Is it normal to hear sloshing sounds after breast augmentation?

If there is no significant swelling or discomfort, this is probably just trapped air. This will resolve itself with your recovery.  It is not something to worry about and can be quite common.

Usually the sucking or sloshing sound is due to a little bit of fluid left in the implant pocket from irrigation with saline or antibiotic fluid.  Very little fluid is needed to cause this sound.  The fluid absorbs over a week or so and the sound goes away.  No need for alarm.  Just mention this to your doctor so he/she is aware of your concern.

The sucking sound that you are hearing is simply trapped air around the outside of the implant that is causing a type of vacuum.  This is not common, but I have heard this complaint before and usually lasts 1-2 weeks.  Don't worry about it, but obviously make sure to discuss it with your plastic surgeon to be sure.

It is difficult to give you an accurate answer without knowing, what type of implants you have, gel vs saline. The incision placement , periaerolar, infra-mammary or trans axillary. Also, how much swelling did you have and did you have any post operative bleeding.

Saline implants may slosh for a while after surgery if the air bubbles have not been removed, much like a water bed, this however, resolves quickly.

If you had a trans-axillary approach to place the implant. this makes a large track, and may make a sucking noise when you lift you arm. Additionally, if the pocket was made quite large this could create a space that could make a sucking noise. Sometimes fluid around the implant can make a squeaking noise. If there is not a heamatoma ( a large collection of blood)  or a seroma ( a collection of fluid) this should resolve quickly.

When placing the implant, the pocket sometimes has air in it, and the surrounding skin will feel like crunching snow when you press on it, this is known as subq-emphysema. This effect also resolves quickly.

It is not uncommon, in the immediate post operative period to feel that something will happen to your implants, like they will pop, get cold, or pop out if you are to active. It takes about six months to subconsciously integrate in your mind, that they are part of you and feel more like you body.

What you are describing is quite commonly described after breast surgery.  The sensation of air trapped in the tissues is also commonly described. However, any significant increase in swelling/size would be of concern. Best wishes.

I don't think this is a result of air that may still exist in the pocket from surgery.  This is likely the same issue that you refer to as 'sloshing' and simply from a small amount of fluid around your implants that has yet to reabsorb.  I am assuming that your wound on that side is closed and healing without any issue.

Sometimes patients note that they either hear or feel odd sounds/waves early after a breast augmentation. In the case of saline implants, this can happen if they are underfilled or if there is a small amount of air remaining in the implant. More often though, it is simply the effect of having either a small amount of fluid or air between the implant and the overlying tissues. As the breasts heal, these odd sensations and sounds typically disappear. 

GREAT answer Dr Aldea! Love it! Yes the sounds are very common with augmentation. Best to be seen by your chosen surgeon so you can be examined and given more direct info on this issue. Keep rockin.

Nothing to worry about. In the words of Billy Joel "...Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound
Funny, but it's still rock and roll to me".  In the process of making a pocket for your breast implant, air is introduced into the area and is left in the pocket after the wound is closed. It takes a week or more for the body to remove the air from the pocket. As long as it is there, movement of the implant through an air pocket while rubbing on your tissues will make any of many strange sounds. All this "rock n roll" will go away soon.

Dr. Peter A Aldea

Hi cupcakes20 in KY,

Most likely completely normal.  Once the pocket is made for the implant, the implants is inserted and sutures (stitches) are placed to close the incision.  But it takes a while (a few weeks or longer) for all of the tissues to settle around the implant and, until that happens, it's not at all uncommon to hear sloshing sounds or other sounds related to the movement of the implant within the surgically-created pocket.  Your body will absorb the air as the pocket contracts around the implant.

So, as long as you don't have any other symptoms or problems (such as fever, chills, sweats, etc) I think you're on the right track and that you don't need to worry about this.  You should, of course, be in touch with your own plastic surgeon about this.

I hope that this helps, and good luck,

Dr. E