How Long Should There Be Swelling After a Breast Lift with Implants?

It’s not unusual to have
significant swelling following combination breast augmentation, breast lift
surgery.This swelling typically lasts
for six to eight weeks following breast reduction.Even after swelling has disappeared, the
breasts continue to remodel for up to a year following surgery.In your case, breast distortion following surgery is most
likely secondary to severe swelling.This isn’t uncommon and should resolve with time.It’s important to be patient.Remember that this operative procedure has
extremely high satisfaction rates.If
you have concerns, don’t be afraid to discuss them with your plastic surgeon.

Your breasts will look quite strange one week after breast augmentation and mastopexy surgery. Breast implants alone almost invariably appear too high on the chest wall 1 week after placement. The skin envelope will soften and the implants settle notably over the next 3 months or so. Breast lifts also appear unusual after surgery, depending upon the technique. The vertical breast lift procedure needs to look unusually tight at the bottom at one week in order to appear normal at the 3 month mark. Ask your surgeon if he/she has photos of other patients at the one week time period. It will make you feel much more comfortable knowing that  almost all patients have to go through this time of waiting for the swelling and tightness to resolve. 

Swelling after a breast lift with implants can vary, but it’s common for significant swelling to last a few weeks. However, individual recovery experiences differ, and full resolution of swelling may take several months. It’s important to follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions and consult them if you have concerns about the healing process.

Swelling is the body's response to injury or surgery. Swelling follows gravity so typically your upper belly or even the lower belly can appear swollen after a breast lift or breast reduction. The blood vessels open up to allow healing cells to leave the blood vessels along with the clear part of your blood called "plasma or serum". Typically the swelling worsens for the first 3 days after surgery. At 2 weeks about 80% of the swelling is gone and the remaining dissipates gradually over the next 6 weeks. By 8 weeks there is typically not much swelling left. A snug (but NOT TIGHT) sports bra should be worn as often as possible for the first 3 weeks after surgery to help keep the swelling down. A low carb and low salt diet can also help. See an expert. Goodluck.

It is not uncommon to have swelling post surgery that will make the breast appear strange. It will take months for the swelling to fade. Consult with your surgeon as he or she knows the scope of the surgery and the specifics about you.

Dear toots,
Thank you for your post. It is very common to be about a size bigger right after surgery than what your final result will be. Swelling starts to occur right after surgery and tends to peak in the first week. After about a month you will have lost most of the swelling, but still not completely at baseline. After about another 3 months or so, you will have lost 99% of your swelling, but still you have a pretty good idea at 1 month. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on bras until 3 months as they might not fit perfectly after all the swelling goes away. Also, the more activity you have, the longer the swelling stays, the more that needs to be done as far as lift etc. with surgery, the longer your swelling stays.
Best Wishes!
Pablo Prichard, MD

Although some improvement should be evident after surgery, it can take up to six months for the result to be apparent, and sometimes longer, depending on the surgical approach and healing.  Five days postop is much, much too soon to come to any conclusions as to the result.  Certainly with 400 cc implants, there should be some increase in size but the shape does take time to resolve so be patient.  Speedy recovery.

Five days is quite early, it takes months for the swelling to resolve and for your breasts to take shape, relax and allow the swelling to resolve.