Once you make the decision to undergo breast augmentation, the real excitement begins! From shopping for new styles of clothing to imagining the gorgeous feminine physique you’ll soon have, the time leading up to surgery can be exhilarating. However, it is also important to use this time to prepare yourself for the procedure, including making sure you have realistic expectations for your results and understanding the potential risks and side effects. One concern that many women have about breast augmentation is the possibility of breast implant rippling. While this does occur and may be virtually unavoidable in some cases, there are steps that both the patient and surgeon can take to dramatically decrease the chance of rippling and/or reduce the severity of breast implant ripples.
The knowledgeable and experienced team at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery, led by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. James Romanelli and Dr. John Layliev, is committed to providing an unmatched level of education, service, and care in order to help Long Island, NY breast augmentation patients achieve their ideal results with as little chance for complication as possible. If you are considering breast augmentation, read on to find out what you can do to prevent or correct breast implant rippling.
What causes breast implants to ripple?
There are several possible reasons that patients with breast implants may notice a ripple effect. Oftentimes, patients may be able to feel rippling that is not necessarily visible on the outside. However, in some cases, visible rippling does occur. The most common causes of visible breast implant rippling include:
- Implant type: In general, saline implant rippling is more common than silicone implant rippling. For this reason, patients who have specific concerns about ripples often choose silicone gel implants to lessen the potential for visible rippling.
- Implant size: As a general rule, larger implants tend to show rippling more often than smaller implants.
- Underfilled saline implant: Because saline implants are manually filled, either before or after they are inserted into the body, there is the potential that a surgeon may underfill the implant. When an implant shell is not filled adequately, it is more likely to show visible rippling.
- Implant placement: Patients whose implants are placed above the muscle, rather than underneath, are much more likely to see rippling. When an implant is placed under the muscle, native breast tissue and the muscle itself create a “buffer” between the implant and the surface, helping to conceal ripples that may be present.
- Body type: Patients who are thin, have a low body fat percentage, or who have very little natural breast tissue tend to experience visible implant rippling more often than women who have a larger amount of tissue helping to disguise or conceal ripples. For this reason, thinner patients may be better suited to the placement of silicone gel implants, which are less prone to rippling than saline implants.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Romanelli or Dr. Layliev will evaluate your breasts and body type, discuss your concerns and goals, and thoroughly explain the potential outcomes of breast augmentation, including the possibility of rippling. The caring team at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery shares in patients’ desires to achieve gorgeous, ripple-free results and takes great care in taking all possible steps to prevent or minimize the chance of rippling.
Can you prevent breast implants from rippling?
While it may not always be possible to entirely prevent breast implants from rippling, some things that can discourage the potential for visible rippling include:
- Choosing silicone gel implants
- Placing the implant under the muscle
- Selecting a smaller-sized implant
- Filling saline implants adequately
Arguably one of the most compelling ways to minimize the chance of breast implant rippling or other complications is to choose a highly qualified, experienced, and skilled plastic surgeon to perform your breast augmentation. The exceptional plastic surgeons at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery are board-certified and highly sought after for their talent, attention to detail, and vast experience with the most innovative and exciting breast augmentation techniques and technologies.
How to fix rippling breast implants
In addition to preventing complications, Drs. Romanelli and Layliev are also dedicated to helping patients correct issues associated with a previous procedure. If you previously underwent breast augmentation and are now experiencing visible implant rippling, our team may be able to help. In many cases, breast implant rippling can be improved or corrected using one of the following methods:
- Replacing a saline implant with a silicone gel implant
- Repositioning an implant under the muscle
- Performing fat grafting to the breast
- Replacing a larger implant with a smaller one
- Filling a saline implant further
How to get started with a breast augmentation in Long Island, NY
If you are ready to learn more about how a breast augmentation can help you achieve or restore the body of your dreams, call the convenient Huntington, NY office of Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery to schedule your one-on-one consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. James Romanelli or Dr. John Layliev today, and take the first step toward looking – and feeling – like the woman you were meant to be!
