How do you know when you drop and fluff?

Question

I got 415cc on November 1st so February 1st I will be at 3 months post op. How will I know when I drop and fluff? Right now they look small to me and I'm praying they will look bigger when I drop.

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS, FAACS · Answer

At this date you are about 55 percent settled, shaped, softened, dropped and fluffed. "Drop and fluff" refers to the fact that as the skin stretches and the muscles relax, the implants move down and out slowly – about 1 percent a day. It’ll be about six weeks before they even begin to settle down, but they’ll be close to 80 percent settled at three months. Watching their progress is like watching your hair grow. You don’t see a difference in your hair growth daily, but all of a sudden you need a haircut. 
Be patient after surgery. Give yourself a few months before making a judgment about your surgical results. You won't know the outcome until then.
Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author
Phila., Pa.

Jimmy C. Sung, MD · Answer

Hi,
Congratulations on your surgery! Thank you for your post. You are only 2 months post op, which is too soon in the healing process to know how things are going to look. After a breast augmentation implants can take up to 6 months to settle. I would recommend calling your plastic surgeon with any questions or concerns.

Benjamin Mandel, MD · Answer

It can take up to 6 months for implants and tissue to settle after breast augmentation. I generally recommend that patients wait at least this long before making any final judgments regarding final outcome. In the meantime, I suggest that you address your concerns with your surgeon. Best of luck!

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your questions. I usually tell patients that most of the implant settling and swelling will be done by three months. There are sometimes with certain patients or implants where this process can take longer, so I usually recommend waiting at least 6 months before making any decisions about revision or implant exchange.Hope this helps!

Hetal Fichadia, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Dropping of implants and stretching of muscle/skin ('fluffing') happens over a period of several months. So, it's not something that is dramatically different from one day to another. It is also not uniform for everyone. Most implants complete settling down by 6 months. So, at 6 months, they will be in a position that is expected to be permanent. At 3 months, most of the swelling has resolved and therefore, it's unlikely that they will appear significantly larger than they do now. 
Best,

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear carolinewa3,dropping of implants is part of the healing process and this occurs after the tissues surrounding the implants slowly relax, allowing the implants to settle into their final position. It can take about four to six months for the implant to drop down to their final position.I understand that you are worried about your implants are not dropping as expected. However, you are still in the early phase of the recovery period. Please do allow some time for the healing process to occur. If after six months, you are not satisfied with the appearance of your breast, you can visit your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Ziyad Hammoudeh, MD · Answer

At only 2 months postop, you are still very early in your recovery.  In general, it takes about 3 - 6 months for implants to "drop and fluff" after breast augmentation.  However, everyone heals differently, and it can take longer in some and shorter in others.  You will know that your breasts have completed their healing process when your breasts are no longer changing.  This can take up to a full year in some patients.  I would recommend following up closely with your plastic surgeon during your recover to express your concerns.  Good communication between patient and surgeon is very important both before and after surgery.  Best of luck in your recovery!
Ziyad Hammoudeh, MD

Nicholas A. Flugstad, MD · Answer

Hello! Smooth implants do "drop" or settle into position over the first few months. The "fluff" part is the softening of your breast tissue and muscles as the tissues stretch and relax. You may still have a bit of dropping to go, but it's difficult to say without seeing you in person. As far as implants beginning to appear larger during this process, that is possible as muscles relax. It's unlikely that your breasts will begin to appear significantly larger than they do now, however.

How do you know when you drop and fluff?

Answers (8)

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