How Long is Too Long for Breast Implant to Drop?

I am 3 weeks post-op as of June 2. My right implant is still very high on my chest. I had put in 492cc filled to 520cc on that side. I do not believe there is any more swelling as that breast is alot smaller than it was right after surgery. Plus there is an indentation at the top kindof like something is pulling up there. you can see a little in one picture. It is in like the 2 oclock position. I am doing "massaging" as much as I can. Does it seem like something is wrong??

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13 Doctor Answers | Asked by TwinMom0804 in Waynesville, OH

Doctor Answers (13)
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It takes a few months for implants to "find their home"

A savvy patient told me this, and it's true! It is extremely common for implants to appear full, or high riding, in the upper pole in the first few months after augmentation. As tissues stretch and adjust, the implant will settle into the pocket better and become dramatically more natural appearing. Clearly your right looks higher than the left, but time is your best ally, and you may find that this improves on its own. I would say that both breasts will be a bit lower and... more

I would recommend revision after 3 months if needed

Your right implant pocket is too high and too tight. You will need revision because of the implant position and lack lower breast pole expantion.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Breast Asymmetry?

Thank you for the question and picture. Yes, I have seen implants “drop” for up to 12 months (or more) after breast augmentation surgery. I asked my patients to “pull up on the skin and push down on the implant” on the side that is slower to settle. Although it is controversial I think that implant massage and displacement exercises are helpful in keeping the breasts soft in general. Continue to follow up your plastic... more

Will my implant drop?

If your implant originally was down in a better position and now has raised up, then you have a capsular contracture and it will not go back down without some intervention. If your implant has always been high, especially if always higher than the opposite breast, then it was positioned too high and will not come down without surgical intervention. Certainly patients will have swelling in the early couple of weeks, and this can cause some fullness in the upper breast (usually... more

Post augmentation recovery

Dear twinmom, Thanks for the photos. The asymmetry is obvious and I sense your concern. Be patient. Massage and time will most likely be your friend. Best idea is to visit with your PS and ask if there are other modalities available. Some surgeons will use an adjustable upper chest elastic garment to help expand your lower pole and help "drop" your implant. Call Monday. Good luck

Breast implants dropping

I agree with what the others have said- it can take 2-3 months, sometimes up to 6 to get them to drop. You mentioned that you are massaging which is great. I would make sure your surgeon sees your technique to assure that you are doing it with maximum benefit. I have seen some patients who think they are doing it right but they are only moving the breast, not the actual implant. You should also consider some type of band that puts continuous pressure over the top of the... more

3 weeks is still early for implant position (even if one has dropped already).

At three weeks from breast augmentation surgery, implant position is frequently higher than ideal, which can take anywhere from days to months to finally achieve. This can happen on one side or both, but even when we strive to perform exactly identical procedures on each side, it is common to note different swelling, bruising, discomfort, scar formation, nerve regeneration, and sensation between sides. In rare cases, if things aren't right after 3-6 months, additional surgery is... more

Dropping & Settling of Breast Implants Post-operatively.

At three weeks post-op, patients are generally a long way from the final result. It is common for implants to be high and tight at this point. The implants will settle into place over the course of 2-4 months; and they mat settle at different rates. Implant displacement exercises are helpful in reducing the risk for capsular contracture, and enhance the settling of the implant. After implants settle into place there may still be other changes that occur as the inferior pole stretches further... more

How long for implants to drop

The healing process after breast augmentation is a dynamic process that can take as long as 6 months to a year to reach an endpoint. You should wait at least 3 months before getting too concerned about how your breasts look. The indentation you are noticing may be rippling of your saline implant, one of the limitations of saline. If it persists or gets more noticeable you may want to consider conversion over to silicone gel where the incidence of visible rippling is markedly diminished. more

Marcel Daniels, MD

12 reviews

Long Beach Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants

It takes 2-3 months for implants to settle. Usually the right one is firmer or higher because it is the dominant hand for most people. Give it more time and discuss your concerns with your surgeon if it is still a problem in a couple of months