Over time, the swelling resolves, the tissues loosen up, and the shape of the implant starts to exert itself on the overlying tissues. As a result, the implants settle into a lower, more aesthetically pleasing position on the chest. They appear softer and rounder, and they look larger and closer together.
Wait for your implants to settle.
As this happens, your implants will drop slightly and fill out the lower halves of your breasts, while the tissue above them expands. This process, which is known as “dropping and fluffing,” will give your breasts a fuller, rounder contour.
How much swelling is normal after breast augmentation? After surgery, every patient experiences swelling. At first, your breasts may feel overly large, and somewhat tender. This swelling peaks within a week after breast surgery, and most swelling fades within several weeks.
One of the most common questions we get from patients is when breast implants start to look/feel normal and when the natural drop of the breasts occurs after breast implant surgery. Breast implants generally take six weeks to three months to adjust and look natural.
For women with saline implants specifically, a natural loss of implant volume may occur over time. Other patients may experience implant displacement or simply have a change in their personal preferences. In any of these scenarios, breast revision surgery can help to create or restore the patient's desired look.
Yes, it is true that the muscle is under the breast, and putting an implant under the muscle does succeed in making the breast look bigger, but the breast tissue itself does not actually belong there.
If you massage your breasts too soon after your surgery, the incisions could reopen and an infection could develop. If your breasts begin to feel hard, or if the tissue around them starts to feel tight, consult with your surgeon right away.
After 2 weeks, most patients are fully recovered. The implant site may feel slightly tender to the touch, but should feel completely healed and normal. The implant will continue to heal and bond with the jaw bone over the following 3-6 months, but the initial healing process will be over.
Over time as the breast pocket stretches, your breasts implants will eventually soften, typically by 6 months after your surgery. Keep in mind, though, that every woman is different.
How tight should my bra be after breast augmentation? The ideal fit for a post-surgery bra should be snug but not tight. The best indicator that your bra fits correctly is that it's comfortable, and although you might feel some pressure, this isn't excessive or painful.
Swelling: Overexerting yourself causes your blood pressure to rise, which exacerbates and prolongs swelling. You will need to spend more time recovering, and the extra swelling can be quite uncomfortable.
Movements from your chest muscles during the early recovery period are discouraged. Too much use of the muscles might result in the shifting of the implant. This will cause an asymmetrical and unnatural shape of the breast as the implant moves outward or downward.
While your breasts may appear to sit abnormally high on your chest wall and feel “tight” during the first few months following your breast augmentation, they will settle into a lower, more natural-looking position and become softer and rounder over time—a process known colloquially as “drop and fluff.”
Talk to your surgeon
Your surgeon has a duty of care to help you with any issues you may be having with your implants. Talk through your options with them and if there is anything you can be doing yourself to help ease any discomfort. If you are unhappy with the sizing or the shape of the implants, tell your surgeon.
Dr. Ramanadham gets asked, “When can I sleep on my side after breast augmentation?” quite frequently. After all, it can be hard to sleep constantly on your back night after night. For the most part, patients will need to wait at least four to six weeks before they can switch to side sleeping.
Three to Six Months After Your Breast Augmentation
By this point in the recovery process, most of your swelling will be gone, even if you've had an augmentation with implants. Your breasts will feel almost normal, though there may still be a little firmness and some residual discomfort at times.
After surgery, the implants tend to ride hide and appear small due to the patient's skin tightness in the area. There is tightness because the implants increase dimension to breast tissue causing the skin to compress the implant's shape and size.
Your First Week after Augmentation
They will feel very firm, and your nipples will likely appear very low and point downwards. You will see very little side or bottom rounding of the breasts, often looking square, with little outward projection and minimal bottom fullness. Have no fear!
Most swelling will subside after two weeks and over the following weeks the implants should fall gradually and fill the lower breast. You should expect your breasts to be in their final position at three months. The type and size of the implant can affect the drop and fluff timeline.
There's no need to be alarmed – this phenomenon is completely normal and expected. Over time, your breast implants will gradually soften and settle, looking and feeling more like your natural breast tissue.
Symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, dry eyes and many other health concerns. Healthcare providers diagnose BII by ruling out other health conditions. Breast implant illness treatment involves removing the implants. Many people see improvement in their symptoms soon after implant removal.
The weight of large implants can cause the skin around the breasts to become overstretched, resulting in a saggy, droopy appearance. Oversized breasts can leave too much gap space and appear asymmetrical and disproportionate.
If implant massage is advised, this involves moving the implant up, down, and side to side at least a few times a day to keep the pocket slightly larger than the implant. This usually starts a week or two after surgery and may continue for a couple of months.
Move your breast 360 degrees in a full circle. Repeat on the other breast. Rotate each breast two or three times a week. This simple massage can help keep the capsule around the implant flexible and prevent the scar tissue from becoming too stiff and thick.
Although there's no harm in light fondling, be mindful that your breasts will be sensitive to touch for up to 3 weeks after surgery. And remember, there's nothing wrong with keeping your compression bra on. When else would you get away with wearing a comfy bra during sex?