I'm 5 months post op with 520cc hp submuscular silicone implants. Any ideas what may have caused them to stay high and not drop?

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph.  Without an in-person examination it is difficult to say but typically either the pocket is not large enough, the implants were too large for your frame, or the muscle was not release enough from its attachments, or from your breast tissue.  Talk to your surgeon in order to discuss your concerns. 

Thanks for your question. From you photos it looks like the implant size are quite large for your frame. If they don't drop any further and you really want something doing then you could either have the creases lowered, you can of course change to smaller implants or if you like that size then you could change to teardrop shaped implants with will add more projection to your lower poles and less to the upper poles.

Thank you for your question.Without seeing you in person, it is difficult to determine exactly what is going on. Based on photos alone, I would say the implant was possibly a little on the larger side. When you do not have a lot of breast tissue to begin with, then place a larger implant this can happen. It will take longer for the muscle to relax and the implant to fall in to position.

Dear MadeInIstanbul2018,
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

Thanks for your inquiry, but without an exam it is hard to comment, in general terms if the implants have always been high, it is possible that the pockets are not dissected enough or the muscle is incompletely divided, etc  Please discuss with your surgeon and good luck.  

Dear MadeinIstanbul2018,
Thank you for posting your photo and your question. There a variety of reasons why your implants may not have dropped - most of them are best confirmed by an in-person assessment and by going back to see your plastic surgeon. The reasons could include the type of implant - textured and polyurethane implants drop less than smooth implants, the size of the implant relative to your breast tissue/the space made for it - 520cc implants are large on your frame and there may not be enough laxity in your breast tissues due to the stretch from the implant to allow them to drop, the way your pec muscle attachments are, not enough time yet - most implants will have dropped into place by 5 months but not all, some take a bit longer, or no obvious reason why - the human body does not always heal or behave the way predicted or planned.
Please see and discuss with your plastic surgeon soon.
Best wishes and hope you get the result that you want,
Nora Nugent

There are several factors that affect the overall result of surgery. Skin elasticity and chest wall measurements are one of the key factors in determining the best implants for breast augmentation surgery. Based on the photo, your implants seem to not have dropped into the pockets made by your surgeon. This may have been brought about by tissue tightness. Without an in-person examination it would be very difficult to give an accurate assessment. The best course of action would be to schedule an appointment with your board certified plastic surgeon for an in person examination.

Hello.It is difficult to say without seeing you in person. It does look like your implants are sitting a little high which could be due to them being too big for your frame but at the same time, it can take up to a year for breast implants to fully settle - especially patients with larger implants. There are a number of things that can be done so I would advise going back to your surgeon to discuss your options however they may recommend waiting a little longer just to see if they settle over time. 

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