Dynamic Distortion (pectoral causing implant movement)

Susie,

Thank you for the informative site.  I am sitting here with 3 drains as I am typing this.  Approximately 4 years ago, I gave TE/implant a try after waiting a year post-radiation.  After 2 infections, it was decided to remove the TE because the breast was not expanding properly and the danger of the TE coming through the skin.  My PS then performed a lat. flap with TE placement.  The results were fairly good and I was excited.  Two years later, capsular contrature started in that breast.  I thought the lat. flap was the answer to everything.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.  My PS just went back into that breast, removed the implant and used Alloderm in 3 areas to strengthen the damaged muscle and skin.  He also replaced the implant.  I hope this works; but I guess in my heart, I feel that I will never be finished with reconstruction, even if it is just to replace the implant.

 Thanks again for the information.

God bless,

Chris

Hi Susie

Thanks for providing the link.  When I read through your posts it sounds like this "dynamic distortion" is something that "happens" to you.  Is it happening spontaneously?

I also have implants and I can contract my pects and make them move.  I once showed it to my plastic surgeon and he was very surprised at what control I have over it.  I can actually do them singly or together - on command.  It does not just happen without me willing it to happen.  I am also a very active person and feel like I have pretty good control over most of my muscle groups so I just figured that was the reason I could do it.  I often do it when I find that people are looking at my chest when they know I have had a bilat. mx just to freak them out - I know that isn't very nice but a girl has to find entertainment where she can. :-)

Also, I have two good friends who have had breast augmentation and they both can do the same thing.  Believe it or not my daughter who is completely natural but not very well endowed can contract and move her breasts also.  So I am not sure that it is just a post mx. implant thing.  I think if you have that kind of muscle control you can do it. 

I like the fact that the website gives it a name but I think they are using the term to convey negativity toward implants because they are promoting DIEP and GAP procedures.  I find that a little sad since some people are only eligible for implants and the website may make them question getting implants. 

Just my two cents.

I think the video is showing you what to expect. (weather its on NOLAs site or Another Drs website)

I had no idea before I got my Expanders/implants that that would happen.  I laughed with it with the expanders.  With the implants it was another story.  I felt very self concious about my flexing boobs in public.  Besides it being painful when I used my Muscles.

Too many things are kept from patients.

One should be told in advance that this will happen.  Im sure almost every woman would go ahead with her plans.  But at least she would know before hand.

My Gap breasts still flex some.  That usually does not happen with a Flap surgery.  But because I had implants before...I am still having mild flexing.  I hope it goes away with time.

Pam

the Dancing pec muscles reminds me of the scene in 'South Pacific' where the sailor with the chest tattoo is able to make the ship 'sail' by flexing his pec muscles. And the Body Builders (Mr, Universe) flex their pecs as part of their poses to show off the muscle tone. You can see it better in the men as Sassa said, they don't have as much breast tissue there to cover the muscle structure.

If you read the whole page from the breast center, they seem to try to dissuade women from the implants by saying that they will need surgery later on to replace them due to wear and tear, I knew that from the start, and nothing good about implants. Then at the bottom after the descriptions of what surgeries they provide speak about how much the other surgeries have improved.

Sheila

PT,

I thought the lower hanging breast was a "normal" breast without any type of lift done. It isn't clear if both side are reconstructed.

Just another side note on the benefit of the belly dancing:  When I was pregnant, I was told that the use of an epidural would interfere with the ability to push and prolong labor.  I didn't care, I wanted the epidural asap.

With the epidural, I couldn't feel the pain of the contraction, but I could feel the pressure of the contraction. I went ahead and pushed by contracting the top abs and worked down to the lower abs as the contraction progressed.  My OB was surprised at my ability to push and the force of the push with an epidural until I explained my years  of belly dancing. He laughed and said the belly dancing training was more useful than any Lamaze (sp?) training he had seen. 

Yes, double-or-Nothing - they are saying their boobs flexed before bc.

I have lifted weights since I was a teen.

My boobs Never flexed before bc.  I was also able to cut carrots & open doors & jars without my boobs flexing.(or hurting)   Never before bc did I feel self consious about people seeing my boobs flex.  I have read many threads where women say this same thing.

I think the general population of womens boobs do not flex.

Pam

Yes, I stopped doing the bench press too.  I do miss that.

I took Belly Dancing years ago, but never was taught to flex my chest during my classes.

I no longer have my Implants. But a GAP flap.  My Flexing is about 70% less then it was with implants & I am only 11 weeks out from surgery.  So I hope it goes away completely.

I hope yours will continue to lesson with time also.

Pam

My PS said it happens to some patients, sure didn't mention it before surgery. From the not completely disguised surprise on his face, I don't think he had seen the kind of flexing I can do. He just said I have a very strong muscle. It caused me a great deal of distress at first, but am trying to see it as more funny than tragic (the "new normal?"). It's really only logical when you think it through. If you put a very strong pec up there on top and not covered by anything but skin it's going to be visible when you use it. I take comfort in the realization that I'm not alone. On another thread, when we realized we could all do it we thought we'd form a chorus line..... step - kick - boob flex. The chorus line is getting pretty long.

Any chance you are a candidate for moving the implants to above the muscle?