8 weeks post op, empty feeling near bottom of breast when sleeping on my side. Is this normal?

Hello,Thank you for your question!It is difficult to determine what is going on without assessing you in person. It may be best to see your PS to be assessed.You can learn more on our social media (Instagram and Snapchat): @realdrsix.
Regards

You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Eight weeks after surgery the swelling has mostly resolved and the implants have settled. What you are experiencing is due to the implant moving in the pocket when you lay down, leaving the bottom of the pocket less full. This is normal, and indicates that you have no capsule contracture , or hardening. 

Thank you for sharing your question and I am sorry to hear of your positional issues.  I would recommend reaching out to your surgeon for an in-person evaluation to get the best reassurance as to the shifting feel of your implant.  Hope this helps.

What you describe could be normal. When concerned, always a good idea to keep your surgeon in the loop. At 8 weeks you are about 50 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 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

Hi Megthan,

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 early stages of the healing process at 8 weeks post op.

You 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.

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. Also, your breasts can drop at different rates.

But if you are still concerned, you can always visit your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns. This way, you will be reassured. Also, if after six months, you are not satisfied with the appearance of your breast, you can visit your plastic surgeon and discuss the possibility of revision surgery.

Lastly, follow your plastic surgeons post-operative instructions and advice for faster healing and recovery.

Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question.You are still in the early process of healing from surgery. It is not uncommon to experience different sensations. I do not think this is something that you need to worry about at this point. If you were experiencing pain, then you should have your surgeon evaluate you in person.

You are still early in the healing process and what you are seeing are not your final results yet. You may still be experiencing swelling, bruising, and tissue tightness at this point in time. The implants usually settle into the pockets at the third month. It usually takes around 6 months post op to fully heal and only by then will you be able to conclude your results.  

Thank you for your question. It is best that you see your plastic surgeon for an examination in person that you can gain a proper opinion. If you feel the implant is falling to the side when you lay down you may have lateral displacement. It is best that you be seen for an examination in person

if they look good when you are standing up, then it is probably fine. your PS should still be following you, so you should bring this up at your next visit, so that they look at this but I suspect strongly that everything is fine.david berman md