Swelling, 8 days post BA, when should I expect them to go down? (photo)

Dear sunandmoonmama,I understand your concern and it is quite normal to be concerned about the outcome following a breast augmentation surgery. However, you are still in the very early stages of the healing process at 8 days  post op.Your will need to be patient at this moment and follow what your surgeon has instructed you to do post operatively.At the early stage of the healing process, the tissues around the implants are still swollen. Once the swelling subsides and the implants drop to their final position, you will be able to see the final result of your breast augmentation surgery.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Congratulations on your BA! I think you look great for 8 days postop. Your implants will be high initially and then begin to drop down into their pockets around 2-3 weeks postop (assuming they were put in under the muscle). I don’t have my patients use Arnica because there’s no real good scientific articles to prove that it works. Your axillary incisions will be a bit firm for the first few months so don’t be surprised if it takes 6-12 months for them to soften up as the wound healing process continues. I don’t use drains for my breast augmentations so I can’t comment about any residual swelling. I’m not sure why drains were used because usually there’s minimal bleeding and thus minimal fluid to drain. Regardless, things are definitely going to change over the next 6-12 months but your early results look excellent. Wish you all the best!!

based on your photographs and the fact that you had a transaxillary breast augmentation, it does tend to take slightly longer for the breast implants to settle. The implants do tend to ride higher through the transaxillary approach. Massage does help quite a bit. Wearing a bandeau strap at night may also help. Your implants may take upwards of six weeks before they are where you want them to be. Hope this helps. Good luck.

At 8 days you are about 5 percent healed, settled, shaped, softened, dropped and fluffed. When concerned always a good idea to check in with your surgeon. "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 and softened 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

Hello. Thank you for your inquiry and congratulations on your surgery!
It is important to have an in-person medical assessment regarding this issue as it is difficult to determine virtually. Continue to update your doctor in the matter and follow their post-op protocol.
It is important to get cleared by your doctor before engaging in specific physical activity before the 3 month healing period has ended as the healing stage is crucial for healthy results.
It generally takes around 6 months to a year to see your final results. Your tissues will take time to relax and allow your implants to "Drop and Fluff" settling into place.
Our tips for recovery following breast augmentation are to wear a supportive sports bra for 3 months post-operative and refrain from lifting anything heavier than 10 lbs for 3 weeks as we don't want any strain at your incision sites. Make sure to keep the area of your stitches clean by cleansing with hydrogen peroxide daily. Showering is encouraged! But, no sitting in water for 2 weeks following surgery (no baths, hot tubs, pools etc.).
Please note that this response does not substitute patient-doctor relationship. We welcome any and all patients seeking advice to come in for a complimentary consultation available for limited time only.
During the COVID-19, we are offering complimentary online consultations as well as in-office consultation with social distancing and masks. Procedure done in-hospital private surgical facility while taking covid-19 precautions. We utilize UV-light to clean the air of viruses and bacteria during our consultations and surgery. We invite you to come in to discuss your options more thoroughly. Please send us an email at info@drkaraplasticsurgery.com with the subject line: "Attention Meagan" and we will be happy to coordinate your appointment!
M.Kara,MD,FRCSC (27+ years experience) - Specializing in 24 hour recovery/ out to dinner breast augmentation in-hospital private surgical facility for your added safety and peace of mind

Breast implants can take 6-12 weeks to drop into their final position. Tissue swelling after breast augmentation can take at least 4 weeks to resolve. However if you have fluid such as a seroma you need to be examined by your plastic surgeon to properly address this concern.