Do patients who get implants with a lift drop later than patients with just implants? What is an average timeline? (photos)

Question

I’m 1 week post-op from a breast lift and augmentation (and tummy tuck). I know I’m still very early in the game. In your experience, do you find patients who receive a lift (along with their augmentation) have their implants drop later than those patients who are just receiving an augmentation? My left breast seems to be lowering but my right breast (dominant side) seems to want to stay perched high! On average, when do implants drop and fluff? For reference: 425cc mentor silicone unders

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS, FAACS · Answer

At 1 week you are about 5 percent settled, healed, softened, shaped, 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 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       
RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear ECAJ12358,
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
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

One implant usually drops before the other  Larger implants take longer to drop, particularly in smaller women.   Massage can help, but larger implants may take 3 to 6 months to drop and fluff to their final levels.  Best to follow up with your PS regarding your concerns.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Based on your photographs, you seem to have a very nice early outcome after breast augmentation/lifting surgery.  Your plastic surgeon will always be your best resource when it comes to an accurate assessment of your situation, advice, predictions, and/or meaningful reassurance.
Generally speaking, breast implants will "drop" into the pocket that was created during surgery.  The rate of breast implant "settling" may depend on factors such as size of breast implant pocket dissected, tightness of the overlying skin/muscle layers, size of breast implant utilized, and concerns such as pre-existing breast asymmetry.   Whether or not a patient has had a breast lift at the same time as breast augmentation is likely not  an important factor when it comes to breast implant settling.   Having said that, the breast augmentation/lifting procedure is a relatively complex procedure with a lot of "moving parts" postoperatively. Normally, it takes about 3-6 months (for some patients longer) to see the final result. It is very common for one side to settle faster than the other. 
 
  My best advice: continued patience and continued close follow-up with your plastic surgeon. Best wishes for an outcome that you will be pleased with long-term.

Anoush Hadaegh, MD · Answer

Hello,
Thank you for your question. At this stage of recovery, it is too soon to make any judgment. I have seen discrepancy on the position of implants when doing lift in the same time. In most cases, they have settle down at 3 months with few took as long as 6 months. Unfortunately, you need to be patient. Good Luck!

Do patients who get implants with a lift drop later than patients with just implants? What is an average timeline? (photos)

Answers (8)

Answer: Do patients who get implants with a lift drop later than patients with just implants? What is an average timeline?

Answer: Do patients who get implants with a lift drop later than patients with just implants? What is an average timeline?

Answer: Breast Implants and Lift

Answer: Breast Implants and Lift

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Everything you need to know about Breast Lift with Implants

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Do patients who get implants with a lift drop later than patients with just implants? What is an average timeline? (photos)

Answers (8)

Answer: Do patients who get implants with a lift drop later than patients with just implants? What is an average timeline?

Answer: Do patients who get implants with a lift drop later than patients with just implants? What is an average timeline?

Answer: Breast Implants and Lift

Answer: Breast Implants and Lift

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Lift with Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.