Before and after bilateral breast revision in a 51 year old woman with old submuscular breast implants. Her original surgery was over 30 years ago. She had developed left sided capsular contracture and had significant deformity whenever she used her arms – known as the “animation deformity”, “flexion deformity” or “motion deformity”. Her goal was to still look like the right side but have less muscle motion and better symmetry.
Her revision involved removal of the old implants – both of which were ruptured (not a surprise given their age and “second generation” properties). Her pectoralis major muscles were returned to her chest wall, reconstructing her muscular anatomy and curing the muscle-related deformity she had been living with for over three decades.
New smooth round silicone gel breast implants were placed on top of the muscle, in the subglandular position. Follow up photos are shown three months after surgery. She has lost the deformity related to muscle motion, as shown in the first set of before and after photos. Better symmetry has been achieved.
She is happy to know this might be her very last breast surgery procedure! Implants do NOT need to be switched out every 10 years. I counsel my patients I need to see them in person and examine them at least every 10 years going forward, but that if they are not having any problems and everything still looks good and feels good, then they are fine!
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
