I Had Breast Augmentation Surgery 8 Weeks Ago and my Right Implant Still Hasn't Dropped? (photo)

At 8 weeks post-op it's good to hear that your left implant has dropped into what you feel is "completely settled" position and "looks great." Your right implant is still somewhat high, and the "saggy skin" is actually your incompletely-filled breast skin. As your right implant drops into optimal position, this will gradually diminish and look much more like your left breast now does.

The fact that breast implants drop, soften, and settle at different rates is more common than not, simply because there may be asymmetry in muscle bulk (R handed-ness?), post-op swelling (perhaps faster absorption if you are L-handed), or simply slightly more bruising, bleeding, or scar formation on the R compared to the L. Truly normal, and quite common, actually!

At this point in time, if your surgeon is not already doing so, I would recommend not only upward implant movement exercises to stretch and soften the muscles and your implant pockets, but adding downward stretch exercises to the R capsule. I have my patients do these implant movement exercises (often incorrectly called "massage") every few hours at first, then several times per day after several weeks, but continuing until position is equalized. (Then a supportive bra to slow any further "dropping' as tissues heal and scars mature.) I would also have you wear an elastic bandeau above your R breast and below the L (assuming your L is exactly where you and your surgeon want it to be) at night--wear a T-shirt over the bandeau and safety pin it to the T-shirt to keep the elastic strap where you want it. The asymmetric pressure will help stretch your high R implant pocket and allow the implant to drop into progressively better position!

Until your capsule scar matures (fades and softens just like your external incision scar), you can still actively "modify" it with stretching and pressure. Average scar maturation takes 7 months, according to wound healing studies. Individual patients vary, but at 8 weeks, you still have a great opportunity to improve your "final" look for the nest several months! Be patient--sometimes this is slow, but usually effective!

If things don't look like you want by 6-8 months post-op, then re-operation would likely be recommended. You may want to consider switching to softer, more natural-feeling (and less ripply) cohesive silicone gel implants at that time. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Thank you for the photos, especially pre operative.  You are still early in your post operative course. Breast implants tend to start dropping into place after 3 to 4 weeks. They usually will get to their final position in 6 to 12 months. One will usually drop faster than the other, and the shape may go through changes.  Please follow your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon's post op instructions. For example; we like message, but some surgeons will have you wait, or do it in a specific manner. Please let them know your thoughts and concerns.

Thank you for your question. You may want to consider a bra strap to influence the decent of the implants within the breasts over the first six months after surgery as it usually takes several months for the breasts to settle out. You can also try aggressive breast massage with most of the effort being directed at moving the implant downwards.  You may also want revisit with your surgeon once the implants settle and consider a lift to move the nipples to a higher position.

Hello! Thank you for your question! You are still early post-procedure. Your appearance looks typical at this stage and will continue to improve as the swelling subsides and the implants continue to settle into their desired position. This usually proceeds over the next several weeks as the lower pole skin/breast stretches to accommodate the implants. Follow-up closely with your surgeon for additional restrictions/instructions and the potential use of bras/garments or massage that may encourage the implant to settle appropriately. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

Your final results following a breast augmentation are mostly present; including "dropping of the implant", when implants are below the muscle, within the first 3 months for most and certainly by a year. Breast implants initially after surgery when placed in a submuscular position often give superior fullness that corrects itself with time, the "fluff and drop" phenomena. In reality the pectoralis major muscle takes a while to adjust its size to accommodate the implant as well as occasional muscle spasm which keeps the implant projection higher than its final resting shape. Additional variables include:laxity of skin, size difference during prior pregnancies, position of implant,size of muscle, and size of implant.As the muscle relaxes the projection of the implant often increases and the breast shape improves. Massage and use of a superior placed elastic strap can often make this process go faster.

When implants are first inserted, they sit high up because your tissues are tight and gravity hasn't taken effect. Over time, natural tissue expansion occurs to allow the implants to fall into place. By this time, your breasts will have taken on a more natural contour, where the lower breasts become softer and rounder. Please wait at least four months for this to happen.This process tends to occur sooner in one breast than the other, so don't be alarmed if you find that your left drops before the right or vice versa.