Will wearing a breast band make my one side that’s “already dropped” breast, drop too low? (Photo)

Although this is an excellent question, I highly recommend you follow your personal plastic surgeon's advice since he or she knows the variables of the surgery that you had, and therefore the likelihood of the band causing an over correction.That being said, in situations such as this, I usually recommend placing the band over the elevated breast and under the breast that has already settled.  This asymmetric use of a bandeau has proven very valuable in my practice for lowering a  one-sided high riding breast implant.

Congratulations on your surgery.  Breasts sometimes settle at different paces.  It's not unusual for your dominant side to settle slower then your non dominant side.   Settlement after a Breast Augmentation can take 6-8 months completely and normally all evens out nicely.  I would suggest giving it some more time and following your surgeons recommendations in regards to the band.  Best of luck to you. 

Great question! And, yes, it could!So wear that elastic band ABOVE the "still-high" implant side, and BELOW the "already perfect" side. Of course, the band won't stay in that position without help, so I suggest a T-shirt with a safety pin to keep the elastic bandeau in it's proper "Mexican gun belt" position. Once the positions equalize, you and your surgeon can decide about continuing or discontinuing the bandeau. BTW, I only recommend a bandeau at night. Gravity works during the day. If you're wearing a bra during the day, I'd loosen the strap on the "high" side, and keep the strap tight on the "already perfect" side.But everything is still very early, and you should review any recommendations you think sound reasonable with your surgeon. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Hello! Thank you for your question and for providing pictures!
The band is not the only thing that will determine how your implant "settles", I think that wearing the band could actually help the higher implant to drop and it shouldn´t affect the one that already has since the pocket of dissection will limit how much the implants will drop. The swelling is not always symmetrical so it´s not uncommon that one side drops faster than the other. Also giving massage will help the implant to drop. It´s still very early in your healing process so just be patient and be sure to follow the instructions given by your plastic surgeon and be sure to discuss all your concerns with your surgeon, there´s no one more capable to answer all your questions.
I hope you find this useful, wish you a great recovery

Hi LVM9,

I understand your concern and it is quite normal to be concerned about the outcome following a breast augmentation surgery. However, you are still in the early stages of the healing process at 3 weeks post op.

You will need to be patient at this moment and follow what your surgeon has instructed you to do post operatively.

At the early stage of the healing process, the tissues around the implants are still swollen. Once the swelling subsides and the implants drop to their final position, you will be able to see the final result of your breast augmentation surgery.

Dropping of implants is part of the healing process and this occurs after the tissues surrounding the implants slowly relax, allowing the implants to settle into their final position. It can take about four to six months for the implant to drop down to their final position. Also, your breasts can drop at different rates.

But if you are still concerned, you can always visit your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns. This way, you will be reassured. Also, if after six months, you are not satisfied with the appearance of your breast, you can visit your plastic surgeon and discuss the possibility of revision surgery.

Lastly, follow your plastic surgeons post-operative instructions and advice for faster healing and recovery.

Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question. You are still in the healing process. Keep in mind it is not uncommon to have swelling. Breasts may not heal at the same rate, causing one breast to appear different than the other. It can take up to 12 weeks for the implants to settle and you to see the final result. Follow the suggestion made by your surgeon and schedule a follow up to address your concern. Good luck!

Thank you for the question.Generally speaking, breast implants will "drop" into the pocket that was created during surgery. The rate of breast implant "settling" may depend on factors such as size of breast implant pocket dissected, tightness of the overlying skin/muscle layers, and size of breast implant utilized. Normally, it takes about 3-6 months (for some patients longer) to see the final result.  As the breast implants "settle", the lower breast poles will round out, and the nipple/areola complexes will seem to sit higher on each breast mound.I find that the most important variable, when it comes to exactly how far a breast implant will "settle" is exactly where the breast implant pocket is dissected.  Other variables, including the use of bands or bandeaus, will not change the outcome significantly. Therefore, I would suggest that  you follow your plastic surgeon's recommendation when it comes to the use of the band;  it may be possible to wear the band differentially so that it applies more pressure on the higher side than the side that is already settled to some degree.  Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with longer term.

Hello. Thank you for your inquiry and congratulations on your surgery!

It is important to have an in-person medical assessment regarding this issue as it is difficult to determine virtually. Continue to update your doctor in the matter and follow their post-op protocol.

It is crucial to get cleared by your doctor before engaging in specific physical activity before the 3 month healing period has ended as the healing stage is important for healthy results.

It generally takes around 6 months to a year to see your final results. Your tissues will take time to relax and allow your implants to "Drop and Fluff" settling into place. Should a revision cross your mind, it is best to wait at least 6 months to a year before doing so.

Our tips for recovery following breast augmentation are to wear a supportive sports bra for 3 months post-operative and refrain from lifting anything heavier than 10 lbs for 3 weeks as we don't want any strain at your incision sites. Make sure to keep the area of your stitches clean by cleansing with hydrogen peroxide daily. Showering is encouraged! But, no sitting in water for 2 weeks following surgery (no baths, hot tubs, pools etc.).

Please note that this response does not substitute patient-doctor relationship. We welcome any and all patients seeking advice to come in for a complimentary consultation available for limited time only.

During the COVID-19, we are offering complimentary online consultations as well as in-office consultation with social distancing and masks. Procedure done in-hospital private surgical facility while taking covid-19 precautions. We utilize UV-light to clean the air of viruses and bacteria during our consultations and surgery. We invite you to come in to discuss your options more thoroughly. Please send us an email at info@drkaraplasticsurgery.com with the subject line: "Attention Meagan" and we will be happy to coordinate your appointment!
M.Kara,MD,FRCSC (27+ years experience) - Specializing in 24 hour recovery/ out to dinner breast augmentation in-hospital private surgical facility for your added safety and peace of mind