Tightness and Discomfort After Breast Augmentation Doctor Answers, Tips
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Tightness and Discomfort After Breast Augmentation

I am 24 days post breast augmentation with mastopexy for the left breast. When I bend down, I still feel pressure or discomfort. Is this normal and will it go away?

19 Doctor Answers | Asked by DD5199 in New York
+2

Mastopexy and pressure

 Bending over after breast surgery increases your blood pressure and will cause throbbing or discomfort for several weeks.  Be patient, this most likely will go away over time.
+2

Discomfort, tightness normal after breast augmentation

Breast implants will press against the pectoralis muscle making your chest feel tight. Especially in healthy athletic patients, it will take time (2-3 months) before these feelings go away.
+2

Breast Augmentation discomfort most likely temporary

It is perfectly normal for you to experience some positional discomfort this soon after your surgery. As you continue to heal, these symptoms will most likely resolve. Wearing a brassiere around the clock may both improve your discomfort and help your result.

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+2

Discomfort will go away as nerves adapt to the implant

You may be experiencing a dyesthesia from the stretching of the lateral nerves. This is very common and can be positional. When you bend over you are adding stretch to the nerves. This is usually described as a burn or deep ache sensation. Light massage helps but this will go away as the nerves and breast tissue adapt to the implant.
+2

Discomfort and tightness normal after Breast Augmentation

DD, Have patience. You are only 3 weeks out from your surgery. Discomfort and tightness are common after breast augmentation and mastopexy. Your tissues will relax and soften over the next few months. Good luck!
+2

Tightness and discomfort after augmentation can be normal

I would like to echo what the other doctors have said, and add that if you are pre menopausal, you may feel more discomfort during your menses--especially if you have PMS.
+2

The tightness will resolve with time

Having some discomfort and tightness with movement after breast augmentation/mastopexy can happen and is normal. For most women, this will resolve over the course of a few weeks. Discuss with your surgeon what he or she would like you to do over the next few weeks to help the implant settle and the scars soften. I wil usually have my patients begin massaging the breasts as well as the scars at about 2 weeks after the procedure-- I find this not only helps the implants settle and the scars... more
+1

Normal for this point in time

Yes this is to be expected and a normal consequence of the healing process. The capsule tends to take 6 weeks to develop and during this time the scar tissue becomers firmer.
+1

Discomfort or tightness not necessarily uncommon

There are many factors involved that could contribute to a feeling of tightness or pressure following breast augmentation. One will generally feel tighter after a primary/first time augmentation, moreso if completely under the muscle as opposed to partially under the muscle. Gentle massage and full time bra support may give you some assistance.
+1

Sounds like a typical Breast Augmentation recovery

DD5199, You may imagine that it is difficult for us to know your progress without seeing you as a patient. However, here are some of the things we discuss with patients about their recovery from augmentation combined with mastopexy (lift) After the first three weeks, you should be able to resume vigorous activities, working-out, cardio, gardening, tennis, golf, etc. You will experience discomfort when you first resume some strenuous activity. Go at things gradually. Don't expect to start... more
+1

You'll feel better 6 months after Breast Augmentation

It really takes about six months for all symptoms to disappear. You will experience tightness, occasional swelling, and pain up until that time. Every month they will feel better. After the six month mark, they should feel like they're a part of you.
+1

Pressure and discomfort is common

It is common to feel pressure and discomfort 4 weeks after breast augmentation. These feelings should slowly improve over the next 4 weeks. I think that It is important to wear a surgical bra for 8 weeks after breast augmentation with mastopexy. If you have not been doing this 24/7, this could be exacerbating these feelings.
+1

It generally takes several months for the swelling to resolve and the tissues to settle.

DD5199, You are less than a month after your surgery, so what you are experiencing is completely normal. It generally takes several months for the swelling to resolve and the tissues to settle. While this is happening, you may feel occasional discomfort as the tissues are healing. At this point, there is no reason to worry. Good luck with your recovery.
+1

Discomfort almost always goes away.

Your brain gradually incorporates the implants into your "body image", and eventually you should not be aware of them.  As long as your breasts are soft, don't worry.  By now, you can exercise freely in a good sports bra.
+1

Tightness and discomfort normal after Breast Augmentation

This is common, especially if the implant is under the muscle. Skin tightness is also commnon but will fade over the coming weeks. It will be better as the temperature warms up.
+1

Discomfort normal during Breast Augmentation recovery

What you are feeling is competely within the norm of breast augmentation surgery and the time frame of your recovery. It will take some time before those feelings go away, but most patient say that at about 3-4 months they feel that the implants are part of them and never really notice that they are there. Hope that helps.
+1

Totally normal

It is completely normal to feel tightness only 3.5 weeks after breast augmentation. This will resolve usually by 6-8 weeks postop, but of course everybody is different. Be patient, stick close to your plastic surgeon and their advice, massage the implants according to their instructions and try to relax about the recovery.
+1

Normal and will go away

The symptoms you describe are very common - specially when you bend down as that places more strain on your tissues/muscle. They will resolve as your tissues heal further, soften and you become more used to having implants. Everyone is different so your timing will vary but usually by 3-6months the feeling of pressure should resolve
+1

Exclude other problems after Breast Augmentation

You are still in the first two weeks and it is normal to have some tenderness. However, I recommend that you see your surgeon so you could make sure you do not have any other problems.
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