Implant Bulging Slightly When Pinching — Normal or Early Rejection?

Hey everyone,

I implanted an xSIID (blue LED) in the webbing between my thumb and index finger on my left hand around 2 AM yesterday — so I’m about 21 hours in as I write this. Did it myself without any numbing, using the Dangerous Things injector. Everything went clean, no bleeding since.

No signs of infection so far — no redness spreading, no pus, no heat or discoloration. Just the usual soreness. But when I pinch my thumb and index together, the tip of the implant bulges out a bit — about half the size of a BB — and it causes a quick, sharp pain. At rest, it doesn’t bulge or hurt.

Feels like it might have rotated a bit sideways and maybe sitting a little shallower than I’d hoped. I haven’t messed with it and have been icing and keeping my hand elevated.

Is this kind of bulging and pressure pain normal this early on? Or should I be worried about it moving or being rejected?

Any tips on how to keep it stable while it heals or what signs to watch for in the next few days?

Thanks a lot — really appreciate this community!

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Disclaimer, I’m way not a qualified medical whatever

But, I say that sounds mostly normal, or at least not grounds for immediate panic.

It’s not uncommon to be able to flex your hand in various ways which make the implants press out against the skin, my xMagic bulges when I pinch, and could definitely be described as about half the size of a BB. My xSIID, in the other hand, is a bit deeper and requires a bit more effort to present like that, and both are doing just fine :classic_smile:

Some tenderness is to be expected with new implants, so I don’t necessarily think the pain is panic-worthy either, so long as it’s not too bad.
Try not to mess with it and take it easy for the next few days/weeks as much as possible, and wait and see if it gets better or worse

That’s what I’d do anyways, but there are some installers/medical professionals that hang around the forum which I’m sure can give you a better and more accurate answer. Pictures may help them do this, if you can provide any

Also, congratulations and welcome!

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Appreciate it a lot — that actually makes me feel a lot better. I went ahead and edited the post with some pictures too in case that helps.

I’ll stop messing with it and just keep an eye on how it feels over the next few days. What you said about flexing and the implant pressing out makes a lot of sense, mine does the same, especially when I move my hand a certain way. Glad to hear that’s pretty normal.

Thanks again, and I appreciate the welcome!

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Yep this kind of rotation happens in some people and the muscle under it is just pushing it upward… but because it’s rotated the ends are not conforming to the curvature of your hand, so the skin is trying to curve down and the ends are under a bit of tension. It’s not really a huge concern unless there is so much tension that it’s causing blood flow to stop at those points and cause tissue necrosis right at the ends. This doesn’t look that severe though.

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To add to these affirmations, I have a slender hand, and if I make a tight fist my flat apex flex is visible in P0.

Pressing on either end of it will make a pretty good bulge that grosses most people out. No pain, tingles, or anything and I’m a couple months out on that one.

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Quick follow-up: it’s now 4:38 AM on 6/27 — swelling’s gone down and I’m not feeling any more pain, even when I pinch or move my hand around. The implant feels like it’s settling in nicely and everything’s healing up great. Super happy with how it’s turning out so far.

Appreciate all the feedback and support!

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