Will Wearing a Compression Band for One Breast Implant Make Both Move Down?

Question

I am 4 months post-op, under muscle silicone implants. One has settled perfectly with a very natural slope. The other is still riding high and has very early signs of capsular contracture. In addition to aggressive massage for the contracture, my doctor gave me a compression band to help the one breast settle.
	
	I'm scared that wearing it will also push the settled breast further down and cause bottoming out. Should I be worried? Can I wear it over one and under the other?

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Your surgeon may be wanting to influence the decent of the implants within the breasts over the first six months after surgery as it usually takes several months for the breasts to settle out.  I would revisit with your surgeon to address your concerns.

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question! You are still early post-procedure. Your appearance looks typical at this stage and will continue to improve as the swelling subsides and the implants continue to settle into their desired position. This usually proceeds over the next several weeks as the lower pole skin/breast stretches to accommodate the implants. Follow-up closely with your surgeon for additional restrictions/instructions and the potential use of bras/garments or massage that may encourage the implant to settle appropriately. If still displaced after this time, a surgical procedure may be necessary to further open the pocket and bring the implant(s) down. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

breast augmentation  postoperative care

	massage , vit e and singulair or accolate may be of help

	you can wear the strap over one breast.

Richard H. Fryer, MD · Answer

After four months if one breast implant is still high it is doubtful that massage and a band will help it settle much.

	More concerning is the possibility of early capsular contracture which can be a reason why one breast implant is not settling and seems to be riding high.

	There are several reasons for capsular contracture

	
		bacterial contamination of the implant
	
		sterile foreign bodies (sterile talc from surgical gloves or sterile lint)
	
		blood around the implant at the time of surgery
	
		rupture of the silicone implant
	
		your body's healing process (idiopathic -- no real scientific cause)


	In my Salt Lake City, Utah breast augmentation practice after four months if my patient is not yet settled then I would usually recommend a repositioning operation.  You may also need to address the capsular contracture if it really is present.

William T. Stoeckel, MD · Answer

I do think that there is limited benefit to the compression straps that can be worn to help induce settling of breast implants. The compression band that I have used can be worn in such a way that most of the compression can be directed to one of the breasts if desired. Although this might help, at this point, it probably won't make much difference. I think that the compression garments are likely to help more in the first 3 months. If there is a suggestion of an early capsular contracture, accolate or singulair might be helpful as well. Ask your surgeon if he/she has used these medications to help slow or reverse the progression of capsular contracture. I have been pleasantly surprised that accolate has helped a few of my patients in the last few years. There is certainly a possibility that a implant pocket revision procedure may be needed.

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

You can wear a breast band safely without a worry about moving the 'good' breast, however there also is little chance that the band will move the high one either. Very early capsular contracture is not often without a cause, and you may just have an implant that was positioned poorly. Massage as aggresively as you wish, though a revision of the pocket might be the answer.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

A compression band may help a stubborn implants form coming down. If positioned properly it shoudl not affect the other breast.

Moneer Jaibaji, MD · Answer

The implants will continue to settle and change beyond four month. I agree with your doctor that a compression band will help. This is in addition to messaging and sports bra. Pharmacologic ways to reduce the risk of capsular contracture have debatable advantage and may have some side effects. You need to discuss that with your plastic surgeon. Good luck

Leonard T. Yu, MD · Answer

You can wear the band asymmetrically (over one and under the other) to apply downward pressure only on the higher breast. The sooner after surgery that you try this, the better the chance that you may avoid additional surgery to lower the implant.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.

	I think your surgeon has provided you with good advice;  I would stick with this advice as opposed to that of online consultants who have not had the benefit of examining you. Some plastic surgeons may also add the use of anti-inflammatories (for example accolate or singular).  Ask your surgeon if he would advise the use of these medications.

	Best wishes.

Will Wearing a Compression Band for One Breast Implant Make Both Move Down?

Answers (11)

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