Does my implant take longer to drop because I'm small? (photo)

Implants taken longer to drop?This is a really excellent question! I don’t think it’s just the fact that you’re so small and 100 to 105 pounds that is causing your implants to take a while to drop. I think the greatest risk factor for this issue, is the fact that you got 445 mL breast implants. These are very large for your tiny frame and they are just going to simply take a long time to drop.Make sure you follow up with your plastic surgeon as much as you can to be sure that your implants are dropping at the appropriate speed.

Smaller implants tend to drop faster than larger implants.   Larger implants take longer to drop, particularly in smaller women.  Larger implants are typically more prone to displace downward or outward.  Recommend that you follow up with your PS if the right implant continues to look displaced.  Massage can help, but larger implants may take 6 months or more to drop to their final levels. 

Thank you for the picture and you are getting close to six months and very few implants settle that much between six months and a year....especially ultra high profile implants that have more projection and less width. I find these implants fairly narrow and have a tendency to give a big space in the cleavage. So certainly nothing to lose by waiting but it would surprise me if it settled enough to match the other side... 

Hi.  You may want to ask your surgeon if he/she would like you to do some right sided inferior displacement exercises to help speed along the process of the lower breast tissues relaxing.  Good luck and take care,Dr. Howell

Dear mlunatic,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. 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 question and posting your photo.   Obviously, you will need to speak with your plastic surgeon regarding your progress.   However, at this time, your implants should be at or near their desired level.   It looks like the right implant is significantly displaced.     This may be for a variety of reasons, but I suggest you speak with your surgeon about if/when he or she would recommend a procedure for implant malposition.      

Your concerns are understandable. Your plastic surgeon, knowing the details  of your situation, will be your best resource when it comes to good assessment, advice, and/or meaningful prediction/reassurance.\
Generally speaking, breast implants will "drop" into the pocket that was created during surgery. The rate of breast implant "settling" may depend on factors such as size of breast implant pocket dissected, tightness of the overlying skin/muscle layers, and size of breast implant utilized. Normally, it takes about 3-6 months (for some patients longer) to see the final result. It is very common for one side to settle faster than the other.
Similarly, it takes a few months for the breasts to "soften" in most cases.  Most of my patients tell me that their breast implants feel "part of them" somewhere between 3 to 6 months after surgery was performed.  As the breast implants "settle", the lower breast poles will round out (generally improving shape), and the nipple/areola complexes will seem to sit higher on each breast mound.
 There is definitely a physiologic and "psychological" (body image)  adaptation process that occurs, at differing rates for every patient, for patients who undergo any type of aesthetic surgery, including breast  augmentation surgery.  Understandably, patients often experience significant emotional "ups and downs" around the time of surgery.
 
In other words: time, patience, and close followup with your plastic surgeon are your best friends here. In cases where significant breast asymmetry persists, the pros/cons associated with revisionary breast surgery (for example, capsulotomy surgery for an implant that is sitting too high or capsulorraphy for a breast implant that is too low) should be carefully considered prior to making decisions whether or not to undergo further surgery. 
 Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with longer-term.

Dear mlunatic,
Many thanks for your question and picture. Without actually seeing your breasts without a bra and ideally examining them in the flesh, it is very hard to comment on your breast augmentation. It certainly appears from your picture that your right breast implant is sitting higher. 
You are now seven months post-surgery and in all honest I would have expected both your implants to have dropped to the position they want to settle in by now. It occasionally can take longer, however it is not common to take this long in my experience. Your body will have made the capsule (wall) around the implant by now that is likely to hold the implant where it sits. It may be also that the pockets for each implant were created slightly differently in terms of size and position on your chest wall, and ultimately this will dictate where your implants will sit.
I would suggest that you keep in regular contact with your Plastic Surgeon (hopefully Board Certified) for advice, reassurance and, most importantly, a plan going forward should the implant not drop.
I wish you well.
Marcus

Hi darling, thank you for your question.
It is normal to experience this type of issue as it takes time for the breast to heal and get used to the implant. Also due to the size it may take a little bit longer to settle into place, however it is important to keep in touch with your PS and express your concerns because if it doesn't make any change in the next weeks it should be revised.
Hope this helps,
Dr. Jimenez Toribio 
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.