How Do You Know If Your Breast Implant Has Moved?

Breast augmentation using silicone or saline breast implants is a commonly-performed surgery, carried out to increase the size of the breasts. However, although breast augmentation is a safe surgical procedure when carried out by an experienced surgeon, there is still the potential for complications to occur.

So, can a breast implant move out of place? The short answer is yes, it is possible for one or both breast implants to move out of position. Breast implants moving around could be down to a number of factors, including problems with the breast skin, that the breast implants selected were too large or an error in the initial placement of the implants.

Is it normal to feel your implant move?

One question we get asked a lot is whether it’s normal to feel your breast implant move. It is normal for your implants to move slightly during the recovery period as your breasts settle into their new shape. If your implants were placed underneath the chest muscle, it may take a few months for them to drop into a more natural and comfortable position. In a nutshell, a slight movement over a period of time is fine, but if your implants suddenly and dramatically change position, then this means they have become displaced and you should seek advice.

If you notice your breast implant moving towards your armpit, this is a sign of lateral displacement, which means the implant is moving away from the midline of the chest. This is caused by the implant pocket being too large, either through surgeon error or the pockets naturally stretching over time. Symmastia, which sees the implants moving to the middle of the chest, is a much more rare complication, caused by skin and muscle between the breasts becoming detached.

A state of the art, award winning clinic.

Founded in 2004 by world renowned plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, we now work with over 100 leading consultants and successfully treat over 20,000 patients each year. We have been winning industry awards since inception.

About Us

Best in Class Facilities

All of our treatments take place at our beautiful boutique premises in Chelsea. We have six consulting rooms and five operating rooms, as well as a dedicated pre and post-operative suite, and a full team of specialist nursing staff.

Our Clinic

A Strong Tradition of Innovation

We were founded in 2004 by world renown plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, best known for his pioneering work in the area of liposuction, lasers and microvascular surgery. We continue to collaborate with pioneers in our field.

Our History

At Home in Sloane Street, London

We are proud that our state of the art award-winning clinic is located in one of the best neighbourhoods in the country

Welcome to Sloane Street

Clinics Nationwide

We offer surgical consultations in London, Birmingham, Chelmsford and Bristol, and attract international patients from all corners of the globe such as as the USA, the Middle East and Europe.

Get in Touch

Are there other signs of a roaming implant?

Other risks associated with roaming breast implants include asymmetry, as both breasts are unlikely to look the same even if both move out of place, or the implant falling below the breast crease if the skin or tissue cannot support the implant. This may be down to the implant being too large, insufficient skin laxity or a combination of both. This complication is often referred to as ‘bottoming out’.

Here at the Cadogan Clinic, we offer breast implant replacement surgery that involves removing old breast implants and replacing them with new implants. This procedure may be done to correct complications, including roaming or rotating breast implants, or in combination with other procedures, most commonly a breast lift or mastopexy. Implants can also be replaced to change the size or shape of the breasts if your preferences change with time.

What to expect from your implant replacement journey

The first step on your patient journey with us will be to meet with the surgeon we feel is best placed to perform your procedure for a consultation.

Prepping for surgery

In the 6 weeks before your procedure we recommend that you quit smoking as smoking can delay the healing process and put you at a higher risk of developing complications. In the week before surgery you must stop taking aspirin or any medication that contains aspirin. In the six hours prior to surgery you must not consume food or any drink, other than small sips of clear fluid (still water, black coffee, black tea) which are allowed up to two hours before admission.

The surgery

The surgery itself will take one to two hours under a general anaesthetic. Once you have spent several hours in our recovery facilities at the clinic and have eaten and hydrated to the satisfaction of our nursing team, you will be allowed to leave the clinic with a friend or family member. They should stay with you for 24 hours after your breast implant replacement surgery.

Recovery and rest

Recovery time from breast implant replacement surgery is swift and you should be back at work within a week or two and exercising within four to six weeks. We advise returning to low impact activities, such as walking and cycling, before reintroducing more strenuous activity.

You should be fully recovered from your breast implant replacement surgery by eight weeks. You should wear a supportive sports bra for the full eight weeks in order to ensure the best possible results. It is important that you follow all the aftercare advice issued by your surgeon. Failure to do so may delay the healing process and impact on the final result.

Words from our clients:

“I was treated with care and provided with thorough knowledge about the procedure I was undertaking. My surgeon was very methodical (a perfectionist) and I felt I received A class treatment."

Courtney O'Sullivan

"Outstanding experience from the first appointment to being discharged. Very professional, friendly and a fantastic outcome."

Gemma Stevenson

"There is nothing that I feel could be improved at Cadogan Clinic. I was treated and looked after very well the place was very clean. Perfect. Thank you."

Emma Grant

"The treatment was for my daughter and the aesthetic practitioner couldn't have been more helpful and informative all through the course of treatment, it was a great treatment with a brilliant outcome. The whole experience was very professional and any worries we went in with were soon taken away after the team greeted us and treated us."

Jessica Yates

"Reception staff very welcoming and efficient. Both nurses who I dealt with were fantastic, and the whole team (anaesthetist, surgeon etc) were friendly but professional, and really put my mind at ease. That I was able to stay later than I perhaps needed after my surgery to fit in with my husbands schedule was greatly appreciated."

Emma Davies

Choosing your surgeon

If you decide to undergo breast implant replacement surgery, it is important you choose a surgeon with the right training, skills and insurance to safely carry out the procedure. Only registered doctors can perform cosmetic surgery in England. A reputable cosmetic surgeon will be registered with a professional association such as the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) or the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS).

You should always book a consultation before deciding to have a breast implant replacement or any other surgery. An in-depth consultation will offer you the opportunity to ask questions and find out more about the procedure, recovery and any potential risks.

We have invited a selection of the country's very best consultants to join us at the Cadogan Clinic so that you can be sure that whatever the nature of your treatment, you will be seeing one of the top practitioners in the country. Contact us today to arrange your initial consultation.

Treatments mentioned in this article

Breast implants should be replaced every 10-15 years, or sooner if you start to notice changes.

View Treatment

Breast Surgery

Breast Implant Replacement

Breast implants should be replaced every 10-15 years, or sooner if you start to notice changes.

Get in touch

One of our friendly staff will be delighted to help with your enquiry.

0207 901 8500

Or send us an enquiry

Meet Ellie

Our Lead Patient Advisor is here to support with any queries you may have