5 weeks post-op and my implants still have not dropped. Should I be worried about anything?

At 5 weeks you are about 30 percent healed, settled, shaped, softened, dropped and fluffed. "Drop and fluff" refers to the fact that as the skin stretches and the muscles relax, the implants move down and out slowly – about 1 percent a day. It’ll be about six weeks before they even begin to settle down, but they’ll be close to 80 percent settled and softened at three months. Watching their progress is like watching your hair grow. You don’t see a difference in your hair growth daily, but all of a sudden you need a haircut. 
Be patient after surgery. Give yourself a few months before making a judgment about your surgical results. You won't know the outcome until then. 
Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author     RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee

Sometimes it takes a while for the implants to drop. I would suggest wearing the bandeau band and massaging your breast implants. Best of luck!

Dear richysgurl,
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.I understand that you are worried about your implants are not dropping as expected. However, you are still in the early phase of the recovery period. Please do allow some time for the healing process to occur. If after six months, you are not satisfied with the appearance of your breast, you can visit your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hi & thanks for your question.Every patient is different. It can take 3 to 6 months for the implants to drop and settle into position. Continue to follow your surgeons instructions and contact your surgeon with any concerns. Best of wishes!

At five weeks post op there is still swelling present, and the implants may not have settled. This process can be more prolonged when a mastopexy is performed with an augmentation. A band across the top of the breast is frequently used to assist with the settling. I also recommend vigorous massage. In my practice , I typically wait up to twelve weeks for these changes to occur. If an implant is not in the correct place at that point, surgical repositioning is performed. While this is only necessary on occasion, it is more frequent when the two procedures are performed together.  Follow your surgeons instructions, and hopefully your result will be a good one.

Thank you for your question and photographs, and I am sorry that your current results have caused you concern.  After placement of implants, the overall appearance of the breasts will change dramatically over the next several months, as the implants drop, and the overlying tissue stretches to accommodate the extra volume.  Early in recovery the combination of tissue swelling and the volume of the implants causes a flattened, wide, and elevated appearance to the implants, while the lower breast appears empty.  As this swelling resolves, and your tissues stretch, you should see gradual improvement.  This typically occurs 6-8 weeks after surgery. I know waiting is difficult, but judge your results at 4-6 months after surgery as most of your breast changes should have occurred by then.  Hope this helps

You are still early in the healing process and what you are seeing may not be your final results yet. You are still most probably experiencing persistent swelling and tissue tightness at this point in time. These should resolve as you heal in the coming months. Your implants will also still drop and settle into the breast pockets made by your surgeon as your tissues relax. The best course of action would be to have more patience and wait for about 6 months to fully heal, and only by then will you be able to conclude your results.

Thanks for asking your question today. It’s important to understand that it takes time for your body to naturally heal and recover on its own, which is perfectly normal. Over the course of several months, you will heal through various stages as your swelling and bruising go down and you are able to notice more of what your results will be. Your final results will not be seen until almost a full year after your surgery, so since you are currently only at the 5-week mark, just try to be patient for now.
 

Thank you for your question. It is not uncommon to have swelling. Breasts may not heal at the same rate, causing one breast to appear different than the other. It can take up to 12 weeks for the implants to settle and you to see the final result. Give it a little more time to allow your body to fully heal and the implants to settle. Follow up with your board certified surgeon to address your concern. Good luck!

Hello. Thank you for your inquiry and congratulations on your surgery!

It is important to have an in-person medical assessment regarding this issue as it is difficult to determine virtually. Continue to update your doctor in the matter and follow their post-op protocol.

It is crucial to get cleared by your doctor before engaging in specific physical activity before the 3 month healing period has ended as the healing stage is important for healthy results.

It generally takes around 6 months to a year to see your final results. Your tissues will take time to relax and allow your implants to "Drop and Fluff" settling into place. Should a revision cross your mind, it is best to wait at least 6 months to a year before doing so.

Our tips for recovery following breast augmentation are to wear a supportive sports bra for 3 months post-operative and refrain from lifting anything heavier than 10 lbs for 3 weeks as we don't want any strain at your incision sites. Make sure to keep the area of your stitches clean by cleansing with hydrogen peroxide daily. Showering is encouraged! But, no sitting in water for 2 weeks following surgery (no baths, hot tubs, pools etc.).

Please note that this response does not substitute patient-doctor relationship. We welcome any and all patients seeking advice to come in for a complimentary consultation available for limited time only.

During the COVID-19, we are offering complimentary online consultations as well as in-office consultation with social distancing and masks. Procedure done in-hospital private surgical facility while taking covid-19 precautions. We utilize UV-light to clean the air of viruses and bacteria during our consultations and surgery. We invite you to come in to discuss your options more thoroughly. Please send us an email at info@drkaraplasticsurgery.com with the subject line: "Attention Meagan" and we will be happy to coordinate your appointment!
M.Kara,MD,FRCSC (27+ years experience) - Specializing in 24 hour recovery/ out to dinner breast augmentation in-hospital private surgical facility for your added safety and peace of mind