Many factors affect how quickly breast tissues soften after augmentation. This “dropping and fluffing” process can last anywhere from eight weeks to six months. Schedule an appointment with your plastic surgeon if your breasts still feel hard after the six-month mark.
And how much you feel that movement varies widely from person to person. Some people stop feeling their implants after 6, 8 weeks. Some people feel their implants for years.
It's common for patients to be able to feel their implants, especially at the base, especially if the muscle isn't covering them at the bottom. They won't completely blend in with the rest of the tissues. However, when the implants are placed properly, it will be difficult to feel anything.
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. Hence, “drop” (settle lower) and “fluff” (round out and look fuller).
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.
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.
Unless you have significant capsular contracture, your breast implants will likely feel just natural to you. Most patients report that the sense of actually having implants tends to vanish after a few months, and they become just part of you.
Many patients feel that silicone implants feel more like natural breast tissue than saline ones. Silicone implants with a gel consistency that mimics the natural breast structure are often considered ideal for that reason.
When you first wake up from your breast implants surgery, your new breasts will likely be high up on your chest and feel hard to the touch. Don't be alarmed; this is completely normal, and your newly augmented breasts will eventually settle and soften, typically within 6 months.
As far as wearing the bra to bed at night, that is optional. If the patient has undergone a reshaping of an existing scar tissue pocket at the time of the breast surgery, however, we advise that the bra be worn for six weeks at night while sleeping.
Both types of implants can feel hard to the touch immediately after the procedure. As your body continues to heal, the implants should “drop” into their designated location and soften over time.
Even if you only go up by a cup size or two, you'll find that your clothes just don't fit the way they used to. Shirts that used to fit perfectly will now gape at the buttons, while tops and dresses that aren't made to stretch will flatten your new, larger boobs - not what you want.
Silicone breast implants are pre-filled with silicone gel. Compared to saline implants, they more closely mimic the look and feel of your natural breasts. Gummy bear implants are a type of silicone implant made from a form-stable, cohesive gel.
For example, one of the factors considered is how natural the breast looks when laying down versus how natural the breast looks when sitting or standing. Most agree, however, that teardrop-shaped implants, also called shaped implants and anatomical implants, deliver the most natural-looking results across the board.
If you're unhappy with your breast implant, the first thing you must do is contact a board-certified and reputable plastic surgeon. Breast revision is an extremely delicate process, so you must contact a reputable plastic surgeon with a perfect track record to minimize your risk of complications.
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!
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.
Painful or uncomfortable implants can indicate a number of issues that require a breast implant revision, including capsular contracture, damaged lymph nodes, a developing seroma, pinched nerves or poor implant placement. If you have silicone implants, pain may be a sign your implant has ruptured or is leaking.
With fresh implants, you should limit lifting your arms. Dr Turner will advise you to keep your arms below the shoulder for about 2 weeks. This allows the capsule to form around the implant to secure it in place. Lifting your arms above shoulder level can cause the implant to move out of the pocket.
I recommend you wait 8 weeks to allow the capsule to mature and implants to settle in their space. Especially implants placed under the muscle tend to move out of position easily in the early healing period. After 8 weeks, your implants are fully cushioned by skin and fat and therefore will not rapture by a squeeze.
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.
'Breast implants look better than the real thing' was the top response in the survey which polled nearly 2.500 British men. Of the 77% who said they were more partial to implants, these were the top 5 reasons: They are perkier and less droopy – 39% I consider them a status symbol – 32%
The biggest reason many women prefer silicone implants is because they look and feel more natural than saline in most cases, particularly in thin patients. The gel has a more convincing consistency that feels realistic.
An implant will weigh around the same as the equivalent amount of breast tissue.
While it's best to provide your new breasts with as much support as possible post-surgery, it's usually safe to go braless on occasion (but not daily) from around six weeks. Most patients should wait at least 3 months before going braless on a regular basis.