Uneven Breasts from Breast Augmentation Edema?

I had a breast augmentation 3 weeks ago. The right breast had an edema from day one and the swelling was big. Now it has gone down a bit, but still larger than my left breast and i'm worried it will stay this way and I'll end up with one breast larger than the other. Also the right breast (the one with the swelling) looks as if has dropped a bit and it's lower than the left. Does this something to do with the swelling? Would this get better after I start with the massages? Please help.

Tags:

Comment on this

10 Doctor Answers | Asked by Pampita83 in England

Doctor Answers (10)
Community Comments (0)

Uneven Breasts from Breast Augmentation Edema

Resutlts at 3 weeks are going to change and I would definitelygive it at least 3 months if not 9 to fully assess your final results.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Swelling in the breast

Sometimes there is differential swelling between the two breasts, if there was a lot of bruising, I would be worried that you had a hematoma.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You probably have a hematoma in your right breast after breast augmentation.

Hi. This is potentially serious. You should have had a sonogram right away to diagnose hematoma after breast implants. It needs to be drained. It may not be too late. If you do nothing, your right breast will be always larger and hard.

Unilateral swelling not uncommon after breast augmentation

It is not uncommon to have more swelling on one side. As long as the swelling is not increasing, it will probably go down in time. Massage will help but I would advise you to wait for 4-6 weeks for things to settle down.

It takes several weeks to months for the implants to settle

It really is too early to make a final determination about the implants. It can take weeks to months for the swelling to completely resolve and the implants to settle. However, any unilateral (one-sided) complaints should be seen by your surgeon to make sure that there is nothing more serious occurring.

Keep on waiting for breasts to settle

Definitely follow your plastic surgeon's advice. If the problem is the result of bleeding around the implant, or an infection, then they'll most certainly take action right away. I normally warn my patients (jokingly, of course) that they won't believe how unconcerned I'll be if they mention differences in size and position of their implants in the first 6 weeks. During that time, there is too much tension in the muscle and too much opportunity for swelling for anyone to get worked up... more

Stay close to your surgeon

It is common to have differences between the 2 sides during the healing. This can be differential swelling and it can also be magnification of preop asymmetry. Give it time and follow your surgeons instructions regarding care, massage, activities and bras.

Too early to tell breast asymmetry

Unless your doctor feels you have a hematoma or seroma, it is too early to tell. You should sit tight, not look at your breasts too often or closely, and follow up with your doctor on a regular basis.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Too early to tell breast asymmetry after augmentation

There are a things I don't know from your description, so I can't say for sure. However, from my own personal experience, I place the implants under the muscle. I don't finish the procedure until the breasts are as symmetrical as possible. By the time the patient wakes up, they look nothing like when I finished: they are high, larger, funny looking (frequently), firmer, and frequently asymmetrical. I tell all of my patients not to really look at them critically until around the 4th week,... more

Depends on the degree of difference

Asymmetry is present before surgery and will also be present after surgery. Therefore, it depends on the degree of asymmetry you have now compared to preop. If one side is swollen significantly more than the other, I would see your surgeon ASAP to make sure you do not have a hematoma (internal bleeding). That can lead to more tissue stretch earlier and result in a lower implant possibly. More importantly it puts you at higher risk for capsular contracture. The best thing to do is see your... more