Animation deformity, also called dynamic distortion, occurs when breast implants placed beneath the pectoral muscle (subpectoral or dual-plane placement) visibly shift, flatten, or move upward when the chest muscle contracts. The movement can be dramatic and noticeable during everyday activities like pushing, pulling, pressing, or exercising. For some patients it is a minor annoyance; for others, it significantly affects quality of life and satisfaction with their augmentation.
Why Animation Deformity Occurs
The pectoral major muscle originates along the sternum and ribs and inserts onto the upper arm. When placed beneath this muscle, the implant is partially covered by, and physically connected to, the pectoral. Every time the muscle contracts, it exerts force on the implant. The result is visible movement of the breast mound that tracks the muscle's action rather than natural breast motion.
Animation deformity is inherently a consequence of subpectoral implant placement. Its severity depends on:
- How much of the implant sits beneath the muscle versus the glandular tissue (the degree of muscle coverage)
- The patient's muscle mass and how forcefully she contracts her pectorals
- The implant size, larger implants amplify the visible movement
- The specific surgical technique used to create the pocket
Who Is Most Affected?
Animation deformity tends to be most noticeable and most bothersome for:
- Athletes and women who exercise regularly, particularly those who do push-ups, bench press, or rowing movements
- Patients with strong, developed pectoral muscles
- Those with minimal native breast tissue overlying the implant
- Women who had total submuscular placement (implant fully under the muscle) rather than dual-plane placement
Can Animation Deformity Be Corrected?
Yes, surgical correction is possible and effective. The primary approach is:
- Pocket conversion to subglandular or prepectoral plane: Moving the implant from beneath the muscle to above it eliminates the muscle-implant interaction entirely. This is the most definitive correction and is performed as an outpatient revision procedure.
- Partial muscle release: Releasing the inferior muscle attachments in a dual-plane conversion reduces (but does not eliminate) animation for patients who prefer to maintain some muscle coverage.
- Use of an ADM (acellular dermal matrix): In some revision cases, a biological mesh is used to recreate a stable pocket while repositioning the implant.
At Svelta Plastic Surgery in Miami, we offer both primary augmentation placements and revision surgery for patients experiencing animation deformity. We discuss placement options thoroughly with every augmentation patient to help minimize the likelihood of this complication from the start.