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One Breast Implant Taking Longer to Drop

asked 3 years ago by kiltcrazy in Seattle, WA
Latest answer by Brian Howard, MD
Question viewed 47,513 times
Tags: age 35-44, saline implants, under muscle, 200-249cc, submuscular

I am three weeks and 2 days post op under muscle Mentor smooth round moderate profile saline implants of 225 cc filled to 250 cc. I was a full 34B but 41 years old and trying to fight gravity. My left breast implant has been sitting lower since week two and feels almost like it's not there (I mean it's beginning to feel like my own). My right one still looks close to where it was when I came home, and always feels like it's trying to go up further especially when I bend over to pick things up or pet the dog. I was told to only start massage at my two week mark which I have been doing religiously.

Why is the implant placed so high in the chest area in the first place when getting sub-muscular implant?

I am really concerned that the pocket was not made wide enough on the right and won't drop because it can't. I am constantly wondering if I should use my arm as I normally would or if I should try to use it as little as possible. Should I wear a strap or go braless?
I chose my plastic surgeon because all of the pictures on his website looked so natural. I did not want to look like I had implants. At the moment, I look like I have something shoved up into my chest on the right side. It's ugly! I am going to Hawaii with my Mother in Law in two months and can't even go bathing suit shopping.

PLEASE HELP!

13 answers to One Breast Implant Taking Longer to Drop

Time and massage are your best allies

At only 3 weeks postop it is not possible to say where you will be at the 3 month point. Hopefully, with time, tissue relaxation, and massage compressing the right upper pole, you will settle on the right side to where you don't need revision. Please make sure you don't over use your right arm and don't wear any push-up garments.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants Too High after Breast Augmentation

I am sorry you are going through this tough time right now, but hopefully the implants will settle with time. It is normal and in fact, quite usual for the implants to sit high after augmentation, especially submuscular. The muscle is still tight and pushes the volume in the implant toward the top of the chest. As the muscle relaxes, the volume in the implant can settle toward the bottom of the breast. This may take weeks or months and is helped a great deal by massage... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.pzwiebel.com

Hard to tell this early

Others have suggested that time and massage are needed. I agree. From your picture, your breast tissue and skin appear to be of good quality and the skin envelope appears fairly tight. Presuming that your tissue envelope was not particularly deflated or sagging preoperatively, it is often the case that implants will take many weeks to "drop." When placing an implant, I set the level of the pocket at a location at the bottom of the breast. From here the implant doesn't so... more

Nick Slenkovich, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Breast asymmetry after augmentation

I would respectfully disagree with some of my colleagues comments and play devil's advocate. I clearly have seen implants drop. This is a known fact and can be seen on many websites. Sometimes when a breast looks perfect at the end of the case, it drops down several months later to an undesireable height. In managing breast implant uneveness and correcting a high riding implant, I intentionally undercorrect because I know it will drop over a 6-9 month period. However, it does appear that... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Higher right implant.

It is natural to be worried. Usually, though, implants take much longer to achieve their final results. Be patient, continue massage, and follow up with you Doc. It will likely get much better.

Michael Philbin, MD
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants should drop more after several months

You have to be patient and do massage. The implants should drop some more. Give it several months to relax and descend before getting too nervous.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Time and breast massage exercises best for you now

I’m sorry to hear about your issues. I must agree with the other physicians that time and breast massage are best for you now. Usually, it takes about 3-4 months before optimal results are seen. I would advise you to remain patient before considering any revision. Continue follow up with your plastic surgeon and inquire if he/she thinks if a mammary band may facilitate the descent of the implants. I hope you find this helpful.

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

No pictures are only 3 weeks post surgery

Dear Kilt, I would be willing to bet the cost of a breast augmentation that NONE of the pictures on your surgeon's website are patients just 3 weeks and two days after surgery. We have good reason for waiting at least six months before obtaining our post operative photos. Implants do indeed descend on the chest wall over time. The time may be as long as six months and you would be surprised at the symmetry that can occur. Please be patient and listen to your surgeon. He may reccommend... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

www.francisnyplasticsurgery.com

It is a complicated issue

From the picture, it looks like there is more volume on your right side than the left. Has it looked like this from the beginning? It is hard to tell with only one picture and not examining you, but you may have a fluid collection, such as a hematoma, on that side accentuating the asymmetry. Also, the implant may be "riding high," for you should start the massage and superior strap earlier rather than later. If you are not getting the answers that you want from your surgeon, then you... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Can't answer your question without more facts...

Unfortunately, no one, except your surgeon, can answer your question. Only he or she knows what pocket was made. In addition, size and shape of the implants, pre-existing asymmetry of your chest wall, position of your breasts, relative dimensions of your breast, location of your nipple on your breasts, relative size of implants to your native breast, etc.. etc. can all affect the appearance and symmetry of your augmentation. Perhaps your surgeon can suggest a second opinion if what he tells... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Implant Dropping After Surgery

Based on your photo, it's not clear to me that your implant hasn't dropped. If you are right-handed, which I'm guessing from your picture that you are, the pectoral muscle on your right is expected to be larger and will create more fullness in the upper region of your breast. Rest assured, this extra fullness typically diminishes over the first several months (it's more due to swelling in the larger-side muscle) and is rarely a long-term problem. Continue... more

Brian Howard, MD
Alpharetta Plastic Surgeon

High breast implant

I'm sorry to hear about your difficulties. Within the first several weeks after augmentation it is common for implants to drop at varying rates. It is much more satisfying to the doctor and patient when they drop together but it is not always the case. Based on the picture, there looks to be something else going on. Does the right feel much larger than the left, or is it just lighting? If so, I would expect there is a reason, such as a hematoma,... more

York Jay Yates, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

I am afraid you will need a revision.

Hi! Of course don't do anything for another 3 months, to make sure things don't change. But after 3 weeks, I don't think the right breast implant will drop. By the way, I don't count on implants "dropping". I think they should look exactly right at the end of the operation. We sit the patient up (still under anesthesia) before the end of surgery to make sure everything looks perfect. Unfortunately, massage is not going to help.