Malposition is a general term for an implant sitting in the wrong place: too high, too low (bottoming out), too far to the side (lateral), or too far towards the middle (medial, risking symmastia).
Causes
- Pocket dissected too large or in the wrong plane.
- Asymmetric pockets between the two sides.
- Tissue stretch or gravity over time.
- Capsular contracture pulling the implant out of position.
Treatment
Correction is tailored to the direction of malposition and may involve tightening or reinforcing part of the pocket (capsulorrhaphy), changing implant size, support materials, or creating a new pocket. Precise, symmetrical pocket creation at the first operation is the best prevention. See revision surgery.