Rippling is a side effect that some patients who have had breast enlargement may experience. In fact, all breast implants will ripple due to the nature of fluids in a soft and malleable container. Yet the majority of patients who experience breast implant rippling will not be able to tell from external appearance alone.
Instead, most people who experience implant rippling will be able to feel ripples, wrinkles, or folds around the perimeter of their implants rather than visibly see them from the outside.
The good news is that implant rippling is not dangerous and is perfectly safe. The only issue arises when patients become concerned with the appearance of their breasts.
Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate breast implant rippling and ways to treat rippling if it becomes a visible issue. For more on this, then continue reading.
What Causes Ripples in Breast Implants?
There are a number of reasons why visible implant rippling may occur in breast enlargement patients. The main reason being the use of a large breast implant on a patient with not enough breast tissue.
If you take a look at some breast implant surgery before and after examples, you will hopefully be able to see that the best results come from when a patient takes their surgeon’s advice and opts for an implant that is a size that will look the best on them for years to come. Choosing an implant that’s proportionate to your body shape is one of the best ways to avoid complications further down the line.
When a patient asks for an implant that is too large for their breast tissue, they will be increasing the risk of experiencing visible rippling in the future for two reasons: larger implants are more likely to visibly ripple than smaller ones, regardless, and in this case, the implant is also closer to the surface of the skin.
Other Factors That Contribute to Rippling
There are other reasons why rippling can occur, such as:
- Using saline implants instead of silicone. Saline implants are much more likely to ripple than silicone due to silicone’s firm texture, yet even the superior silicone implants that we use at New Birkdale Clinic can still ripple
- Placing implants over the muscle (subglandular). While for most people subglandular implants are the better choice, for individuals with less breast tissue, submuscular implants may be the better option to avoid visible rippling
- Rippling is more common on round implants compared to teardrop-shaped implants, a factor worth discussing as part of understanding breast implant profiles
- If a patient experiences weight loss post-surgery, then the breast tissue may decrease, which will then make any ripples on their breast implants easier to identify
How to Fix Breast Implant Rippling
Visible implant rippling can be fixed by undergoing revision surgery to reduce the appearance of rippling post-surgery. Your surgeon will use one of multiple methods during surgery to achieve this.
For example, one of the most popular methods for treating rippling on patients with a small amount of breast tissue is through fat grafting. Liposuction is used to remove excess fat from elsewhere in the body which is then added to the breast tissue to make the breasts fuller and creating more of a barrier between the tissue and the implant, reducing the chance that ripples will be visible.
Other Revision Surgery Options
However, other options may be used instead if a surgeon deems it necessary. Other revision surgery methods include:
- Swapping saline implants for silicone gel based implants, which are less likely to ripple
- Placing the implants under the muscle if they were previously placed over the muscle
- Exchange the current implants for a smaller implant, if the patient agrees
- If the patient currently has round implants, the surgeon may recommend swapping these for teardrop shaped implants
If you’re unsure whether your current implants are the root cause, it’s worth reading more about what to expect after breast implant removal before booking a revision consultation.
Will Gaining Weight Help With Rippling?
Implant rippling can sometimes be caused due to increase in fat tissues around the implant. Weight gain can also put extra pressure on the implant and change the tension on its surface. These fat tissues may disrupt the internal symmetry and cause an imbalance causing the implant to shift from its original position.
Like weight gain, weight loss can also lead to rippled implants. As the body loses fat tissues, the skin can become saggy, which can cause the implant to lose the support it had from the surrounding fat cells. Sagging along with reduced fat cells can make the ripple effect to more noticeable.
Thus, it becomes crucial to keep a stable body weight and avoid any drastic lifestyle changes.
What Does Breast Implant Rippling Feel Like?
A breast implant ripple can feel like a folds or small lumps under the skin. They are more likely to be felt around the softer skin areas. The skin will feel uneven with the implant shrunk or moved in a particular direction.
If you can feel any of this in your breast, then you should have this checked by a doctor at your earliest convenience, regardless of if you think it could just be a ripple on your breast implant.
While it is likely that the lump on your implant will be related to your surgery, i.e., rippling, scar tissue, or possibly an implant valve, it is worth seeking a professional diagnosis to ascertain whether this is the case rather than just assuming.
There can be any number of medical reasons why you may feel a lump in your breast tissue, and if you have had breast enlargement then there is the possibility that you are at risk of experiencing other medical issues such as cysts or necrosis. Either get in touch with your surgeon or see your doctor to come to a definitive conclusion and understand what your next steps should be.
Breast Enlargement at New Birkdale Clinic
At The New Birkdale Clinic, our surgeons will explain to you during your consultation what your risk of experiencing visible implant rippling is, and answer any other questions that you may have, such as how long a boob job lasts.
Please visit our website and select one of our fantastic surgeons to get booked in for your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will breast implant rippling get worse over time if left untreated?
Not necessarily. Rippling that’s purely cosmetic and not linked to an underlying issue like rupture or capsular contracture often stays stable for years. However, factors like further weight loss or natural ageing of the implant can make existing rippling more noticeable, so it’s worth having any changes checked by your surgeon.
Can wearing a different type of bra reduce the appearance of rippling?
A well-fitted, supportive bra with thicker padding can sometimes help disguise visible rippling on the upper or outer breast by smoothing the contour, but this is a temporary cosmetic fix rather than a solution. It won’t address rippling that’s only felt rather than seen, and it has no effect on the implant itself.
Does rippling mean my implant has ruptured?
Not usually. Rippling and rupture are two different things, although a ruptured implant can sometimes cause changes in shape or texture that feel similar. If you notice sudden changes such as pain, swelling, or a change in breast shape alongside the rippling, this warrants prompt assessment to rule out rupture.
How soon after surgery can rippling appear?
Rippling can be present from the early healing stages, though it often becomes more noticeable once swelling subsides and the breast tissue settles into its final position, typically a few months post-surgery. Rippling that develops years after a previously smooth result is more likely linked to weight change or implant ageing.
Is rippling more common with a particular breast size or cup size?
It’s less about cup size and more about the ratio between implant size and the patient’s natural breast tissue. Someone with a smaller natural breast base choosing a larger implant is at higher risk of rippling regardless of the cup size they end up at, which is why proportionate sizing matters so much during the consultation stage.
