You looked forward to your butt implant results, and now something feels or looks slightly off about your results. One side sits higher than the other. Your shape looks lopsided. You can feel a lump where there shouldn’t be one. It’s easy to feel frustrated, and maybe a little worried.
Here’s the reassuring part: a shifted implant is a well-known issue, and it is entirely fixable. Let’s walk through why implants move, how to tell if yours has, and what Dr. Ryan Stanton, the “Butt King®,” can do to correct it.
What Does a Displaced Butt Implant Look Like?
Implant displacement, sometimes called malposition, simply means an implant isn’t sitting where it was placed during surgery. Every patient’s situation is a little different, but common signs include:
- Asymmetry, where one cheek looks higher, lower, or fuller than the other
- A visible or palpable edge or lump that wasn’t there before
- An unnatural shape, such as a bulge to the side or a flattened area
- Discomfort or a feeling of pressure in one spot
- A change over time, where your results looked great at first but gradually shifted
Some swelling, tightness, and unevenness is completely normal in the first weeks after surgery. Implants also need time to settle. Dr. Stanton explains that implants typically take about six months to fully drop into place and reach their final projection. So, if you’re early in your recovery, a little asymmetry doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong. If it persists, gets worse, or comes with pain, it’s time to have it looked at.
Why Do Butt Implants Shift?
There’s usually more than one factor involved. Here are the most common reasons:
- Placement: This is the big one. Where an implant sits matters tremendously. Dr. Stanton places implants within the buttock muscle, called intramuscular placement, rather than on top of the muscle or beneath the fascia. Those other positions can lead to problems with visibility, shape, sagging, or even flipping of the implant. When an implant isn’t anchored well within the muscle, it’s more likely to wander.
- Implant shape: Round and teardrop-shaped implants can rotate out of position. Dr. Stanton’s patented Stanton Anatomic® implant is symmetrically oval, a shape that eliminates the risk of rotation common with teardrop implants.
- Too much pressure too soon: Your implants need time to heal before they’re asked to bear your body weight. Sitting too early, climbing stairs, or skipping recovery restrictions can put stress on healing tissue and encourage the implant to move.
- Fluid or infection: A buildup of fluid (seroma) or an infection can alter the pocket around the implant and push it out of place. Dr. Stanton’s infection risk is just 0.5%, but any complication is worth taking seriously.
- Scar tissue: Tightening scar tissue around an implant can pull or squeeze it out of position.
- Body changes: Significant weight gain or loss can change how your implants sit and look.
When Should You Call a Surgeon?
Sooner is better than later. If you notice a change in your shape, new pain, or an implant that feels like it has moved, don’t hesitate to reach out. An early evaluation gives you more options and can prevent a small issue from turning into a bigger one.
If you’re not sure whether what you’re seeing is normal healing, that’s a good enough reason to call. Dr. Stanton and his team would rather answer your question than have you worry in silence. And if your original surgery was done by someone else, that’s okay. Dr. Stanton evaluates patients from all over who had their procedures elsewhere.
How Is a Shifted Butt Implant Fixed?
A displaced implant generally can’t be fixed by exercise, massage, or time alone. Correcting it typically takes revision surgery. The exact plan depends on why your implant moved and what you’d like your results to look like, and Dr. Stanton tailors each procedure to the patient. Here are some of the techniques he may use.
- Repositioning the implant: If your implants are sitting too high, too low, or on top of the muscle, Dr. Stanton can move them into a better place. Shifting an implant from over the muscle to a dual-plane placement improves camouflage and reduces visibility and rippling.
- Releasing or removing scar tissue: When a tight capsule of scar tissue is squeezing the implant out of position, Dr. Stanton can release or remove that hardened tissue. This restores comfort and shape and gives the implant a proper pocket to rest in.
- Replacing the implant: Sometimes it makes sense to swap out the existing implants. Dr. Stanton can replace them with his Stanton Anatomic® implants, which are made from soft, solid silicone rubber and shaped to resist rotating and to create a more natural contour.
- Adding volume: If you’d like a more dramatic shape while you’re already having revision surgery, Dr. Stanton can combine implants with fat grafting in what’s known as a “supercharged BBL.”
In many cases, Dr. Stanton can remove and replace implants in the same procedure. Other times, a two-step approach works better. He’ll explain which option fits your situation during your consultation.
Does Timing Matter?
If you’re thinking about revision, Dr. Stanton generally recommends waiting at least a year after your original procedure, so your results have time to settle. The exception is when a complication, such as infection, severe pain, or a significant problem with position, needs attention sooner. That’s not something to wait for, so call as soon as you have concerns.
What Can You Expect on Surgery Day and Beyond?
Revision surgery is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia at our fully accredited on-site ambulatory surgical center. You’ll go home the same day, so arrange for someone to drive you.
Dr. Stanton typically works through incisions placed in the midline crease between the buttocks, where scars blend in naturally. He may also use incisions along the curve where the buttock meets the upper thigh when needed. Most patients have no visible scarring on the buttocks after healing.
Recovery takes some patience. Plan for about two weeks away from work, with limits on strenuous activity for 6 to 8 weeks. In the early days, you’ll need to avoid sitting directly on your implants. Dr. Stanton will give you detailed instructions, including how to use a specialized cushion and spend time lying on your stomach or side. You’ll also wear compression garments and come in for follow-up visits.
Swelling and bruising can temporarily hide your results, but they ease over the first few weeks, and your contours keep refining as you heal. Follow your aftercare plan closely since that’s what protects your corrected results.
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Ready to accentuate your assets? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you look and feel beautiful. Schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Stanton today.
Can You Keep Your Implants From Shifting in the Future?
You can’t control everything, but you can improve your odds:
- Choose a surgeon with extensive experience in butt implants. Dr. Stanton has performed more than 800 butt implant surgeries.
- Follow your recovery instructions exactly, especially around sitting and activity.
- Maintain a stable weight if you can.
- Skip smoking. Dr. Stanton advises stopping at least 4 to 6 weeks before surgery and through recovery, since nicotine slows healing.
- Keep your follow-up appointments and speak up the moment something feels off
Ready to Get Your Shape Back?
You don’t have to live with an implant that has moved. If your results have changed or never looked quite right, Dr. Stanton can help you understand what’s happening and create a plan to correct it.
To learn more or get started, call our Beverly Hills office at (310) 278-0077 or use our online form to schedule your consultation.