Shortness of Breath After Breast Augmentation

In a VERY small number of women we occasionally hear of women who have a harder time taking a very deep breath after placement of large implant. The size of the implants and gravity gently encumbers the full outward expansion of the chest in a full inspiration. In the vast majority of cases, this passes away as the skin softens and gives.

Although this could be a subjective problem from the size of the implants, the one thing you must rule out is a blood clot from the legs to the lung. Continued shortness of breath could indicate multiple clots. This also tends to come on a week or so after the surgery, as yours did. Frequently these do not show up on a regular X-ray until the lung tissue has died, and they do not cause a disturbance in the breath sounds. I would advise returning to your doctor immediately and having a specific tests looking for a clot (pulmonary embolus).