One Breast More Swollen After Breast Augmentation

The operations are performed as two separate procedure, and heal as such.  The will eventually feel the same, but it make take months.  Be patient!

Hi & thanks for your question.
You are still early in your recovery. It can take between 3 and 6 months for the implants to drop and settle into position. It is not abnormal for one breast to heal faster than the other, so one may be more sore and tender. Continue to follow your surgeons instructions and contact him/her with any concerns, Best of luck!

Thank you for the photo. You are still very early in your post operative course. It sounds like you had some asymmetries pre-op, hence the different surgical approaches and sizes of implants.  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.

Thank you for submitting your question and photo. Your very early in your recovery from breast surgery. Your breasts will soften and the shape will change over the next several weeks. The two separate approaches in each breast will lead to different recoveries.  Discuss your concerns with your Plastic Surgeon. Best wishes

It is common for a patient to experience different rates of healing for each breast. Pain levels can also be different. If the soreness is quite uncomfortable, I suggest you speak to your surgeon to make sure everything is okay. The best of luck!

         It’s not unusual to
experience swelling in the post-operative period following breast augmentation.
This swelling may occasionally result in transient asymmetry. This should
improve with the passage of time.

         It appears that you
had asymmetric breasts prior to surgery. This was severe enough that different
procedures were performed on each side. Under these circumstances, it’s
reasonable to expect improvement, but unreasonable to expect perfect symmetry.

         It’s normal to have
some breast asymmetry even after breast augmentation. It’s still early, be
patient and give the swelling time to resolve. Make sure you discuss your
concerns with your surgeon. You may still be very satisfied with your results.

Dear newmommy,

Your results are expected at 3weeks post-op.  Given that you had pre-existing asymmetry, your surgeon has attempted to achieve symmetry by using different sized implants.  That doesn't mean you can expect perfect symmetry.  You should expect improved symmetry.  I tell my patients that their breasts are "sisters, not twins".

 

Warmest Regards,

Asif Pirani, MD, FRCS(C)

GIven that you had some asymmetry preop, and that the implants placed are different sizes, it will take some time for everything to settle before you know your final result. I would stay in close contact with your surgeon who can examine you and reassure you as you heal and as the implants settle into their final position. At the moment, based on your photo, I do see the slight difference that you are describing, but it appears to be within the limits of normal healing, and my guess is that you will have an outstanding result once everything has healed.

There is always more pain in one breast than the other and it is natural for you to compare.
If you think about what surgically took place, let's review. Your SMALLER left breast recieved the LARGER implant. Whereas the opposite is true with your right breast. Let's use an oversimplified analogy. IF we put a baseball in your left blue jean pocket but put a golf ball in your right cargo pants pocket, how do you think they would feel different? The left breast is naturally tighter and being stretched more than the right.
Give it time and perform breast implant displacment exercises if suggested by your surgeon.
From the looks of things, it appears that you have an excellent outcome.
ALL breasts are uneven. The goal of surgery is to make them less uneven, no one can achieve perfect symmetry. ASYMMETRY IS NORMAL.

 It is hard to tell without examining you.  If you have sudden unilateral and expanding swelling of the breast, then you should contact your doctor immediately.  However, your left breast had a more extensive procedure so it will likely have more swelling than your right breast.  Good luck.