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When Will my Implants Drop? Did I Make a Mistake by Wearing a Sports Bra?

I had a breast augmentation on June 13, 2012, my implants are smooth round high profile saline, they are still sitting pretty high up. When should I expect them to drop? My worst fear is that they will have to go back and place the implant lower. I did wear a sports bra 10 days after surgery and when I went in for a check up they told me I should not have worn that, Im worried that the wire in the sports bra has messed the dropping of the impants up. Is that possible?

Doctor Answers 6

Could wearing an underwire bra prevent the implant from dropping??

July 12th, 2012
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It seems most unlikely that wearing an underwire sports bra caused any problems.

When we speak of the implant dropping, the implant is not really moving. The lower part of the implant should be  sitting at the level of the breast fold at the end of surgery and afterwards. What makes the implant look too high is compression of the implant by your chest muscles. That doesn't actually elevate the implant, but it displaces the contents (saline or silicone) upwards. The breast fold prevents the implants contents from bulging downward, but the upper part of the implant sits in an empty space under the pectoralis muscle and above the chest wall. It's as if the implant is at the bottom of a large envelope. It can't go lower, but can expand upward.

At any rate, discuss with your surgeon the massage exercises that are recommended and make sure you understand and follow the recommendations.

Best wishes,

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD

Wait 3-4 months

June 8th, 2014
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Your breasts will gradually become more natural in contour after about three to four months following your surgery, although this may take longer depending on your situation. To help this process, talk to your surgeon about wearing a tight bandage (like a tensor bandage) around the top part of your breasts. 

Just a note: Underwire bras aren't recommended because they don't provide good support (because the underwire is usually not shaped correctly to your breasts). They can also irritate incisions made in the breast fold.

Web reference: https://www.edelsteincosmetic.com/

Jerome Edelstein, MD

Sports bra after breast implants.

July 18th, 2012
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It takes up to 6 weeks for breasts to drop.  If it is riding high it is recommended not to wear a sports bra but to wear a binder over the top to push it down.  In most cases it does, if it does not you will have to come back for repeat surgery to loosen up the bottom of the breasts.

John S. Poser, MD

John S. Poser, MD
Gainesville Plastic Surgeon
4.1 out of 5 stars 9 reviews

Implants dropping

July 14th, 2012
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Implants normally settle over 3-6 months.  Wearing a bra that is too tight or pushes the implants up may lead to the implants healing in place in a higher than desired position.  If this happens, then you would need to have surgery to lower and reposition them.  Applying pressure to the superior pole, 10-15 minutes at a time, 6-8 times per day or more, may help stretch the inferior pole soft tissues and assist the implants settle may be of value.

Todd C. Case, MD

Todd C. Case, MD
Tucson Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 53 reviews

Sports Bra After Breast Augmentation

July 13th, 2012
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Hello. It ususally takes 6-9 months for breasts to drop after an augmentation. The use of a sports bra is okay to give support, but the breasts will settle with or without the use of the bra.

Jaime Perez, MD
Breast Implant Specialist
Plastic Surgery Center of Tampa

Web reference: http://www.jaimeperezmd.com/photogallery/breast-augmentation-7001

Jaime Perez, MD

Jaime Perez, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 66 reviews

Timing for Breast Implants Dropping?

July 11th, 2012
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Thank you for the question.
Although your plastic surgeon will be the best resource to answer your question  as precisely as possible, I can offer you some generalities. Most of the breast implant “settling” happens  before the 3 to 6 months point after breast augmentation surgery. Occasionally, it may take even longer depending on the specific patient situation. I doubt that use of a specific bra for a short period of time would have “messed the dropping of the implants up”.
I would suggest continued follow-up with your plastic surgeon; ask him/her if he/she recommends massage.
Best wishes.

Web reference: http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com/Procedures/Procedure_breastAugmentation.htm

Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.