Silicone Implants Tightness and High Placement

asked 3 years ago by dbo2005 in Monroe, Wa.
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 573 times

I had silicone implants with a breast lift one week ago. I had my 15 year old saline implants removed and a small amount of capsular contraction repaired.

The implants are currently placed extremely high and feel tight. I am concerned that they will not drop to a more naturally-looking position. They barely move when I do the implant manipulation exercises (pushing them down and inward) that the doctor told me to do. Is this normal and is it likely that they will drop?

5 answers to Silicone Implants Tightness and High Placement

Breast Implants and a lift

If they are smooth walled implants, and they were placed behind the muscle for the first time, the muscle may be in spasm and it may take a few weeks for the breast to return to the lower position that they started out in after surgery. Massage may help and certainly time should.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Maybe you had more contracture than you thought

Hello, After 15 years you probably had pretty considerable scarring/contracture in there. Lack of softness at this stage is not a good sign. See your surgeon so you can get better guidance as to what might be done here.

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Unfortunately, I don't think they will come down.

To dbo2005, Hi. You would not believe how common this problem is, based on the RealSelf questions that I answer. It is unfortunately largely a myth that implants somehow "settle". They usually don't. I say this because I have done many hundreds of breast augmentations. Implants need to be low enough, and breasts need to look great RIGHT after surgery. Otherwise, they probably won't later. What I recommend is putting the operating table into a sitting position BEFORE the end... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Too early

Please wait. You just had your surgery and still have a lot of swelling. It may take up to 3-6 months to see the final result.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Tightness after silicone implants and lift

One week is a very small part of the post-opertive healing and recontouring that will take place over the next 3-6 months. You also have newer implants so be patient and remember that lift means high.

Barry H. Dolich, MD
Bronx Plastic Surgeon

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