Breast Settling After Breast Augmentation

I had breast augmentation done 4 months ago. In addition to my right breast now sitting approximately a half inch higher than my left breast, and both have a significant amount of loose skin under the breast.

My Doctor has me wrapping my breasts in a bandage for 6 weeks to try to work them down into the breast pocket. Is this going to give me the desired effect, or will I eventually need to have them redone?

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20 Doctor Answers | Asked by Lmorton in Lincoln, NE

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You won't really know until after 6 months...

Being that you are already four months postop your implants would have settled by now. It seems that your implants are high and your surgeon is trying to move them down using wraps. You breast implant pocket capsule is getting quite mature and will probably not move much. I have seen and dealt with this problem many times. I would wait until the six months are over and then fully evaluate your clinical situation with your surgeon. At six months, you will have one of the following... more

Breast Implants Settling

It is common for implants to take some time to settle into position, and it's common for the process to be asymmetric. At 4 months post-op, you might still see some improvement. Continue to work with your surgeon and ask him his expectation and time course, before he would recommend revision.

Revision is certainly a possibilty

Given what you have described, I would not be surprised if you need a revision in the future. It sounds like you may have had some extra skin or breast ptosis before your procedure, which can often be addressed by performing a breast lift at the time of the augmentation. If this was the case, it may be difficult to now manipulate the implant to make it drop into the proper position, in particular if the implant was placed behind the muscle. My advice would be to wait a minimum of 6 months... more

If you do not see the results you desire in the next few months, you will likely need a revision.

Lmorton, I have found that it usually takes about six months for the breast implants to properly settle. However, what you describe presents two issues. First, if one implant is higher than the other, you may require a revision surgery to fix that asymmetry. While wearing straps may help, at this point, I would not expect much difference. Second, the "loose" skin under the breasts, may indicate that you also need a mastopexy or breast lift. While the implants may settle somewhat, if... more

Time for final breast augmentation shape to occurr

Hello, It is hard to know without photos but it sounds like you may need a revision. The revision may consist of 1) lowering the pocket 2) changing the implant size or diameter 3) getting a lift All three of these may be solutions to potential issues you are describing. All the best, Dr Repta

Uneven settling of breasts.

It is quite common for breasts to settle unevenly and have one descend faster than the other. Different types of exercises may be used for thise purpose as well as the use fof specialized bands. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Implant settling after breast augmenation

Typically it takes breast implants 3-6 months to settle completely after a breast augmentation. Breast straps (bandeau) which place downward pressure on the implants, aggressive massage, and patient observation are effective in treating most cases of early asymmetry. If there is still considerable asymmetry after six months, a revision may become necessary.

Breast Asymmetry after Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation results will often continue to settle up to about 6 months. Asymmetries with regards to superior fullness and breast folds can commonly be manipulated with massage and bandeaus that force the breast implants into a desired position. In very muscular patients, a muscle relaxant can help facilitate correct positioning of the implants in the created pocket. Common causes of breast implant asymmetry are pockets that are not of similar dimensions, an... more

Breast implant position after breast augmentation

The position of breast implants may change over the course of the first few months after surgery. You should probably not undergo any revision for at least 6 months, if the implants are still asymmetrical.

Breast Settling After Breast Augmentation

During the first 6 months, slight discrepancies of the position of the implants can be corrected with breast straps. Beyond that usually strapping is not effective. If your problem has not been corrected, you may need a surgical procedure to lower the pocket of the higher side. Loose skin under the breast may require a breast lift, however if there is not too much excessive skin, an "Internal Mastopexy" may be performed with no additional scarring. Internal Mastopexy is... more