Updated October 2018
Most women approach breast augmentation with the goal of getting results that feel and look like natural breasts. However, the implant rippling that can sometimes occur is an obvious sign that you’ve had your breasts enhanced. Here’s a deeper look into why implant rippling happens and how you can avoid it.
Why Ripples Occur
After breast augmentation, rippling occurs when the shell of the implant becomes visible through the skin. For this reason, rippling is more common among women who have very little breast tissue and less common for women who have substantial tissue to disguise the implant.
Saline vs. Silicone
Very petite or thin women tend to more susceptible to breast implant rippling.
Beyond your own personal anatomy, the type of implant you choose can have an effect on how prone you’ll be to visible rippling. Because of how their outer shell is designed and liquidity of their contents, saline implants are more likely to ripple than their silicone counterparts.
The cohesive gel inside silicone implants closely mimics the look, feel and movement of natural breast tissue, so they blend well with surrounding breast tissue. Choosing silicone implants can be a good way to reduce your risk of rippling, particularly if you are very petite or thin.
Why Implant Placement Matters
Your pectoral muscles can be another ally in your quest to reduce the likelihood of visible implant rippling. With submuscular breast implant placement, the implant is partially placed underneath the chest muscle, which can help provide more of a barrier between the implant and the skin. This implant placement option can be particularly helpful in preventing ripples in women with very little natural breast tissue.
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Author: Dr. Francesco Campanile
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Francesco Campanile is a cosmetic surgeon in Denver who is focused on body contouring and breast enhancement. Time and time again, the women and men who choose Dr. Campanile say that they’ve found “the whole package” – a doctor who cares deeply about the quality of their results and has the skill to achieve excellence.
