When will my breasts feel like mine again? (Photo)

Question

I am 3 days post op and I find that I am not bothered by pain as much as the sensations in my breasts. They are hard and pointy and feel foreign on my chest. I also have lost some sensation particularly on the lower poles which results in an uncomfortable pins and needles feeling or sometimes nothing at all. One also seems to be dropping faster as it appears lower and fuller. I am just wondering when I will start to feel like myself again?

Ricardo A. Meade, MD · Answer

Breast augmentation is an adjustment both for your body and mind. At first, your breast implants can feel firm and sit too high on your chest. As your body heals in the next few weeks, your breast implants should begin to settle and your final results should begin to take shape. Your breasts should start to feel like your own again during this process, however, it can take as long as 6 months for breast implants to completely soften and drop. The changes in sensation and tingling are likely your nerves reconnecting after the surgery and should subside as your nerves regenerate.

Ramiro Morales, Jr., MD · Answer

Thanks you for your questions and pictures. You are way to early in the recovery period to make any determinations about shape etc.   As for the strange sensations, these are usually normal and will go away in a few weeks.

Carolina Restrepo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Healing after plastic surgery is a process and the earlier parts are the most challenging.  Emotions are a big part of the process as well. You are in the very early stage of healing and you may experience changes in feeling and size beacuse of swelling, some times one breast may swell more than the other or heal faster than the other which brings the difference in size. Patients usually experience the first phase of healing in the first 3 weeks and a slow steady improvement for 6 months or so after surgery which is where everything really settles. Best is to discuss specifically with your chosen surgeon for his or her opinion.

Jose M. Soler-Baillo, MD, MS · Answer

Hello,Thanks for the question and pictures!Based on your pictures, I would say your augmentation is recovering well. Since you are only 3 days post-op it is still early to worry! Often times one breast implant will drop more quickly than the other, and differences in swelling can also contribute to this discrepancy. As for the numbness, patients generally experience numbness in the area for months after surgery. While rare, it is possible for the numbness to last many months. If this tingling sensation reaches a point of discomfort, I would recommend seeing your board-certified plastic surgeon who performed your surgery to discuss. As long as you are following your physician's post-operative instructions and care guide, you should feel like yourself again in no time!Best of luck

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your recent surgery.  It is common for your breasts to feel "foreign" at this phase of recovery.  There are many changes that will happen over the next several months including swelling subsiding and the breasts softening as the implant finds a comfortable spot in the pocket.  Your final results aren't realized until 3-6 months after surgery.  Until then try to be patient, and continue to follow your surgeon's advice throughout the recovery process.

When will my breasts feel like mine again? (Photo)

Answers (5)