Breast enhancement surgery is a great option to achieve desired results. There are rarely complications with this surgery, especially considering so many precautions are taken into consideration prior to surgery. It’s important for patients to recognize the signs and symptoms early if they do experience any issues. One complication some women may experience after breast augmentation is referred to as “bottoming out.” If this complication occurs, meeting with a qualified breast surgeon will help access if a breast revision procedure is appropriate. Patients have come to Dr. Comizo after having breast surgery and seeking a revision. Signs and symptoms of bottoming out are explained below:
What Is Bottoming Out?
The term bottoming out refers to breast implants that have descended too low on the chest. The breast implants usually drop below the natural breast crease, which gives them an appearance of being bottom heavy, while the nipple appears to move up. This most often happens in women with extreme loss of skin elasticity and can only be corrected through breast revision surgery.
What Causes Bottoming Out?
Bottoming out happens when the internal support of the breast, the skin that keeps it in place, is lost. Bottoming out is not a common occurrence after breast augmentation, however it can happen and seeking correction is a typical response. Some issues that lead to bottoming out are beyond the control of patients or surgeons. Learning the causes can help avoid the complication. There are several things that can cause this situation including:
- Large implants being placed in a patient with small, high breasts
- Participating in heavy lifting or other strenuous exercises
- The natural weight of the implant pulling the breast down over time
- Loss of skin elasticity, such as women who have had extreme weight loss and have excess skin
Signs And Symptoms Of Bottoming Out
Typically, bottoming out does not cause pain, however some signs and symptoms may start to appear and should be addressed:
- The distance between the nipple and inframammary fold may increase
- The bottom of the breasts may appear to bulge downward
- Nipples may appear to point or move upwards, rather than forward
Take Action
Bottoming out is not something to ignore. Any signs or symptoms should be reported. Dr. Comizio can help resolve issues from a previous surgery. Simply call the office to schedule a consultation to discuss breast revision surgery. Dr. Comizio and her staff provide a quality of care that goes beyond her individual role as a plastic surgeon. Dr. Comizio spends significant time with each of her breast revision patients to ensure they fully understand the procedure and makes it a point to closely follow her patients after surgery.
Browse through our case studies to learn more about our patients’ first hand experience with breast revision surgery.
