How Long Does It Take Implants to Look "Normal" After Reconstruction Surgery?

The size of the final implant is determined by the amount of volume placed in the implant during the expansion procedure. Tissue expanders project more than silicone gel implants, and that is why your surgeon was able to place 650 cc implants after using 600 cc expanders. Also, the width of your chest wall limits the size of the implant, as one must be careful to not place too wide an implant in the pocket that it extends into your axilla, or underarm.

It takes about 3 to 6 months before most women see the final size and appearance of their reconstructed breasts, so be patient. It is wise to wear a good, supportive bra, especially when exercising, to help keep the implants in a good position. Also, massage the breast to keep it soft and pliable. Taking an antihistamine, such as an over-the-counter anti-allergy medicine, may help decrease your risk of capsular contracture. I also recommend avoiding isolated pectoralis muscle strengthening exercises, which can result in visible contracture of the muscle with activity if you are very thin. Plank exercises associated with yoga and push-ups are OK.

Thanks for your question. In your situation where your sizer was up to 600cc and the new implant is 650cc I would expect your implants to start to settle around 6 weeks. Start. It may take up to 6 months. If you are interested in larger implants following the healing process you should be able to go as large as you want, pending the implant company makes the size you want.

Jess830409, that's a great question.  Undergoing breast reconstruction after a mastectomy is a very different process when comparing it to cosmetic breast surgery.  The expansion phase puts a lot of stress on the skin after the removal of breast tissue and affects the ability of the breast to heal.  During the removal of the tissue expander and insertion of the final breast implant, most surgeons will do a bit of 'fine tuning' to get the tissue into its optimal position which causes further trauma to the area that will require healing.  Overall, you likely won't see your final result for 3-6 months but in the meantime, be patient with your breasts and provide them with good support, eat a healthy diet, and don't sleep on your stomach; this will allow the breasts to heal at their normal pace. 

Most women will be close to their final outcome after 3 months. In my experience, the bigger the implant the longer it takes for ultimate healing, #DropAndFluff , especially if you have toned pectoralis muscles and the implants are submuscular.

With a breast reconstruction like yours, it may take anywhere between one and three months for the implants to settle or take the shape/look that they will always have. After tissue expanders are exchanged for implants, the soft tissues covering the implants will conform to the new implant shape rather than the previous expander shape. Sometimes there may be little change after surgery, but more often this process takes several weeks to be completed. If you were expanded to 600cc and 650cc implants were placed, the implant pocket is probably fairly tight around the implant and there may not be much change over time. With 650cc, you should actually have a C cup volume, but because the implants are not the natural breast shape, they may not completely fill out a bra cup. To help the implants settle and to help keep the breasts as soft and natural looking as possible, some surgeons recommend some form of implant massage. You should check with your doctor to see if this is recommended in your case and follow whatever he/she recommends.