Will Breasts Look Larger As Breast Implants Drop?

It’s not uncommon for patients to express concern about breast size in the immediate post-operative period.  Multiple factors make it impossible to assess breast size four days after surgery.  This is even more so when breast lift and augmentation are performed in combination.
Several factors affect the size of breasts in the immediate post-operative period.  These include swelling of the breast tissue, swelling of the surrounding tissue, settling of the breast implants and muscle spasm.  For several months following surgery each of these phenomena is undergoing significant change.  These factors interact in a complex manner to create a rapidly evolving situation.  It’s virtually impossible to make decisions about breast size until the situation has stabilized.
In some cases, it may not have been possible to place a larger implant at the time of the original procedure.  During surgical procedures it’s not uncommon for surgeons to make compromises to obtain the best possible aesthetic result.  In some cases, utilizing larger breast implants may cause conflicts with other aesthetic goals.  For instance having larger breast might create and unnatural look which may not be desired by the patient.  It may disrupt harmony, balance, and proportion with other surrounding structures.
It might also affect patient safety.  When breast lift and augmentation are performed together, a larger breast implant might compromise blood supply to the nipple areola complex.  All of these concerns might place limits on implant size with this procedure.
In most cases, resolution of post-operative swelling results in a decrease in apparent breast size.  Occasionally resolution of swelling in the surrounding tissues results in greater definition of the breast and the perception that they’ve increased in size.  The vast majority of patients are happy with their breast size after a brief period of adjustment.  Rarely secondary procedures are necessary for size.

The breasts do indeed tend to look larger after the implants fall.  At 4 days after surgery, you are so early that there is no need to worry.  The implants that you chose should put you in the desired size range.

Hello!; Breast Implants and their interaction with the skin and muscle tend to change over time.  This leads to a softening of the skin , allowing the implants to lower. This can change their original view from full to elongated. But not much.  Hope this helps!Dr J 

It's a great question. As your implants settle the implant volume will shift from the top to the bottom of your breasts. Having more volume at the bottom of your breasts gives you a more natural look and will make your breasts appear larger and slightly closer together. Waiting for implants to settle fully can be frustrating, but make sure you continue to follow your surgeon's instructions carefully. Congratulations on your procedure!

Breast implants can definitely make the breasts look larger as they "drop and fluff' which basically means the skin relaxes and allows the implants to settle. 

Thanks for your question.Generally, the implant will look smaller as the implant drops and swelling subsides.  You may need a larger size, but please wait a sufficient amount of time to decide on this.  Ideally you would wait 3-4 months before making a final determination on changing the size of your breasts.Aloha,Shim Ching, MD