A woman experienced a rare complication when one of her breast implants shifted to her armpit after she failed to follow her surgeon's post-op instructions.
Influencer Maddison Steiner chose to undergo breast augmentation surgery last year because she no longer felt confident about her chest following the birth of her child.
The 25-year-old told People magazine that she opted for 360cc implants placed over the muscle to "refresh" the way she felt about her body.
Highlights
- Maddison Steiner experienced a complication after ignoring her surgeon's post-op instructions following breast augmentation.
- Maddison's implant shifted into her armpit weeks after surgery due to lifting her toddler.
- The influencer underwent painful revision surgery to repair stretched implant pockets.
Maddison selected a surgeon in Seattle who had previously worked with other content creators.
The doctor told her the procedure would involve a "48-hour rapid recovery" with minimal pain and a quick healing process.
Image credits: Maddison Steiner
Image credits: Maddison Steinerh
"By 72 hours post-op, I felt great — like I was ready to get back to everyday life," the young woman shared.
Despite being billed as a "rapid recovery" procedure, the operation wasn't a magical fix, and Maddison still had to follow strict instructions to support the healing process.
That's when she made her "big mistake," she told the magazine.
"I misunderstood the instructions and thought it only applied to lifting things above my head, not to all lifting in general."
The 25-year-old ignored her surgeon's post-op instructions and watched as one of her implants slid into her armpit
Image credits: Maddison Steiner
After four or five weeks, she noticed a slight change in the positioning of her implants.
The shift became more apparent one day when she removed her corset and saw that one implant was no longer positioned as it had been right after the operation.
Image credits: Maddison Steiner
"That night, when I lay down, I saw my implant slide into my armpit — it was visibly moving under my skin," she shared.
"I immediately contacted my surgeon, and he confirmed that the pocket on my left side had stretched."
Maddison lifted her toddler despite her surgeon advising against "lifting anything, including children, for six weeks"
Image credits: Maddison Steiner
Maddison quickly sent photos to her nurse, who forwarded them to her surgeon. After a few weeks, she underwent another surgery to correct the issue.
The influencer said the revision surgery was more painful than the original.
"My surgeon had to manually stitch the implant pockets to tighten them and prevent further shifting."
Image credits: Maddison Steiner
To make matters worse, Maddison didn't like her appearance following the revision surgery, explaining that she was "honestly horrified" a day after the procedure and thought she looked "botched."
She recalled: "I started crying because the way he had tucked my breast to help the pocket heal made everything look very strange.
"He told me to trust the process and give it time, and he was right. After a few weeks of healing, everything settled perfectly, and I'm happy with the results."
Maddison had to undergo revision surgery after the issue and was ultimately pleased with the results
Image credits: Maddison Steiner
Maddison believes some people tend to downplay post-op instructions from plastic surgeons because cosmetic procedures are elective, and therefore perceived as less serious than urgent medical interventions.
Plus, many patients prioritize their busy schedules or parental responsibilities—such as caring for a toddler—over their health.
Now, she says she's learned her lesson. "Six weeks of being careful can feel like a long time, especially if you're a busy parent like me, but it's nothing compared to a lifetime of results."
Image credits: Maddison Steiner
The 25-year-old advised people to contact their doctors immediately if they experience any complications after plastic surgery and emphasized the importance of choosing "responsive" professionals who will answer the phone if anything unexpected happens.
Maddison said she wanted to share her story to help people "take their recovery more seriously or feel less alone" in their experiences with breast augmentation.
Maddison opted for the surgery to "refresh" the way she felt about her body after welcoming her child
Image credits: Maddison Steiner
Celebrity surgeon Dr. Deepak Dugar, who has not treated Maddison, explained that he recommends "limited motion and limited lifting of usually anything over 10lbs [approx. 4.5 kg]" in the first few weeks after breast surgery.
The surgeon said that lifting anything heavy "causes strain on the muscles and tissues which have been recently manipulated during surgery, therefore increasing the risk of bleeding or pulling of the sutures."
Additionally, Dr. Dugar—who has worked with Sami Sheen and Dayna Kathlan— recommends always consulting with a surgeon for post-op advice rather than relying on social media or online forums.
Some people left harsh comments for Maddison after she "botched" her surgery
