425cc seemed big when implant was in hand/trying them on, but now seem very, very small, actually in? (photo)

Hi chelseamcc95,

I understand your concern and it is quite normal to be concerned about the outcome following a breast augmentation surgery. However, you are still in the very early stages of the healing process at 1 month post op.

Your will need to be patient at this moment and follow what your surgeon has instructed you to do post operatively.

At the early stage of the healing process, the tissues around the implants are still swollen. Once the swelling subsides and the implants drop to their final position, you will be able to see the final result of your breast augmentation surgery.

Dropping of implants is part of the healing process and this occurs after the tissues surrounding the implants slowly relax, allowing the implants to settle into their final position. It can take about four to six months for the implant to drop down to their final position.

But if you are still concerned, you can always visit your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns. This way, you will be reassured. Also, if after six months, you are not satisfied with the appearance of your breast, you can visit your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns.

Lastly, follow your plastic surgeons post-operative instructions and advice for faster healing and recovery.

Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery 

Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Congratulations on having undergone the breast augmentation procedure.  Your plastic surgeon will always be your best resource when it comes to accurate assessment and advice.
Generally speaking, breast implants will "drop" into the pocket that was created during surgery. The rate of breast implant "settling" may depend on factors such as size of breast implant pocket dissected, tightness of the overlying skin/muscle layers, and size of breast implant utilized. Normally, it takes about 3-6 months (for some patients longer) to see the final result. 
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 (and that they have better "cleavage"). 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. Similarly, it takes a few months for the breasts to "soften" in most cases.  Most of my patients tell me that their breast implants feel "part of  dozen local church home I got to get on  somewhere between 3 to 6 months after surgery was performed.  There is definitely a physiologic and "psychological" (body image)  adaptation process that occurs, at differing rates for every patient, for patients who undergo any type of aesthetic surgery, including breast  augmentation surgery.  Understandably, patients often experience significant emotional "ups and downs" around the time of surgery.
 Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with longer term.

Hello, and thank you for your question.  You are having feelings that are common to many patients after having breast augmentation surgery.  Part of the issue is balancing your pre-surgery expectations with your post-surgery appearance.  It can be difficult to picture exactly what you implants will look like afterwards, before surgery.  Also, it does take 3-6 months for the implants to settle into the pocket and drop into their final position.  The shape will improve to a more natural one as the implants drop slightly with time.  In general, 425 cc is a large implant.  The silicone gel implants are always compressed by the muscle and existing breast tissue, so the projection is always visually less than what it looks like sized in a bra before surgery.  You may also be limited in the size that your body can accommodate based on the width of your chest.  Overall, be patient.  Your breasts look great so far and I hope you will grow to be happy with the result.  Good luck!