Do breast appear bigger after drop and fluff?

Question

I am 5 days post op from a breast Aug. I got Ultra high profile silicone 480cc under the muscle. I'm 5'6" 119lbs, I wanted to know if they will appear bigger after they drop? They don't seem big enough right now. I understand they are still new and tight because of the muscles. Wanted to know if they will be larger after they drop and fluff?

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

Implants do have a tendency to look somewhat larger after they drop over the six months after surgery.

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.

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Drop and fluff refers to post-operative period in which the breasts begin to descend and fills out the lower half of the breast.  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).

Vishnu Rumalla, MD · Answer

Thanks for your inquiry, I agree that your implants are probably tight and high and they will drop and "fluff" meaning the projection of the breast will increase and round out.  Good Luck with your recovery.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

You are corecct at first the muscle and skin is tight making the breast appear more flat initially. Be patient typically for swelling to subside and the implant to settle ('fluff') takes 6 weeks to 3 months. Conitnue to follow up with your surgeon as directed.

Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSC · Answer

Hi.  Early on, the tightness of the muscle and other soft tissues tends to compress the implant, making the shape more flattened.  As this relaxes, the breast shape rounds out. This process takes 2-4 months.  So hang in there....

W. John Bull, MD · Answer

Usually you will see an increase in volume especially if they were placed under the muscle. It takes several weeks for the implants to settle and you will need to give it more time. Hang in there.

Robert D. Wilcox, MD · Answer

Dear Dmoss11,

Your implants should look more natural over the
course of six weeks after operation, though I have found the size will not
really appear to change much at all. Even though you will have swelling in the
breast mounds themselves, you will also have swelling in the breast bone and
lateral areas. All of these areas including the breast mounds will resolve in
swelling over the first couple of months and develop a more natural appearance.

I hope this has been helpful.

Robert D. Wilcox, MD

Sean Kelishadi, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  Without pictures I will have to advise you in "general terms" as I can not comment on your particular situation.  Regardless, considering you are less than a 
week out from surgery, it is very common for patients 
to wish they went bigger during the initial post-operative period; many 
people envision their breasts being much larger but once the initial 
worries of having undergone surgery subside, most patients see that they
 received what they expected. Long story short is hang in 
there, and your breasts will look even better, but you need to be 
patient as your implants settle.  Once they are in their final position 
and your lower pole is not as tight, your breasts will appear even 
larger and rounder; usually this process occurs as the pectoralis major muscle relaxes and the implants are no longer squeezed upward and settle into their ideal position. This process usually takes 1-3 months.    Also, make sure to relay your concerns to your 
plastic surgeon as most of us value the patient-doctor relationship and 
want to be first in line to help our patients.  I hope this helps!

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

I'm sorry to hear about the concerns you have after breast augmentation surgery. Given that you are very “fresh” out of surgery,  it is quite likely that you are experiencing significant “emotional ups and downs” unnecessarily. In other words, it is much too early to evaluate the outcome of the procedure performed; your breasts will undoubtedly change over the course of the next several weeks/months.   Many of my patients report that as the swelling around the breast implants (for example, in the sternal area) decreases, they feel that their breasts appear more projecting.  Also, in my opinion, the "drop and fluff” phenomenon does hold some validity; as breast implants “settle”, many patients feel that their breasts actually look larger. Although online consultants cannot predict whether or not you will be pleased with the long-term outlook, of the procedure performed, it is safe to predict that the breasts will change.  Do your best to stay emotionally even keeled.  Best wishes for an outcome that you will be pleased with longer-term.

Do breast appear bigger after drop and fluff?

Answers (11)

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