I've had my implants for 3 months now .. my left one is still higher than my right . [450 cc's , moderate profile] My surgeon is having me massage and push down on my left breast. I am also taking singular every night to help them drop? But I'm afraid that the breast isn't dropping .. When I press the breast down during massage .. the bottom is a little hard .. not much. Is this normal ? If so or if not , what's going on ?
Answer: Helping the implant drop... Thank you for your question! Implants initially sit high up because the chest muscles and surrounding breast tissues have not become accustomed to the implant resulting in tightness. You have to allow gravity to take effect, and overtime, natural tissue expansion will allow the implants to fall into place causing your breasts to appear more natural, softer, and rounder. Once that happens, the implant will sit directly behind the breast tissue in a natural 45:55 breast ratio, and the nipples will move up higher. Currently, there may be excessive upper pole fullness (> 55:45) on the left side, so in time, this will change. Please note that it is not uncommon for breasts to heal and adapt to implants at different rates. In fact, the process I described above can occur quicker in one breast over another. Also please note that if there was pre-existing mild breast asymmetry before surgery, then that asymmetry will continue to exist. You may have to wait another 3 months (i.e., total of 6 months) for the final results. If the breasts still appear different at that point in time, then you may share your concerns with your surgeon and they should be able to fix the problem – they will do an inframammary fold release on the left side to help the implant drop down. To encourage settling of the implant you must engage in persistent inward and downward breast massaging, and perhaps wear pole wraps. Patience is key! Please continue to have regular follow-ups with your surgeon to make sure your breasts are healing beautifully. Their recovery instructions should take precedence over all else you read here as they are better informed about your surgical details. Hope this helps.
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Answer: Helping the implant drop... Thank you for your question! Implants initially sit high up because the chest muscles and surrounding breast tissues have not become accustomed to the implant resulting in tightness. You have to allow gravity to take effect, and overtime, natural tissue expansion will allow the implants to fall into place causing your breasts to appear more natural, softer, and rounder. Once that happens, the implant will sit directly behind the breast tissue in a natural 45:55 breast ratio, and the nipples will move up higher. Currently, there may be excessive upper pole fullness (> 55:45) on the left side, so in time, this will change. Please note that it is not uncommon for breasts to heal and adapt to implants at different rates. In fact, the process I described above can occur quicker in one breast over another. Also please note that if there was pre-existing mild breast asymmetry before surgery, then that asymmetry will continue to exist. You may have to wait another 3 months (i.e., total of 6 months) for the final results. If the breasts still appear different at that point in time, then you may share your concerns with your surgeon and they should be able to fix the problem – they will do an inframammary fold release on the left side to help the implant drop down. To encourage settling of the implant you must engage in persistent inward and downward breast massaging, and perhaps wear pole wraps. Patience is key! Please continue to have regular follow-ups with your surgeon to make sure your breasts are healing beautifully. Their recovery instructions should take precedence over all else you read here as they are better informed about your surgical details. Hope this helps.
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April 17, 2017
Answer: Breast implant drop Thank you for your inquiry, sometimes it may take up to 6 months to see final results or implants to drop into their place. I recommend my patients having ultra sound done and also massages to help drop faster, you need to be patient, however if in 6 months maximum the implant still does not drop and you have pain an exam should be done. Best of luck!
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April 17, 2017
Answer: Breast implant drop Thank you for your inquiry, sometimes it may take up to 6 months to see final results or implants to drop into their place. I recommend my patients having ultra sound done and also massages to help drop faster, you need to be patient, however if in 6 months maximum the implant still does not drop and you have pain an exam should be done. Best of luck!
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April 17, 2017
Answer: Breast droping This is outside of the normal timeframe but it can continue to descend even after this length of time. Try to be patient and keep your plastic surgeon "in the loop" as to your concerns. I would wait at least 6 months before considering revision surgery.
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April 17, 2017
Answer: Breast droping This is outside of the normal timeframe but it can continue to descend even after this length of time. Try to be patient and keep your plastic surgeon "in the loop" as to your concerns. I would wait at least 6 months before considering revision surgery.
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April 16, 2017
Answer: One of my breasts haven't dropped yet, is this normal? Hello Jaymariee.One reason your breast has not completely dropped is different anatomy on each side. Without your before photos, I cannot confirm this online. Therefore, I suggest you see your plastic surgeon soon about your one breast not dropping like the other side. Best wishes, Dr. ALDO :)
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April 16, 2017
Answer: One of my breasts haven't dropped yet, is this normal? Hello Jaymariee.One reason your breast has not completely dropped is different anatomy on each side. Without your before photos, I cannot confirm this online. Therefore, I suggest you see your plastic surgeon soon about your one breast not dropping like the other side. Best wishes, Dr. ALDO :)
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Answer: Capsular contracture and breast implant asymmetry Thanks for the question and the photos. There is unfortunately not reliably good data to suggest a benefit to capsule massage or Singulair (which is not actually FDA-approved for this purpose). Some studies suggested Singulair might be helpful in some cases of capsular contracture, but most plastic surgeons would probably agree that they have not seen it to be effective in most (perhaps any) cases.Massage may help ameliorate the discomfort some patients feel with capsular contracture. I have seen some implants drop later than 3 months, and it is true that I had those patients perform massage. Whether the massage helped or it was just the effect of more time and relaxation of tissue, it is hard to know. I have also referred patients to facilities like Aspen Rehab, which offer an ultrasound-assisted massage process. I've only referred two patients to them in 15 years and one got enough improvement to be happy and the other required revision surgery. Thankfully, revision surgery is often very successful in improving this kind of asymmetry.
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Answer: Capsular contracture and breast implant asymmetry Thanks for the question and the photos. There is unfortunately not reliably good data to suggest a benefit to capsule massage or Singulair (which is not actually FDA-approved for this purpose). Some studies suggested Singulair might be helpful in some cases of capsular contracture, but most plastic surgeons would probably agree that they have not seen it to be effective in most (perhaps any) cases.Massage may help ameliorate the discomfort some patients feel with capsular contracture. I have seen some implants drop later than 3 months, and it is true that I had those patients perform massage. Whether the massage helped or it was just the effect of more time and relaxation of tissue, it is hard to know. I have also referred patients to facilities like Aspen Rehab, which offer an ultrasound-assisted massage process. I've only referred two patients to them in 15 years and one got enough improvement to be happy and the other required revision surgery. Thankfully, revision surgery is often very successful in improving this kind of asymmetry.
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