Breast Implants Q&A

80%

WORTH IT RATING

1,008 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Breast Implants Cost: $6,000

Learn about Breast Implants

4,915 people and 831 doctors are talking about Breast Implants

Get Free Email Updates

Techniques for Settling New Breast Implants?

asked 3 years ago by giross in San Francisco, CA, USA
Latest answer by Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Question viewed 12,300 times
Tags: 1 month post-op, settling

I'm 4 weeks post breast augmentation surgery, and my surgeon wants me to sleep with a workout bra pulled up above my breasts to help push them down and drop more below my nipples. The first three weeks, I was in plastic bandages to keep them up. I had 300cc silocone under muscle, but was told that during surgery, my doctor decided to do lift because of my skin.

None of my friends have heard of this technique and their breasts settled in. Is this normal? My breasts do seem too high and my nipples too low. Are there other "techniques" for making the breasts settle the way my doctor wanted it?

19 answers to Techniques for Settling New Breast Implants?

Many techniques, but time will be your best friend

It's very common for implants placed under the muscle to seem too high early on after the augmentation-- this is due to anatomic reasons as well asthe swelling of the muscle that occurs during and after the procedure. We all have different ways to help implants settle into their final position, and in most cases it just takes time-- sometimes a few weeks, on rare occasion longer. My advice would be to relay your concerns to your surgeon, but listen to his advice--chances are you will have a... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Sounds like an inexperienced surgeon

Making a decision intraoperatively to do a lift is unusual. It should be clear to an experienced plastic surgeon preop when a lift will be required. Having your implants low and then high is also strange. Basically, you will settle over 6 months and know what your final result will be. Alternatives at that time include several options if the result doesn't meet your satisfaction. If at that time, if the breast looks low on the implant and the implant isn't sitting too high on the chest... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Techniques to Help Implants "Settle"

There are different techniques that surgeons use with their patients, including: wearing an elastic garment that pushes down on the upper pole of the breast (Ace Wrap, specially designed bra, specially designed elastic strap, or what your doctor has recommended manipulation or downward massage sleeping prone(on your belly and chest) These are all different ways to apply downward pressure on the implant to get the skin and muscle of the lower pole of the breast... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.pzwiebel.com

Post-operative breast implant displacement exercises

SEE VIDEO BELOW BY CLICKING "MORE": The use of post operative breast implant displacement exercises is controversial and not recommended by all practitioners. First discuss this with your plastic surgeon prior to embarking on this regimen see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Settling Breast Implants

Thanks for your question - There are specific bandages and dressings that can be supplied by your surgeon to help put downward pressure on your breasts. Massage may also help. In all likelihood the most important factor is time. As swelling comes down and gravity does it work the position of your implants will improve. Usually by 3-6 months the breast implants have found the correct position. I hope this helps.

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

6 months to settle

Giross, Your description of the decision to perform a "lift" sounds dubious unless you had this conversation with the surgeon preoperatively. Implants will descend with time and may take 6 months to reach their final destination. Wearing a tight garment over the top part of the breasts may speed the process of implant settling. I use a breast band on my patients that need this intervention. It can be worn night and day and may be more comfortable than pulling a sports bra up. ... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

www.francisnyplasticsurgery.com

That is a normal technique for pushing the implants down

Giross, A few issues... I hope that the doctor explained to you about the lift BEFORE your surgery. Many times there is a possibility of having to do a lift, but you should be well aware of this before your surgery. As for your implants settling, it is common to wear a special bra or strap to help push the implants into place if they are riding high. It is curious that initially you were told to push them up and now you are told to push them down. However, your doctor may just be trying... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Compression devices are an accepted technique for helping breast implants drop

Giross, it is common practice to use a compression device to encourage breast implants to fall or be pushed lower after breast augmentation. A common wrap called an "upper pole wrap" is commonly used, but your bra will work. Downward massage can also help. The description of the position of your breast implant sounds as though you may have needed a breast lift to put the nipple in a normal position. When breast augmentation is done without a lift in this situation, the implant... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

After 4 weeks, breast implants will not come down

To giross, Hi. Now, of course, I don't know exactly what you look like, and you are not going to like my opinion. But, if your nipples are too low and the implants are too high, there is nothing that will correct this other than another operation. Unfortunately, this is not rare, because the muscle attachments are naturally HIGHER than the natural fold under the breasts. The lower ends of the pectoral muscles need to divided. This lowers the implant pockets, and allows the implants to come... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

"Settling" breast implants after surgery

It sounds like you have high riding implants which can sometimes be repositioned in the early post op. period by the use of a bandage or special garments. However, a consultation would be necessary to ascertain the surgical realities and alternatives

Barry H. Dolich, MD
Bronx Plastic Surgeon

Recovery after breast augmentation

Your breast and nipple position was a concern for your surgeon. I would recommend that you follow his suggestions in order to maximize the need for revision. A compression or elastic band on the upper pole of the breast usually helps.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Techniques to aid implants in settling

At this point during your recovery, aggressive downward massage will help the implants settle into the pocket. Make sure to relax the muscle as you massage the breasts, otherwise it will defeat the whole purpose of the massage. Using an ace bandage or band to put pressure on the implants will also help, but the massage will give you a more significant result more quickley. Massaging and manipulating the breasts also prevents the chances of encapsulation. If you do not notice any change... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Mechanical maneuvering of breast implant position almost never works.

When breast implants are properly positioned, they will ultimately assume a natural shape as the swelling that may artificially prop up the implants subsides. This may take as long as several months, getting better as the days pass. If the implants are positioned too high, only a reoperation will fix this problem.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

At 4 weeks, it's a bit late for settling breast implants

Hello, At 4 weeks, the real question is will anything other than more surgery work to get things to settle. I would try what your surgeon suggests but start up the discussion of what you will do if this doesn't work and how long you are going to wait. It is a matter of degree sometimes and if things are close more pressure garment type things may help. If they are "way off," you are probably looking at more surgery.

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Few technical points for settling implants

In general, the intra-operative goal is to have the implant in the correct location. However,in some patients specially with tight lower pole. An implant placed under the muscle could be a little high due to muscle contraction and because the implant will follow the plan of least resistance. Massage,compression and time will make them settle well. Give it sometime.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Breast massage should be considered

I agree that a breast "band-O" or simple ace bandage placed at the top of the breasts with consistent downward pressure will aid in dropping your implants into position. Also, I would recommend active downward massage displacement to each breast 4-5 times a day for about 15 seconds to each breast. You will need regular follow-up with your surgeon to determine if this technique is working. Otherwise, if the implants do not drop within 6-8 months, you may need to consider surgical... more

David Rankin, MD
Jupiter Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants and settling

Usually, the breast implants settle with time, especially if they are smooth walled implants. This may take several months, so just be a bit patient.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Will settle with time

Implants are typically higher in the initial phase of healing and will settle with time usually around 3-6month postop. Typically a breast lift is decided upon prior to surgery once all your measurements and exam has been completed. Discuss with your surgeon the rational to push your implants up in the first 3wks and now to push them down. There are compressive garments that are made specifically for pressure in the upper part of your breasts and they may better serve you than the technique... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Each situation will differ

In general, implants will havea tendency to settle because of propensity for things to be influenced by gravity. The question is whether this settling will be sufficient or if it is wishful thinking to solve your discrepancy. It is often a result of a mismatch between the size of the implant and the size and shape of the breast. No one can really comment on your specific situation without examining you.