Snoopy Deformity Breast Augmentation
A Snoopy deformity is a rare complication of breast implant surgery where the implant becomes exposed through the breast tissue, creating what looks like an inverted ski slope. The condition is often associated with silicone gel implants and saline implants that have been implanted too tightly against the chest wall; hence, it can be seen with either type of implant.
In this guide, we review the aspects of Snoopy Deformity Breast Augmentation, What causes Snoopy deformity breast implants, What is the most common complication of breast augmentation surgery, and What is waterfall deformity breast implants?
Snoopy Deformity Breast Augmentation
It’s important to be aware of potential complications of surgery and know how to fix them.
What Is The Snoopy Deformity?
The Snoopy deformity is a result of the skin being stretched too tightly. It can happen with any breast augmentation surgery, but it’s most common with implants placed under the muscle (subpectoral). The reason for this is that these implants are larger than average and have more surface area.
The most common symptom of Snoopy Deformity is pain in your chest or back that gets worse over time. You may also experience some swelling around the implant site, which will go away after surgery to correct it.
If you think that you might have Snoopy Deformity, talk with your doctor about getting an MRI scan done before proceeding with any other treatments such as removing fat from other parts of your body or doing liposuction on just one side so there isn’t as much pressure on just one side of your chest wall compared to another part where fat might otherwise be removed instead if needed during reconstruction surgery later down line because having too much pressure placed upon one side versus another could cause additional problems later down line such as infection due to bacteria entering through cuts made during procedures like liposuctioning etcetera…
Why Does The Snoopy Deformity Happen?
The pectoralis muscle is the large muscle in your chest that you use to move your arms and shoulders. When this muscle develops too much, it can cause a deformity called the Snoopy Deformity to occur. The name comes from Charlie Brown’s dog Snoopy, who also has a prominent pectoralis minor (the smaller part of the muscle).
The most common causes of this condition are:
- Overdeveloped pectoralis major muscles
- Low set breasts (breasts that sit lower than normal on your chest)
- Underdeveloped breast tissue and/or uneven breast tissue distribution
How to Fix the Snoopy Deformity
- The procedure is a relatively simple one. The surgeon will make an incision around the areola, removing excess skin and fat tissue, then repositioning your breast tissue to give you a more rounded shape.
- Results are immediate and long lasting. You will see an improvement in the size and shape of your breasts immediately after surgery, which should last for years to come. Many patients report being satisfied with their results after just a few months!
- It’s not painful at all–the procedure uses local anesthesia so that no pain will be felt during or after surgery.* Recovery time is also very short–you can return home within 24 hours after having this done.* And best yet? It’s inexpensive compared with other procedures like lipoabdominoplasty (a fancy name for “tummy tuck”) or breast augmentation surgery!
It’s important to be aware of potential complications of surgery and know how to fix them.
It’s important to be aware of potential complications of surgery and know how to fix them. Always be prepared for the unexpected!
What causes Snoopy deformity breast implants
This patient demonstrates the amazing results of a breast augmentation revision to correct a snoopy deformity. A snoopy deformity is a common breast implant complication that stems from the use of a textured implant. Named on the cartoon characters’ head and nose, a snoopy deformity is when a textured implant is stuck and the breast tissue sags off of it.
As everyone ages, our skin begins to lose its elastic capacity and sag. When you use textured implants, the result of your sagging is the appearance of a snoopy head with the nipple resembling Snoopy’s nose (notice the before photo in the left and right lateral views). If you are familiar with this look, a breast augmentation revision will correct your contour irregularities.
A breast augmentation revision to correct a snoopy deformity is not just a traditional implant revision surgery. Due to the added factor of excess skin, a breast lift must be done simultaneously to your implant replacement. As such, correct implant sizing during your initial consultation is critical.
A trained breast augmentation revision surgeon will be able to visualize your breast lift result and help you choose an implant that will perfectly match the new breast shape and size. Additionally, a modified vertical mastopexy design (seen in this patient) should be used to give you an ideal breast shape as well as facilitate a smooth recovery of your incision lines.
While a cosmetic plastic surgery revision is never an ideal case, if you find yourself with a snoopy deformity, it may actually be a blessing in disguise. As discussed earlier, this deformity is caused by a textured implant. Unfortunately, it has been discovered that textured implants may also lead to various breast illnesses and chronic pain. Therefore, if you notice this deformity and do not have any pain, you have the opportunity to remove the textured implants and avoid any further health concerns.
What is the most common complication of breast augmentation surgery
Breast augmentation remains one of the most common and popular plastic surgery procedures performed in the U.S., and it has a low risk of complications – the most common being breast pain, changes in nipple and breast sensation, scar tissue formation, and rupture and deflation.
However, a small number of women experience a compilation of symptoms that has come to be known as breast implant illness, or BII. Though we are still learning about BII, and it is not a formal diagnosis, several new studies are investigating potential causes for the symptoms, which are wide-ranging and very real.
More than 100 symptoms have been associated with BII. Some of the most common include:
Breast implant illness has become more widely known in the last couple decades as patients have increasingly shared their stories on social media. In April 2022, retired race car driver Danica Patrick posted on Instagram about her struggles with BII and her decision to have her breast implants removed.
While it can be comforting to find a community of people with similar symptoms as you, unfortunately, sometimes these channels help spread misinformation or unnecessary fear.
Many patients with BII symptoms can find relief without having to remove their breast implants. In some cases, the cause of symptoms is an underlying condition that affects the immune system or hormone production.
If you develop unexplained symptoms that you suspect may stem from your breast implants, talk with a board certified plastic surgeon. We will listen to you and try to determine what the cause of your symptoms are and connect you with specialists if need be.
Determining the cause of your symptoms
Symptoms can occur with any type of breast implants and can start immediately after implantation or years later.
Because so many BII symptoms are associated with other conditions, it’s important to rule out causes unrelated to the breast implants. For example, many similar symptoms are associated with autoimmune conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and Lyme disease. Hypothyroidism, menopause, and fibromyalgia also can cause symptoms similar to those of BII.
Our goals in diagnosis are to determine the cause of your symptoms and to make a plan to resolve those issues at the source. In some women, the implants themselves prove to be the issue, such as if the implant or tissues surrounding it stiffen, or if the implant ruptures. For many more, an underlying condition is the culprit.
Diagnosis starts with a conversation about what triggers your symptoms and the extent to which they interfere with your quality of life. From there, we may refer you to a specialist in areas such as:
If the specialists find an underlying condition, unrelated to your breast implants, treatment for that condition should relieve or eliminate your symptoms. If no underlying conditions are found, we’ll discuss potential next steps, such as removing your implants.
Deciding whether to remove your breast implants
Choosing to remove your breast implants is just as big a decision as it was to get them, and yet more women made that decision in 2021 than in previous years. According to statistics from The Aesthetic Society, 148,000 women had implants removed and replaced (up 32% from 2020), and 71,000 had their implants removed and not replaced (up 47%), though it’s unclear what role if any BII played in the increase.
If you’re unhappy with the size or shape of your implants, or if you’ve developed a complication such as capsular contracture – the formation of hard, stiff scar tissue around the implant – the decision to remove them may reduce your symptoms.
But if you are satisfied with your appearance and your symptoms are systemic, rather than directly associated with the breasts, the decision can be more difficult. Even if BII symptoms resolve after implant removal, adjusting to changes in your appearance can be challenging.
Your plastic surgeon will discuss all options with you to help you make the best decision.
Clearing up common myths related to BII
There are many websites and social media groups dedicated to breast implant illness. And it’s not unusual for patients to tell us they read or saw something that worries them in one of these communities. We’d like to address a couple of the more common concerns.
Sagging skin after implant removal: There are a lot of people who post photos of themselves after having their implants removed. These photos are usually of women who had very large – 400cc or 500cc – implants removed, leaving excessive, sagging skin behind. Images like these can cause unnecessary anxiety.
Transferring fat to the breast from elsewhere in the body can help restore some volume after implant removal. Though your breasts likely will not be as full as they were with implants, this process can provide a pleasing appearance and a less dramatic transition.
“Only one right” way to remove implants: There are several methods to safely remove breast implants:
However, many social communities say that only specific procedures – notably en-bloc capsulectomy – will eliminate BII symptoms. This is untrue, and there are situations in which that procedure could cause more problems. For example, if the capsule is stuck to the chest wall, taking it all out could cause a pneumothorax, or air to leak into the space between the lungs and chest wall. In this case, we can take out most of the capsule and cauterize the patch that’s against the ribcage.
Additionally, removing the capsule and implant together (en-block) may require a longer incision, especially for women who have only had an augmentation and not a breast lift plus augmentation.
Current research and action related to BII
Research is under way to determine the degree to which certain symptoms are directly caused by breast implants and what effect, if any, removal has on those symptoms.
A study published in December 2021 found that the type of breast implant removal performed did not affect the reduction of breast implant illness symptoms.
Part two of this study investigated concerns, expressed on some BII websites, that the presence of heavy metals in silicone and saline breast implant capsules are a primary cause of systemic symptoms and health problems. More than 20 heavy metals were studied and some participants with BII symptoms had statistically higher levels of arsenic and zinc in their breast implant capsules compared with participants who didn’t exhibit BII symptoms. But the measured levels were all below what is considered acceptable exposure levels by regulatory agencies.
Also, the research confirmed that fewer heavy metals were detected in breast implant capsules than in breast tissue from patients who never had implants. Among participants with BII symptoms, there was a higher number of current or former smokers using tobacco and marijuana and a greater number of women with gluten allergies, suggesting that environmental exposure and personal choices related to cigarette smoking, marijuana use, tattoo pigments, and dietary sources may be the source of a BII patient’s exposure to heavy metals.
Based on this research, heavy metal toxicity should not sway a patient’s decision to remove her breast implants.
Finally, it’s important to note that a BII task force has been established within The Aesthetic Society to conduct research and follow new breast implant patients for more than 10 years in hopes of establishing more definitive data and finding more answers for patients and providers.
We understand it can be extremely frustrating to feel unwell without a specific diagnosis – especially after you’ve been through one or more major breast surgeries. Our breast plastic surgery and specialist teams work together, dedicated to providing you with evidence-based care that will get you to the ultimate goal of feeling better.
If you experience symptoms or complications that you suspect may be related to breast implants, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.
What is waterfall deformity breast implants?
Lately we have been seeing more of a type of breast sagging that occurs after augmentation with implants, called waterfall ptosis (ptosis being the medical word for sagging; the “p” is silent.) It can happen years later, or sometimes earlier particularly when a breast lift is done at the same time as implant placement. Basically, what happens is the breast tissue slides downward off of the mound created by the implant – like a waterfall. It is probably more likely to occur in women with larger breasts, because this tissue has to defy gravity to be suspended in front of the implant. As the supportive tissues of the breast weaken over time, the breast loses projection and falls; if the implant stays put but the breast drops, you have the waterfall effect.
How to correct waterfall ptosis with an internal bra
To correct waterfall ptosis, sometimes a breast lift is all that is needed, or a re-do of the previous lift. There are two things that your plastic surgeon will consider: how to merge the breast tissue and the implant mound into a single natural appearing shape, and whether additional support such as an internal bra might help. We like to use Galaflex mesh for this. It’s a naturally derived, slowly absorbing material that is proving to be helpful in maintaining breast shape and upper pole fullness in breast lifts. In the case of waterfall ptosis, it is placed under the skin as an internal bra to wrap the breast and implant together. See an example here.
Correction of bottoming out – the opposite problem
Waterfall ptosis is the opposite of another problem called bottoming out. In this situation, the implant drops too low but the nipple and breast position don’t change. The result is elongation of the distance from the nipple to the bottom edge of the breast. Bottoming out is corrected with internal sutures (called a capsulorrhaphy) in the scar capsule that holds the implant in place. If the capsule is thin and stretched, it may be reinforced with a different application of the internal bra concept, with the mesh placed in the capsule instead of under the skin. See an example here.
The decision to use an internal bra for waterfall ptosis or bottoming out depends on several things, such as the size of the implants. It is a judgment call that your plastic surgeon will make depending on their experience and familiarity with correction of the problem.
How To Correct or Fix a Snoopy Deformity or Waterfall Breast Deformity
As a leader in breast augmentation surgery and breast implant revision surgery in Scottsdale, Dr. Howarth is an expert at correcting the snoopy or waterfall breast implant deformities. There are many ways to do this, depending on the appearance of the deformity and needs of the patient. In many instances, the breast implant will need to be replaced and repositioned.
A breast lift may also be used to reposition the sagging or drooping breast tissue. Also, augmentation without implants, or a fat transfer auto-augmentation may be an excellent option to enhance and rejuvenate the breasts. For women with adequate breast tissue, a breast lift with fat transfer may help you reach your ideal aesthetic without the use of implants.
This illustration shows the cartoon dog and the breast tissue restored to a correct, perky position.
A Snoopy Breast Deformity is Very Frustrating
A snoopy breast deformity can be very frustrating and aesthetically displeasing. Considering that breast enhancement surgery is supposed to give a woman an improved sense of self-image and satisfaction, this deformity can leave a woman very unhappy with her breasts’ appearance. After the initial cost of the initial breast augmentation surgery, as well as the time spent recuperating, the snoopy deformity can leave a a woman very displeased and frustrated.