Will my Breast Implant Get Bigger After Six Month of Sugery

Many surgeons use a very careful dissection technique in creating an implant pocket during breast augmentation, and the amount of swelling and bruising may actually be quite minimal for the patients lucky enough to have such careful surgery. Sometimes post-operative nausea, vomiting, or excessive activity can lead to increased bruising, swelling, or bleeding that can require re-operation, so even careful surgery needs good anesthesia, and compliant post-operative patient recovery in order to minimize these concerns.

Unfortunately, some breast augmentations surgeons (often those who are not fully-trained and American Board of Plastic Surgery-certified plastic surgeons) use blunt dissection technique or are less fastidious about control of bleeding vessels, and their patients often have significant and very visible swelling and bruising. I have seen many patients from other surgeons who feel that their breast size "went down by half" compared to the swelling they had immediately after surgery. My own patients hear this from some of their own friends who have surgery elsewhere and are concerned that they will lose size as time goes by.

Of course, implants don't change in size, but the tissues that cover and enclose these implants do soften, stretch, and allow implants to drop and settle into a final position. All the while, swelling in the surrounding tissues (sternal or cleavage region, flanks, back, ribcage and even abdomen) diminishes and reabsorbs during the healing process. The tightness and artificial height of the implanted breasts also decreases, and the breasts drop and actually project forward slightly more over time, achieving a more natural teardrop shape (when upright). Many patients perceive this as a slight size increase, not a decrease, unless they consider "high and tight" to be larger!

Ultimately, you should wait for 3-6 months to see how your breasts look with your new implants. Most patients are pleased, but there are still those who wish for larger implants and ask for re-operation. Your surgeon should have discussed these fees with you before your initial surgery. This is also why I generally recommend that patients choose slightly larger than their perceived "ideal" implant choice pre-operatively, as the single most common reason for re-operation is size increase, not any other complication or concern! Best wishes!

Two things happen and seem paradoxical. As as the swelling goes down there will be some shrinkage but at the same time as the muscle relaxes your breast projection grows. In general the breast shape and size proportionality improves..Breast implants initially after surgery when placed in a submuscular position often give superior fullness that corrects itself with time, the "fluff and drop" phenomena. In reality the pectoralis major muscle takes a while to adjust its size to accommodate the implant as well as occasional muscle spasm which keeps the implant projection higher than its final resting shape. Additional variables include:laxity of skin, size difference during prior pregnancies, position of implant,size of muscle, and size of implant.As the muscle relaxes the projection of the implant often increases and the breast shape improves. Massage and use of a superior placed elastic strap can often make this process go faster.

Unfortunately sizeing of breast implants before surgery is difficult.  Placing an implant in a bra in order to size, pre surgery - the same size implant will look smaller when placing it under the gland or muscle.  It is more common for patients to feel that they should have gone larger than the other way around. 

Mentor is releasing an adjustable silicone gell implant that can be adjusted after surgery - fine tuning.  Studies will be starting soon.

Dear Huong,

Your implants will not enlarge post op.  If fact, your breast will usually expect 10% volume loss over the first few months post op not due to implant volume change but due to thinning of the overlying breast tissues.  There is no perfect way to determine to perfect breast volume pre or post op.  For example, there is a computer simulation program which can very accurately predict from your pre op photos what your breast shape and volume will be with various implant volumes and styles.  Patients were able to chose with the computer generated program almost exactly what their post op breast augmentation would look like.  Even with this added "forecast" still 60% wished they were bigger.  I encourage you to visit with your plastic surgeon regarding his policies on revisions.  Fault?  Two imperfect people attempting to define an inherently fuzzy endpoint.

Good luck 

You might have misunderstood, but your breast implants will improve in shape over several months as the breast relaxes and forms with the implant, yet the cup size and look will largely remain the same. Actually the opposite is true. Often the implant that feels stiff and too high and large will improve and feel slightly smaller once settled in.

Best of luck,

peterejohnsonmd