What Does "Drop and Fluff" Refer to in a Breast Augmentation? Will They Get Larger?

After breast augmentation, there is some degree of tightness and surgical swelling, possibly slightly more with submuscular implant placement (most common location). As this swelling diminishes, and as the skin, breast, and muscular tissues stretch and accommodate the implants,  implant position almost always drops to some degree (unless capsular contracture is occurring), and the breasts will become softer and more teardrop in appearance. This, of course, is highly dependent upon the age, breast-feeding history, weight gain-and-loss history, and natural elasticity and collagen content of each woman's breasts, not to mention whether or not the woman's muscles are those of a body-builder or a couch potato. But gravity is pretty much a 100% effect that you can rely upon. This dropping, softening, and settling of implants and breast tissues apparently has been given the non-medical lay terminology "dropping and fluffing."

Until I saw this terminology used on this site, I actually thought "fluffing" was something done to keep male porn actors "ready" for filming. So you won't catch me using this slang term for my augmentation patients.

On a more important note, 25cc is an inconsequential volume increase that you will be bitterly dissatisfied with if you spent the time, money, and surgery to revise. 25cc is LESS than 2 tablespoons and you will be unable to see this difference. I tell my patients that it takes 50-100cc to even begin to see a visible difference, that it takes about 125cc to go up a half a cup size, and 250cc (2/3 of a can of soda) to equal one cup size. Your 325cc implants added about 1 1/3 cup sizes to what you started with--how much larger do you wish to be?

If you really want a visible change larger than what you already have, you must go proportionately larger in your new implants or you will think your surgeon made an error and didn't increase your implants. Of course your surgeon should know this, but patients can be insistent (and wrong), so that is why this needs careful consideration, and at least 3-6 months of time after your initial surgery. Best Wishes! Dr. Tholen

It's important to understand that your breast shape will change after an augmentation during the post-operative period. Usually, the breasts take six months to settle and they will look more natural after that period. The drop and fluff period usually refers to when implants have been placed under the muscle, and as the muscle relaxes, the implant lowers and starts to fill the lower pole of the breast. Initially, they may sit quite high on your chest until the settle over a few months. 

Great question. Immediately following a breast augmentation, patients may feel that their breast are sitting higher and/or tighter than they would like. In these cases, patients should relax and allow their body to heal before considering a different implant. The phrase "drop & fluff" refers to the more natural shape that the breasts will take following the healing process. Once the swelling has subsided and the tissue has stretched to adapt to the implants, the breasts will take a more natural and fuller appearance.  Hope this helps!

"Drop and Fluff" after Breast Augmentation is a term that is used as the implants slowly settle into the pocket under the muscle. The chest muscles are very tight and contracted around the implants at first making the implants look high on the chest. The muscles with time and massage will start to relax and allow the implant to fill the lower half of the breast. The implant settles into the lower pocket along the breast fold and "fluffs" up breast. This takes several weeks to months to happen. After the implants have dropped and the muscle relaxes, the breasts will usually look larger. 

Thank you for your question. Your implants will not get bigger over time, and they do often lower a bit, by about 1cm. Wait at least 6mos for reoperation, but it is true that the most common reason for breast augmentation reoperation is implant exchange for patients desiring larger implants.

Wow - am I the only one who thinks that this is a wacky phrase?  Sorry for the editorial...  Anyway - implants are always high post-op and they generally fall approximately 80% of the way by about three weeks post-op.  Do not fret if they are initially too high - they will drop!  Best of luck.

All patients should ignore how things look in the beginning as it
takes time to see the final results. As a general guide, at 6 weeks post-op
most of the swelling has settled and you can really start to appreciate how
things are going to look. This is also when you can go out and be fitted for
new bras. However, it typically takes 3-6 months for the breasts to fully
settle into position and soften. Some people use the term “drop and fluff” to describe
this stage which basically refers to the implants settling and the breast tissue
softening. This occurs for a number of reasons. Firstly, much of the surgical swelling goes away, and this automically means things will soften and get smaller. It also relates to the natural stretching and loosening of the breast tissues and muscle (for under the muscle implants). Given this, whilst many would claim that the breasts get larger with the "fluffing", the reality is the breasts get softer and feel more natural whilst at the same time slightly reducing in overall volume/size. So if you are considering going bigger, you should typically wait 6 months from the time of your original surgery before doing this. Also, you should not worry that you chose 325cc over the 350cc option because realistically this is not going to make any real difference. If you genuinely want to be bigger after everything settles then you will need to go up a few sizes to make a real difference. Speak to your surgeon and he/she will be able to assess to see what is technically possible and marry that up with what look your trying to achieve.

Hi & thank you for your question.It takes between 3 and 6 months for the breast to drop and settle into position. I recommend waiting at least 6 months to a year before deciding to go bigger. Give yourself time to get used to your breasts. You may find that you are very happy with the size once everything is healed. Best of luck!

After breast augmentation, the breasts swell from the trauma
of surgery and the tissues become edematous. As the swelling subsides and the tissues begin to stretch
from the weight of implants, the breasts begin to settle and take on a more natural breast shape. This is the "drop and fluff". Over the next few
months, as the edema finally escapes and the soft tissues relax, the final
shape becomes evident.As you second guess your choice of size, keep in mind that the difference between
325 ML and 350 ML would likely be undetectable to most people. It equates
to less than 2 tablespoons. That being said, because most patients regret not going bigger, when deciding between two similar
sizes, I usually council patients to choose the larger size.

Assuming there is no emergent issue,
patients should allow 3-6 months for the swelling to resolve and the
tissues to soften before contemplating any changes. At that point, a detailed
exam and a frank discussion with the surgeon will help delineate the best
treatment option. Close follow-up with the surgeon is essential.

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.

"Drop and Fluff" is not a scientific term.  It refers to the breasts settling and looking a little larger once in final position.. 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 drop faster than the other, also 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.