4 weeks post op, is it normal that my breasts are still hard? (photos)

Hello and thank  you for your question. You are still very early in the recovery process, and the photo that you shared is consistent with being only 4 weeks post-op. Your breasts should start dropping and softening over the next few weeks. Also, 4 weeks post-op is far too soon to develop capsular contracture, so don't worry about that. In my practice, we do a 1 week, 4-6 week, 6 month and 1 year post op. It is more than reasonable for you to ask your surgeon for another appointment - even if it's just for reassurance.Best, Steven Vath 

There is some hardness due to swelling that should resolve over several weeks. Your best advice will come from your PS as he is aware of the extent of your surgery and how you are healing.  Following his post-operative guidelines based upon his training and experience should reassure that your recovery is on track.

During the initial weeks/months of recovery from a breast augmentation it is normal for the breasts to feel hard/firm.  Around the 3 month mark, the swelling should be down significantly, the skin should be stretching to accommodate the implants, the muscles should be beginning to relax, and the breast should begin to soften and drop into a more natural looking breast.  The breasts will continue to settle for 6 months to a year, at which time results will be final. 

Thank you for your question - you are indeed correct - implants tend to be quite firm post operatively.  Especially when larger implants are placed in a thin person - your scenario.  The larger the implant the longer it takes to soften.  I would plan on not noticing a huge difference until 6 or 8 weeks post-op at which point they will begin to soften. Best of luck!

Hello,Thank you for your question!You are still very early in the recovery period. It may take up to 3 months for your breast to settle and soften. If you are concerned it may be best to see your PS and be assessed.You can learn more on our social media (Instagram and Snapchat): @realdrsix.
Regards

 Firmness in the breasts is common until close to 6 weeks or after, and the breasts will continue to soften until the 3 month mark. Best to be patient and see your doctor with questions.

You are early in your recovery and need to wait several more weeks to see your final result, and then they should feel softer and more normal. However, your surgeon should be available to you for continued support. good luck.

At 4 weeks you are about 22 percent settled, healed, shaped, softened, dropped and fluffed. "Drop and fluff" refers to the fact that as the skin stretches and the muscles relax, the implants move down and out slowly – about 1 percent a day. It’ll be about six weeks before they even begin to settle down, but they’ll be close to 80 percent settled and softened at three months. Watching their progress is like watching your hair grow. You don’t see a difference in your hair growth daily, but all of a sudden you need a haircut. 
Be patient after surgery. Give yourself a few months before making a judgment about your surgical results. You won't know the outcome until then. 
Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author  
RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee

Thanks for your question. Every patient is unique and heal differently. It suallyu takes up yto 3 months for the final results to show and to heal from the surgery. Make sure to follow your surgeon's post op instructions. 

At one month postop, you are early on in your recovery. Follow your surgeon's advice but be sure to follow up with him in a few months. Between now and then, your breasts should get progressively softer. One month is probably too early to diagnose capsular contracture.

It is normal for the breasts to still feel tight at 4 weeks depending on a number of factors such as the size of the implant and the tightness of the muscle. It is important to monitor the progress of your breasts, as they should be softening up more and more every week. If you feel like the breasts are not improving over time, I recommend reaching out to your surgeon to discuss methods to help soften the breasts such as more aggressive massage. Best wishes for a successful recovery.