Rippling & Wrinkling

And Feeling the Implants Through Your Skin

Rippling and wrinkling can be a cause of dissatisfaction after breast augmentation and Dr. Loftus explains how these can be reduced and minimized.

It is important to know beforehand that you may experience rippling and wrinkling problems after breast augmentation surgery and what you may do to reduce the risk.

In a saline breast implant, the liquid moves freely within the shell and can cause small waves like those seen on the surface of a pond. These waves can be transmitted to the skin, causing the breast to ripple on its inner and upper sides. Rippling gives the breast an unnatural appearance. Thin women are particularly prone to rippling because they have less tissue covering their implants after breast augmentation surgery.

Wrinkling and Rippling of Implants

Wrinkling and rippling are the terms plastic surgeons tend to use to describe an unnatural scalloping appearance that can occur on the breast after breast augmentation surgery.

Reducing Your Risk of Rippling and Wrinkling

Be aware that these terms can be confusing, as some plastic surgeons use them interchangeably. Implant type, implant fill, implant texture, and implant position can all affect the likelihood of the rippling of a breast implant. Saline breast implants are more likely to cause rippling and wrinkling than silicone breast implants, especially in thin women and women with a modest amount of breast tissue. Silicone implants are much less likely to ripple and wrinkle, even in thin women. They are also much less likely to be felt through the skin, whereas saline implants can typically be felt through the skin in thin women. Overfilled implants are less likely to ripple or wrinkle than nominally filled or underfilled implants. Some plastic surgeons advocate over-over filling to avoid this, but the implant manufacturers are not in support of that practice, as doing so may increase the risk of deflation. Textured breast implants are more likely to ripple and wrinkle than smooth breast implants. Implants placed under the muscle seldom ripple or wrinkle along the upper and inner side of the breast, but may do so on the lower and outer sides of the breast, as these sides are not covered by the pectoralis muscle. Implants placed over the muscle may ripple or wrinkle along any side of the implant. Women who start out with a more generous amount of breast tissue are much less likely to experience rippling and wrinkling, regardless of their decisions, than women who start out with a modest amount of breast tissue. If you have wrinkling or rippling, you may improve upon this by changing to silicone (if you currently have saline) or by changing to under the muscle (if they are currently over).