How Long Does Swelling Last After Breast Augmentation?

Congratulations on your breast augmentation! Maximum swelling occurs at about 3-5 days after surgery. In a few more days, the swelling and bruising will gradually subside, and for the majority of patients, most swelling will resolve within 2 weeks of your surgery. Your implants will gradually settle in the weeks after surgery (aka "drop and fluff"). As your body accommodates to your new implants, you’ll notice that your breasts will gradually look more and more natural – the way you hoped they’d be! Over the course of about three to four months, your body creates new skin to accommodate the additional volume of your implants. This natural process is called “tissue expansion”, and relieves the tightness you may be experiencing. It allows for the implants to settle more into a better position with the help of gravity. A gradual redistribution of volume from the upper to the lower breast occurs, resulting in an enlargement and rounding out of the lower breast.Although it's often called "dropping", it is more like "redistribution". The "fluffing" part refers to the impression that the lower breast enlarges and that your skin softens with the creation of new tissues. The extent to which this occurs depends on several factors, including the implant size, the tightness of your skin, and your body shape. 

Patients undergoing breast augmentation can anticipate
significant swelling in the immediate postoperative period. This swelling
resolves quickly with the vast majority being gone in about three weeks. Almost
all of the visible swelling is gone in four to six weeks, but small amounts of residual
swelling may be present for up to three to four months following surgery.

Compression bras and dressings are frequently used
following breast augmentation to minimize swelling. Swelling can add to a
patient’s postoperative discomfort. It can also increase anxiety regarding
breast size immediately after surgery.

For these reasons, we feel it’s important for the
patient and the surgeon to have good communication regarding this topic
immediately following surgery. In this situation a little reassurance can go a
long way towards making this a more comfortable
experience. 

I am aware of studies that show that your breasts may retain as much as 10% more than their final size for as long as 9 months after surgery. However, if you suddenly note more swelling on one breast more than the other, you should notify your surgeon.

I generally tell my patients that notable swelling usually lasts about 4 weeks.  It is not really until about 4 months time before the implants settle and you are able to really appreciate the final result.

You need to be patient at this point and wait to see how things look when you are about 4 months out from surgery.  There may be nothing to worry about then.

Good luck.

Hi, 
Thank your for your question. 
Bruising and swelling is normal after a breast augmentation procedure. 
 Typically, it can take anywhere up to 3 months for bruising and swelling to subside.  Please keep in mind that each patient heals differently and the time frame for healing can vary.   Compressing the breasts with a compressive bra helps with swelling Bruising will go away with time as time is the key for healing.  Below I have provided you with a link for a compression bra and stabilizer strap that we require our patients here to purchase after their breast augmentation procedures.  
Hopes this helps,  
Dr. Dillon 

Thank You for your question.  It is common and expected to experience swelling after breast augmentation surgery.  Every patient is different in the degree of swelling they may experience.  Typically in my practice I tell my patients that the swelling will continue to decrease week by week but may be present for up to 6 weeks post surgery.  Normally around 3 months plus is when you will see your actual cup size/result. 

Usually, most of the swelling goes away in about a month or two, and the residual (that's hardly noticeable) can take up to 6 months. I'd suggest waiting about 4 months to get an idea of the results of your surgery. Don't be too concerned that the one with the larger implant is more swollen - this is expected because more correction was performed on that breast.

Thank
you for the question. It is
not uncommon to feel pain, itchiness, and swelling during recovery. It usually takes about 8-12
weeks for the wounds to heal and around 4-6 months for the implants to fully
settle. It would be best to visit your
board-certified plastic surgeon and get a full assessment for your concerns. Best of luck. Dr. Michael Omidi.









An
in-person exam with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the best way to assess
your needs and provide true medical advice.

Dear dres,
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

All surgery is associated with swelling. Swelling after breast augmentation depends on HOW traumatically the surgery was performed (bluntly (more traumatic) VS sharply-cautery (less swelling)) is usually largely resolve by 3-6 weeks after surgery. The swelling is rarely asymmetric and large breast asymmetry should be evaluated for the surgeon for possible blood or fluid collection.