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Why is One Breast Softer Than the Other 1 Week Post-op?

asked 1 year ago by cbland in texas
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 1,226 times
Tags: saline implants, under muscle, 450-499cc, softer

Feb.18, 2011 I had my surgery. I suffered slight asemmetry, as well as minimal drooping due to one child. I had 450 cc left breast 470 cc right breast saline unders placed. My left side, which was the bigger side beforehand is dropping faster and softer than my right side. I've started post op massage, as well as living in the compression belt. How can I get ol' righty to catch up? Also, why do my deltoids burn? Is it nerves regenerating as well? Thank you

19 answers to Why is One Breast Softer Than the Other 1 Week Post-op?

Breast Asymmetry after Breast Augment

Most patients see a little asymmetry in the first few weeks after breast augment. It can be due to differences in the degree of swelling as well as differences that existed before surgery. Give it a few weeks to settle down before you get overly anxious. Good Luck!

Mark Preston, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant asymmetry

Thank you for the question. Some degree of breast asymmetry is to be expected after breast augmentation surgery, especially on the 7th post op day. Sometimes implants may take several months and up to a year to “drop”. I have found this to be especially true when work has been done on the lower pole of the breasts and/or when larger breast implants are used. I would suggest continued patient, nonaccusatory follow-up with your plastic... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Breast Implant Healing

One week after surgery is too early to start getting nervous. It is not unusual for there to be slight asymmetry as the breasts heal. Keep doing the exercises and banding that your doctor instructed and you should see positive improvement soon. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Asymmetry after surgery

There may be a variety of reasons why one breast is firmer than the other one week after surgery. One breast may have swelled more and this may be of no consequence. However, there are medical conditions following the procedure that could cause this that may not resolve on their own accord. I would make your surgeon aware of the issue and schedule a postoperative appointment.

Marc Schneider, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Assymetrical Henaling After a Breast Augmentation

It is pretty typical for our bodies to heal at an un even pace. You had some assymentry before your surgery so it is not surprising that you are finding some afterwards. I would make sure to go to all of your follow up appointments and make sure your Plastic Suregon agrees. Best of Luck!

Miguel Delgado, Jr., MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

www.dr-delgado.com

Healing periods are often different on each breast.

You just have to be patient and give your breasts time to heal. Since you had asymmetry, more work was done to correct your breasts. Healing times are not equal on the right and left breast. The burning you are feeling is typical in healing. It may be nerves healing. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Experience one week after your surgery

You are only one week after surgery. You are likely swollen and swelling/edema can commonly before more on one side than the other. Depending on what was done in your surgery, you will need to give at least 3-6 weeks to allow your swelling to resolve so you can better evaluate/assess your results. Don't forget to follow the postoperative care plan recommended by your surgeon. Best of luck.

C. Bob Basu, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Asymmetry after breast surgery

After a little more than one week since your surgery it is common to have a little asymmetry. Some of this may be related to the surgery, though most of this is due to your pre-surgical appearance. If you start with asymmetry of your breasts before surgery you will most likely have asymmetry after surgery. Having an augmentation alone does not allow the surgeon to make changes to the shape of your breasts - only the volume. Also, it is very early to judge the end results. I would... more

Adam Rubinstein, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

dr-rubinstein.com

Post Op Breast Asymmetry

It is quite common to have post op asymmetry after breast augmentation especially if you has preop asymmetry . There is such thing as perfectly symmetrical breasts since we studied this several years ago in a study published in PRS . Over 85% of females have some type of breast asymmetry. If the asymmetry is minor, one does not need to use different size implants. However, if significant, you adjust the size accordingly with ease especially using... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Asymmetry Post Breast Augmentation

I believe your left breast is softer and dropping more because you have a larger skin envelope on this side. On the right side, there is less skin, therefore the implant feels tighter and harder. I would allow 4-6 weeks for the swelling to resolve and assess your implant final position. Close followup with your plastic surgeon is essential to monitor your progress and ensure that you do not have a complication, such as a fluid collection or scar... more

Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.drpaulgill.com

Asymmetrical softness 1 week after breast surgery

At one week, it is hard to say. It is likely the firm breast has more swelling. However, sometimes I see this in my patients on their dominant side, ie: if they are right handed, the right side is firmer early on. Give it more time. Also, it depends on the fill volume range of each implant, and whether it was filled to its maximum or minimun fill volume, not necessarily what volume was placed. Ask your surgeon about this.

Amy T. Bandy, DO
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drbandy.com

Breast Implants Settling at Different Rates

At one week out you are still very early in the healing process.Just as your breasts were different before surgery, it is normal to have one breast settle quicker than the other, especially when that one has a smaller volume implant. As long as you are doing your massages and following your plastic surgeons instructions, you should be fine. If the issue persists then I would discuss it with your plastic surgeon. Hope that helps and good luck! Dr. Babak Dadvand... more

Babak Dadvand, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Get your surgeon to examine you

Hello, At one week post-op, you are probably OK but I would have your surgeon take a look and give you insight into what is happening. Things may differ for a while between the sides but should improve over time. Best Regards, John Di Saia MD

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Why is One Breast Softer Than the Other 1 Week Post-op?

No photo very hard to advise. But talk to your chosen surgeon. My guess is swelling is still more in the firmer breast. From MIAMI DR. Darryl j. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Different Breasts + Breast Implants = Different AUGMENTED Breasts

The vast majority of breasts are asymmetric. Plastic surgeons try, but are not commonly successful in producing identical breasts when they start with dissimilar breasts. In your case, your surgeon placed 20 more cc on the right size to make up for the asymmetry. THAT is the reason why the implant on the right feels stiffer than the left. That should have been told to you during your pre-operative visit. At 1 week after surgery, there is a lot more of improvement to come. Dr. Peter Aldea more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Implants dropping

The smaller side which has more fluid, makes sense to take a bit more time to settle down. Good luck.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Early breast asymmetry

Your body started off with differences in size and form. I think one reason you may have more tightness on one side over the other is because if you are right handed the muscle on this side is bigger and stronger. Your right implant is being held by a stronger muscle and you may need to manage this side differently. The muscle on the dominate side tends to hold the implant tighter in a higher position until it is able to relax like the other side. Make sure to bring... more

Marcus L. Peterson, MD
Saint George Plastic Surgeon

Why one breast can be softer the week after breast augmentation

The explanation as to why one breast is softer faster than the other relates to the relaxation of the skin envelop of the breast. The breast tissue will give to accommodate the fairly large implant placed during your breast augmentation. Even with a minor asymmetry one breast has the head start with the larger skin envelop. Implants don't really drop, the skin relaxes as the breast and implant meld together to fit one another. Massage is OK, however over time the breast will take care of... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

One week after breast augmentation

Your concerns are very typical for someone who had breast augmentation one week ago. Your breasts were different, had different implants and they will recover differently. Keep your doctor posted and it sounds like you are going through a normal recovery.