Dear Dr. Seckel, I had breast implants several years ago and I have bumps on my implants that I can feel. Sometimes in the right light I can see a bump or fold along the bottom of my breast that feels like the implant. Should I be concerned? Thank you, Mary, Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Mary,

You should have your doctor examine you to be sure you do not have a breast lump.

It is common especially after breast augmentation with saline breast implants to feel folds or bumps in the breast implants. Sometimes they are visible. The breast implant bump or fold is usually a fold in the saline implant and is not dangerous. Causes of breast implant bumps after breast augmentation can be:

1. The valve used to fill the saline breast implant
2. A fold in the shell of the breast implant
3. A capsule or scar tissue around the implant.
4. A very loose pocket around the implant so the implant is not held firmly in the breast
5. Very thin skin with minimal breast tissue-inadequate coverage of the breast implant
6. Breast implant placed beneath the breast gland instead of beneath the chest muscle-again less tissue covering the implant.
   

The breast implant bumps or folds are not dangerous but do bother patients very much especially if they are visible.

You can minimize the chance of breast implant bumps or folds during breast augmentation by:

1. Use silicone gel implants-they are less likely to fold
2. Place the implant beneath the chest muscle-this provides more coverage for the implant
3. If the breast implant pocket is too large, an operation can be done to tighten the pocket. If this is done I recommend replacing the saline implant with a silicone gel implant
4. Massage the breast implants daily
   

Of course it is important to have your doctor examine your breasts to make certain the bump you are feeling is not a breast lump. If this is the case you will need a medical work up to make certain the breast lump is not dangerous.

Breast implant bumps or folds are almost impossible to avoid when using saline implants in thin women with minimal breast tissue.

Today I most often use the new silicone gel breast implants for breast augmentation which usually, but not always, do not form breast implant folds or breast implant bumps.

The results can be excellent.

For more information on breast implants contact me. Be sure to sign up for my free email newsletter.

Dr Seckel

978-369-4499

Boston, Massachusetts

Concord, Massachusetts