When Do Breast Implants "Drop" or Fall into Place?

I just came back from my 1 week check up, and my breast implants have not yet dropped. They are so high that they are not even covering my regular breasts. Doctor says that I have to massage them and they will drop. Is this right? I was so flat-chested that now I seem so big or swollen on top, by my chest bone, and small elsewhere. When do they start falling into place?

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1 week post-op recovery wait time

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by AZ HELP in QUEEN CREEK

Doctor Answers (9)
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Usually takes 3-4months

It is very common for your implants to seem high immediately after surgery - specially with swelling causing further distortion. Once the swelling resolves and your tissues soften and stretch in the lower part of the breast, the implant will settle into your breasts. That typically happens after about 3months. Be patient and the massage techniques will help and keep you involved in your recovery.

Breast implants 'settle' after 4-6 weeks

It takes 4-6 weeks for your breast implants to 'settle'. There are many factors involved, including the tightness of your brest skin, envelope, the size and profile of your implant, the surface of the implant, and whether your implants were placed entirely under the muscle or partially under the muscle. In reality, it is not that the implants have to 'move' down or 'settle', it's just that the lower pole of the breast tissue and skin needs to expand. Be patient.

It takes 6-8 weeks to see some and 4-6 months for all of it

Implants will descend over weeks to months. Each patient is different and each surgeon's technique is different. The fullness of the implant chosen for you will also determine how quickly you see the implants settle in. You are way too early to worry. Stick close to your doctor and work with them through the process.

Implants settle into place after surgery

When breast implants are placed under the muscle for the first time, they usually look very high and create a big bulge in the upper chest. The muscle and skin have to take time to stretch out to accommodate the new implant under it, and there is also swelling at the beginning. What you finally end up with is not what you see right after surgery. Sometimes if your skin is very tight it can take as long as six months to completely settle down, but usually it takes about half that time (2... more

Breasts will look significantly different post op.

It usually takes up to 6 months for breasts implants to settle. Make sure you do any implant massages if you were instructed. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Give breast implants some time to drop

Smooth implants often get pushed up by the spasms from the muscle. You have to give them at least 6 weeks or more for them to drop into the pocket before critically evaluating them. As well, the swelling has to dissipate.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Don't look at them critically for 4-6 weeks...

Because there is so much going on for the first few weeks, I tell patients not to look at the breasts for a number of weeks. It will just drive you crazy.Just do what your surgeon recommends and let him/her judge them as your recover. Swelling can make a breast look too big while soft tissue tightness can make them look smaller. Soft tissues will stretch as swelling decreases and gravity affects the implants, but internal collagen formation (i.e. scar) can cause them to shrink. You will... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants fall into place after few months

Hello, You are pretty much an immediate post-op. These things take time. Relax. A few months from now you should be fine. Make sure your surgeon follows you through this to optimize your outcome though.

Breast implants do not drop much.

Hi. I an sorry to tell you this a big misconception, and I don't understand why plastic surgeons are not more straight forward about it. After breast augmentation, your breasts should look great right away, while you are still on the operating table. The notion that they eventually drop into the right place is a myth. I am afraid you will probably need a revision in a few months.