How Long Does It Take for Breasts to "Drop" After an Implant Replacement?

Question

I am planning on implant replacments from saline to silicone. My implants are submuscular. I am hoping for a slight increase in size (say half a cup size) and less projection.  Is "dropping" the relaxing of the pectoral muscles? How does dropping work with implant replacement, and how long should I expect it to take?

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD · Answer

When a patient is exchanging their implants out for a larger size, unless it is twice the size of the old implant and the pocket is very tight, the implants should settle into position withina week or two. All the hard work has been done with the first surgery, so it generally occurs pretty quick witha simple implant exchange. I hope this helps.

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Implant 'dropping' or 'settling' is variable but generally takes several months.  The settling that patients can experience after implants are placed in the submuscular position refers to the relaxation and stretching of the pectoralis muscle, which allows the implants to settle into their proper position.  With implant exchanged or replacements, patients could expect that the settling may occur at a faster rate, however, if you exchanged your implants for a much larger size you could expect that it may take about as long as it did the first time around.  I hope you find this helpful and best of luck!

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Two things happen and seem paradoxical. As as the swelling  goes down there will be some shrinkage but at the same time as the muscle relaxes your breast projection grows. In general the breast shape and size proportionality improves..Breast implants initially after surgery when placed in a submuscular position often give superior fullness that corrects itself with time, the "fluff and drop" phenomena. In reality the pectoralis major muscle takes a while to adjust its size to accommodate the implant as well as occasional muscle spasm which keeps the implant projection higher than its final resting shape. Additional variables include:laxity of skin, size difference during prior pregnancies, position of implant,size of muscle, and size of implant.As the muscle relaxes the projection of the implant often increases and the breast shape improves. Massage and use of a superior placed elastic strap can often make this process go faster.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

It can take 6 months before the implants are fully dropped.  The skin and muscle stretch out and relax in response to the implant, but this takes time.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

When implants are first inserted, they sit high up because your tissues are tight and gravity hasn't taken effect. Over time, natural tissue expansion occurs to allow the implants to fall into place. By this time, your breasts will have taken on a more natural contour, where the lower breasts become softer and rounder. Please wait at least four months for this to happen.This process tends to occur sooner in one breast than the other, so don't be alarmed if you find that your left drops before the right or vice versa.

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

The period of time
immediately following breast augmentation surgery is characterized by rapid
change. During this dynamic phase of healing, swelling, muscle spasm and the
healing process itself, all contribute to changes in the appearance of a
women’s breast. In some cases, swelling and muscle spasm can displace the
breast implants in a superior direction.

When swelling and
muscle spasm resolve, the implants will drop into a more normal position. This
can be facilitated by performing implant displacement exercises. Significant
progress can be seen in four to six weeks, but changes can be expected up to
six months following surgery.

In patients who have
had previous sub muscular breast augmentation, the muscles have already been
elevated. In this group, implants seem to drop more quickly.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

How Long Does It Take for Breasts to "Drop" After an Implant Replacement? The safe answer is 6-9 months.

Sam Speron, MD, FACS · Answer

If you are hoping for less projection, going under the muscle and a smaller size will achieve this look. However, you said you were hoping for an increase in size so this will alter this a little bit. You could talk to your surgeon about the different types of implants, low, moderate, and high profile implants. 
As far as the "dropping" of the implants, you may see a slight change once the swelling has gone down in a couple weeks, but the implants should be positioned more correctly initially. You will not see as much change in the positioning as with a first time breast augmentation.
Best regards,
Dr. Speron

Ronald Levine, MD · Answer

Dropping is when the tissues expand to allow for the implants to become less compressed. They fall into their surgically created pockets and "fluff" out. This usually takes about 4 months.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

If you are having a remove and replace operation then it should not take much time at all for the implants to drop into position. You should look good almost from day one.