Lateral Displacement and Breast Implants

WHAT IS LATERAL DISPLACEMENT?

Lateral displacement is a condition that can occur in patients post-breast surgery, in addition to other concerns such as capsular contracture and bottoming-out. It refers to the shifting of breast implants towards the outer sides of the body, specifically towards the armpits. 

Implants can be naturally influenced by gravity when lying down, leading to some degree of lateral displacement in that position. However, when seated or standing upright, the implants should not remain in this outward position. 

Patients experiencing lateral displacement may find it uncomfortable or even painful. Additionally, some individuals may find it aesthetically undesirable, while others may not be overly concerned about it. Monitoring and discussing any concerns related to lateral displacement with your Doctor are crucial to ensure a satisfactory outcome from breast surgery. 

WHAT CAUSES LATERAL DISPLACEMENT?

Lateral displacement can happen to one or both breast implants, and can be caused by: 

• The Doctor has over dissected the breast pocket and made it too big 
• Large volume implants
• Smooth implants 
• Poor skin quality 
• Not wearing your post operative bra
• Not following your postop instructions 
• Stomach sleeping – Stomach sleeping applies pressure to the implants and surrounding tissue, stretching it and pushing them out to the side which may result in lateral displacement 
• Or sometimes implants can just shift or become displaced over time for no apparent reason 

HOW TO CORRECT LATERAL DISPLACEMENT?

Lateral displacement usually requires surgery to reposition the implant.

LATERAL DISPLACEMENT VS THE DROP & FLUFF

Please remember, breast implants are designed to provide you with a larger (or emphasised) version of what you already have. If you have wide set breasts, they will still be wide set after surgery. If you have low set breasts, they are still low set after surgery. 

After surgery, you will be swollen. It takes around 3 – 6 months for this swelling to subside and before the result is noticeable. We tend to find that sometime patients with naturally wide set breasts ‘forget’ what their natural breasts originally looked like. As the swelling starts to go down and the implants settle into their natural position (a larger version of what they already have) they may become concerned that they have lateral displacement. 

Now, to ease the minds of any patients worrying they might have lateral displacement – please see some examples found online below. 

– Dr Ian Chinsee (MED0000975196) 
Registered Medical Practitioner, General Registration
Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Surgical Fellow of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery & Medicine [FACCSM (surg)]
Surgical Fellow of American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (FAACS)