others, it can happen within 10 to 25 years. How long breast implants last depends on a number of different factors.

If you have saline breast implants, your implants will visibly deflate after a rupture, making it immediately obvious when there is a problem. The salt-water solution within the saline implants will then be harmlessly absorbed into your body.

In contrast, silicone breast implants are designed to retain their shape in the event of a leak, making it difficult to determine when a rupture has occurred. Because of this, the FDA recommends that you undergo an initial MRI 3 years after your breast augmentation followed by an MRI every two years to check for any problems with your silicone breast implants.

Other women may wish to replace their old breast implants for cosmetic reasons. For example, if you had saline breast implants placed decades ago, you may want to take advantage of the superior aesthetic quality of today’s FDA-approved silicone breast implants.

Complications after breast augmentation surgery are rare, but you should know how to identify them in case they do occur. Dr. Kim will provide you with detailed post-surgical instructions for your recovery process, and he will also schedule a follow-up appointment with you to ensure you are healing correctly.

Infection is one of the most common complications after any surgery. Dr. Kim takes great care to keep every step of the surgical process completely sterile to avoid infection, but it is still possible you may contract an infection during the healing process. Signs of infection include:

Redness of the entire breast
Excessive pain or tenderness
Fever

Two other potential complications are hematoma and seroma. A hematoma is a collection of blood in your tissue, while a seroma is a pocket of clear fluid. Both can occur after breast augmentation surgery. If you notice a very tender and swollen area that appears hard – like a pocket of liquid – call Dr. Kim immediately.

Lumps After Breast Augmentation

Tag Archives: plastic surgeon

Breast Augmentation Surgery Recovery

Breast Lift Surgery & Weight Loss

Breast Lift Before & After Photos

How long until I can exercise after breast augmentation surgery?

Bottoming out

Surgical precaution

Last from 10 to 25 years

See liposuction before and after photos

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