Is It a Myth That Sub-muscular Implants Have to "Drop" to Look Good?

I am 9 days post-op from a sub muscular breast augmentation. I had a full lift 9 months ago, and I feel like I have "snoopy" boobs. My upper pole is full, and my nipples seem to point down now. I am freaked out, and at my post op appointment, my doc said this was normal? It just doesn't seem right. I think he may have placed the implant too high.

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by oregon11 in Bend, OR

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It is a myth that breast implants have to drop.

Hi. 1) I am clearly in the minority here, but I can only talk about our experience. At the end of surgery, the breasts should look exactly like you want them to look. They should be at the right level. If they don't, we keep operating. 2) I am sorry to say I think you are right. It sounds as if your implants are too high. Of course, you should wait at least four months, but you will probably need a revision. more

Sub-muscular implants settling post op.

You are very early in your post operative course. Sometimes patients will see spasm in their pectoralis muscle. The implants can be seen as high toward the clavicle. They typically will drop into a more natural position over the next few months. Please continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon and let him/her know your concerns.

Breast augmentation and dropping

When implants are placed under the muscle, there is spasm of the muscle and the implants tend to ride a bit high. Over a few months period, they usually descend into the pocket.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants Too Full On Top

Wait for 6-12 weeks after the surgery date to see how things look. If they still look top heavy you will probably need further muscle release at the bottom of the breast to turn the pocket into what we call a double plane. Hopefully that won't be necessary, but if so it is a fairly quick procedure that your doctor will probably not charge for.

Too early to tell

Ten days after a breast augmentation is too early to say what the final result will look like. Early after a breast augmentation many patients will have greater fulness in the upper breast because the skin and breast tissue of the lower part of the breast adjacent to the fold is the tightest area. This takes longer to relax and as it does the implant settles more completely into the pocket. Provided the operation was done with the creation of symmetrical pockets the implants... more

Ralph R. Garramone, MD

7 reviews

Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

When will submuscular implants drop

There is a bit of controversy about what it means when an implant drops. We beleive that the pocket at the time of placement should be centered on the nipple, with the fold set symmetrically. The implant can be 'high' because the skin in the lower breast envelope can be tighter and hold the implant higher in the pocket, and over time the skin will relax and the implant settle into the breast. But if the skin envelope is lax and the implant is high and the breast falls over... more

Implant Dropping

Almost every patient augmented beneath the muscle have the implants ride high for a while until they drop. Some patients this can occur as soon as a week or two but most patients need a month or two. Do not freak out the vast majority of patients with the appearance that you describe will be just fine in time. Gary Hall,MD

Gary Hall, MD

8 reviews

Kansas City Plastic Surgeon

www.hallmd.com

Sub-muscular Breast Implants?

Thank you for the question. At 9 days post op from breast augmentation it is much too early to evaluate the end results of surgery; you certainly should not be “freaked out”. Breast implants do tend to "ride high” for several weeks to months after breast surgery. I see this every day in my practice. I would suggest you continue to follow-up with your plastic surgeon and follow his instructions. Best wishes. more

Is It a Myth That Sub-muscular Implants Have to "Drop" to Look Good?Answr:

It is true that under the muscle implants usually need a while to drop into place. The muscle needs time to relax and to allow the implant to slip into the space that was opened up by your surgeon. In almost all cases the muscle needs to be released a bit at the bottom to allow this...Give it more time but if still high in 3 months...might not.