Why Does One of my Breast Implants Look Bigger?

Question

First two weeks after surgery I felt the fuller breast heavier then the other. Can it be that my right one is dropping faster? I highly doubt one implant was filled with more saline than the other but I'm just worried. I told my doctor and he just said to massage the fuller one more. Then again, he's always M.I.A so I would like to hear opinions from other doctors. Please & Thank you! P.S Pre-op, I never had an asymmetrical problem. Also, I'm 5 weeks post-op.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Implants may tend to settle at different rates and the increase use of your right arm may promote a more rapid descent of this implant but it is still too early. We provide patients with breast implant exercises. You can perform these preferentially on the left breast in order to encourage this to drop.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

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.

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the photo. You are still very early in your post operative course. Breast implants tend to start dropping into place after 3 to 4 weeks.  They usually will get to their final position in 6 to 12 months.  One will usually drop faster than the other, and the shape may go through changes.  Please follow your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon's post op instructions. For example; we like message, but some surgeons will have you wait, or do it in a specific manner.  Please also let them know your thoughts and concerns.

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photos.  During the post-operative period the breast are swollen, and the breast implants appear in a much higher position.  Over time they descend and fills out the lower half of the breast. In addition, it is not uncommon for one breast to be more swollen than the other and may even out with time (unless they were asymmetric in size to begin with).  It may take several months for this to happen and can be encouraged with breast massage and compression.  It may appear that the breast enlarges as the lower aspect of the breast fills out (at the expense of the upper portion of the breast).

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

Breast
asymmetry in the immediate postoperative period is extremely common.This is usually related to soft tissue
swelling and fluid collections around the implant.This can create enough distortion to make the
breasts look uneven.In an effort to minimize this type
of problem, surgeons utilize postoperative compression.Usually, with time, swelling resolves and
most patients are happy.In patients who
start out with asymmetry, symmetry may not always be obtainable.This may be due to underlying chest wall
deformities, asymmetry of the nipple areola, or unilateral breast sag.In the majority of patients, as
swelling disappears, asymmetry also disappears. In a small percentage of patients, malposition
of the implants persists and secondary procedures may be necessary.Occasionally, the volume of the implant may
require adjustment, as well.When this situation arises, it’s
important to have good communication with your plastic surgeon.Remember, it’s normal to have anxiety
following surgery when things don’t seem to be going well.Your plastic surgeon has been there before
and will get you through the experience.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

It sounds like you have a good idea of what's going on-that one implant dropped faster. This is very common. Please wait about three to four months for both to settle before considering your results. When you see your surgeon again, you should ask for your before and after pictures to get a better idea of how your results are.

Paul Banwell, BSc, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Hi thereThanks for your kind questionYou already seem to have a great result and are only 5 weeks down the lineIt is quite normal to have asymmetry in healing and the fullness of one side is quite the norm at this stage.Talk to your surgeon, allow things to settle and massage as recommended - I am sure you will be pleased!Good luckPaul Banwell

Scott C. Sattler, MD, FACS · Answer

Based on your photo- I'd say your surgeon tried to place the biggest possible implant into you he/she could- this creates problems with implant positioning and shape. Your left implant looks like its elongated vertically, indicating that there is just not enough room for it in the implant pocket. I agree with the earlier comment- if you do get a revision, go smaller. I also think that implants do 'drop' in position with time. This might occur to some degree in your case.

Hayley Brown, MD, FACS · Answer

I agree that the left implant looks fuller. It takes 2-6 months for implants to drop, settle, and soften as a result of gravitational factors. You should expect continued appearance changes over the next few months. Asymmetry is common in breasts, sometimes one implant "drops" before the other which can make the higher one look fuller at the top for a period of time. I would recommend massage of the left side in a slightly downward direction to see if that helps.

Jeffrey Claiborne, MD · Answer

Good question. When one breast has more cleavage than the other, it can occur for 2 reasons:
1. One breast is larger than the other and has more tissue or more implant volume. This is pretty straight forward.
2. The implant position is different between the breasts. If an implant is placed higher up and more towards the middle, that breast will have a much more full cleavage.
So, your difference can be breast volume asymmetries or due to differences in implant position. I hope that this helps.

Why Does One of my Breast Implants Look Bigger?

Answers (19)

More Breast Implants Questions

Redo Implants to Fix Wrinkles/Rippling?

Can Implants "Crush You" and Cause Breathing Problems?

Is This Weird Shape to my Implants Normal?

After Full Capsulectomy/implant Exchange, How Long Does It Take for the Capsule to Reform?

Implants Are Saggy and Dropped 10 Years Post-op

Which Silicone Implant Size to Increase 32B to a C Cup

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS