What Causes Bottoming Out of Breast Implants?
1. Breast Implant Descends too Low
“Bottoming Out” of breast implants is when the breast implant descends too low in relation to the chest wall, and the nipple appears too high in relation to the breast implant.
2. Breast Implant Placed Above the Muscle
It is mainly seen in very thin patients with essentially no breast tissue and minimal skin coverage. It is more common with implants placed above the muscle.
3. Over Dissection of Implant Pocket
It can be caused initially by over dissection of the implant pocket or by setting the new inframammary crease too low at the initial operation.
4. Larger Breast Implant Creating a Pocket Under Breast Implant
In an experienced plastic surgeons’ hands, Bottoming out is usually caused initially by a larger breast implant over stretching the skin and creating a pocket under the breast implant that the implant slides into. If it occurs later, it is usually the result of the weight from a larger breast implant i.e. greater than 400cc. It is not a function of the type of incision used to place the implants.
5. Implants Placed Through Incisions
It is seen with breast implants placed through transaxillary (armpit), periareolar, and inframammary incisions. It can occur with all types of breast implants including smooth or textured, saline or gel, and round or teardrop.
Correction of Bottoming Out of Breast Implants
1. Dissection of Capsule Over Breast Implant
The correction of this type of deformity is to dissect the capsule over the breast implant down to the chest inferiorly.
This is best accomplished through an inframammary incision due to the optimal visualization this gives. It can be done through a periareolar or an armpit incision, but this is extremely difficult and may require the use of an endoscopic camera system.
2. Inferior Capsule is Rolled Upon Itself
The site of the new elevated inframammary breast crease is selected preoperatively, and the inferior capsule is ‘rolled’ upon itself to close the pocket up to the point of the new fold. This closes the breast implant space, and after suturing doesn’t allow the breast implant to descend. This is all accomplished through the 1.25-inch inframammary incision.
3. Sutures are Placed to Close Areas of Pocket
Other sutures are placed as needed to close any areas of the pocket. The capsule is also released superiorly so when the breast implant is replaced it has a room above and is not compressed inferiorly.
4. Closure of Capsule
The capsule is then closed to itself after replacing the breast implant. The skin can then be closed to itself as well as to the underlying fascia if an added layer of stability is needed. This is one of the more complex breast implant deformities to correct.
Contact Us
We offer amazing services with excellent results. But you don’t need to take our word for it. Just see Images of patients treated for bottoming out by Dr. DeConti. Our results will be a better indicator of our services!