Why is my right breast implant harder than my left? 4 days post-op.

Question

For the past week, the right breast has been hurting when I lay on my stomach or when I touch it beneath the areola. When doing breast exams, the right breast/implant feels a lot firmer and is a bit uncomfortable when I'm examining myself. I had a mammogram in April and everything was normal. Sometimes, I'll get a shooting pain out of nowhere during the day. What can be wrong?

Brian C. Reuben, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Pain is quite common and often one breast will be a bit more painful than another.  This is quite common.  Additionally, there can be differences in the feel of the breast, but there should not be a dramatic difference in size or bruising.  If this is the case, a call to your surgeon would be appropriate.

Jeffrey LaGrasso, MD · Answer

Hello, I don't recommend sleeping on your stomach 4 days post from BA surgery. There is usually always a breast much firmer than the other depending on what arm you use the most. You as well need to give time for the implant to settle in its place. Hope this Helps!

John J. Corey, MD · Answer

First of all I have to give you a lot of credit for sleeping on your stomach for days after breast augmentation! Very impressive!  But it is very typical for one side to be a bit more firm than the other as well as having uneven pain. You may notice as well your breast feels much tighter in the morning when you wake up and during the day relax a bit and then start over again the next morning. That is your pectoralis reacting to the implant and will go away with time!  And if one side feels a little more tight than the other, I would massage that side a little more.

Frank Agullo, MD · Answer

At 4 days postop, I would not worry about it. Check with your surgeon of course! Also make certain your surgeon is ok with you laying on your stomach.

David C. Yao, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for asking. While it may be normal for you, it is not possible to know without an in person exam. At this point you should show your board certified plastic surgeon... he/she will know your situation best. I also don't recommend for my patients to lay on their abdomens this soon after surgery.  Talk with your PS. Best wishes!

Farbod Esmailian, MD · Answer

It is not uncommon to have the breasts feel differently, as this is normal.  Some pain and discomfort is not out of the ordinary either.  Shooting pain is usually the result of the nerves acting up.  It will take few months before they start to soften and feel like they belong to you.I generally don't allow my patients to lay on their stomach this early in the postoperative period.  Every surgeon is different in their management of their patients after surgery, but you may want to confirm if it is ok for you to be sleeping on your stomach.Hope that helps.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear alexandra fernandez,I understand that you are worried about difference in firmness of your breasts. However, you are still in the early phase of the recovery period. Some patients have pain and discomfort up to a couple of weeks after the surgery. Please do allow some time for the healing process to occur. If you are concerned, you can visit your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery 
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Ian MacArthur, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Thanks for your question and congratulations on your recent surgery. Everything you are describing sounds normal at this point in the recovery process. After a breast augmentation there is often one side that is slightly more swollen or tender compared to the other. You are still very early in your recovery process. My advice would be to take some time to rest and recuperate and follow-up with your operating surgeon. All the best.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD · Answer

Having firmness on one side compared to the other is not uncommon at all in the early postoperative course which you are in right now.  This is also true of the shooting pains that you are experiencing. You should contact your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns with him/her.Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Neal Handel, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. The breasts usually feel different from one another during the early postoperative period. Give your body a chance to heal and things will probably improve on their own.

Why is my right breast implant harder than my left? 4 days post-op.

Answers (12)

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