If one implant seems to be dropping faster than the other, should I massage the higher implant more?

Question

2 weeks ago, I had a breast lift with moderate profile saline implants placed under the muscle. The right breast implant seems to be dropping faster than the left. I was told to massage my breasts 2-3 times a day, but I'm wondering if I should massage the right breast less than the left breast if it is dropping faster? I will talk to my surgeon about this whenever possible, but I would like to know what the Realself community of surgeons has to say about this.

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

I put "massage" in quotes because this popular term actually misstates what is really recommended by the majority of plastic surgeons who want their patients to move or displace their implants to maintain their surgical pockets slightly larger than the size of the actual implants.The idea is that simply putting on a surgical bra or stretch bra and trying to limit bruising or bleeding with pressure and no implant movement may lead the patient to develop a scar capsule the exact size (or slightly smaller) than the implant size, causing folds or firmness or both! With saline implants, a persistent fold may lead to an eventual leak, requiring repeat surgery to place a new implant. With silicone gel implants, this could mean a higher risk of developing capsular contracture (CC). Those surgeons who do not recommend implant displacement exercises ("massage") may feel that submuscular position and contraction of the pec muscles is all the implant movement women need. If there is careful technique, minimal bleeding, and good healing, this has obviously proven to be the case.Yet, there are those of us who do not have our patients use a surgical or stretch bra (careful surgery and meticulous hemostasis do not require drain or compression) may still want implant displacement exercises to maintain a surgical pocket slightly larger than the implant size, giving a soft, natural feel, and perhaps decreased risk of capsular contracture.Since gravity affects 100% of patients, careful surgery and avoidance of CC means that implants will drop as tissues heal and scars soften and stretch. Dropping, however, occurs at different rates for different patients and even at different rates for each breast int the same patient. Remember most everybody is right or left-hand dominant, and this leads to normal differences in the rate of dropping. Activity levels play a role here too, as well as a host of other variables.So, what you are describing is normal and common. "Mashing" on the higher breast implant will not make it drop faster or better, but in cases such as yours I may recommend wearing a night-time elastic bandeau above the high(er) breast implant, and below the low(er) one--"Mexican gun belt" style. This may aid the higher implant to "catch up" with the low(er) implant, while slowing further dropping of the one already closer to ideal position. But talk to your surgeon about this, since you don't wear the elastic strap until they are both equal and perfect--what about continued healing, settling, and softening of the capsules as gravity doesn't "know" when your breasts look perfect!Too low is just as bad as too high!Also, you are only two weeks post-op, so it is way too early to be worrying about visible asymmetry at this stage! Your "final" result will not be evident for 6-12 months, and you want it to look good for the long-tern, not being in a rush to look great now, and ending up bottomed out long-term!Be patient, and talk to your surgeon, for it is him or her to whom you will go if there is long-term malposition, bottoming out, or staying too high (guess which is easier to "fix"?). Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Michael E. Ciaravino, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

You should massage both breasts normally as instructed by your PS. It is common to have one implant settle quicker than the other, if that is the case I recommend my patients massage normally, and definitely not over massaging the one that is slower to settle. Every PS has different recommendations and it is best to consult with your PS for specific instructions.

If one implant seems to be dropping faster than the other, should I massage the higher implant more?

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If one implant seems to be dropping faster than the other, should I massage the higher implant more?

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Everything you need to know about Breast Lift with Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.