How long does it take for breast implants to drop?
Sydney Kogarah Miranda breast implants
After a breast augmentation, most women are very excited to see their new results. The good news is that the size increase in your breasts is immediate after an augmentation procedure. However, it does take some time for your body to recover from the surgery and for your final results to be visible.
After having a breast augmentation where the implants were placed under the muscle, many patients are concerned that their implants seem to be too high up on the chest. This is actually very normal, and even expected. Over the next few weeks, as your body recovers, your implants will drop down. Why does this occur? When can you expect to see the final shape of your new breasts?
Why are implants high up on the chest at first?
Many breast implants are placed under the pectoralis major muscle of the chest. This is the large flat muscle on the front of the chest. Placing the implants under the muscle adds an extra layer of tissue coverage over the implant. This helps to soften the edges of the implant to create a more natural appearance. It also helps to soften any rippling that may occur around the edges of the implant.
When the implants are first placed beneath the muscle, this stretches the muscle tissue quite a bit. In fact, there generally isn’t enough room to place the implants behind the muscle without separating a part of the muscle from its attachments to the sternum (the breastbone).
The tightness of the muscle tissue tends to press on the implants, squeezing them up higher on the chest wall. This leads to the high and somewhat unnatural appearance that breast implants have at first. The stretch on the muscle tissue may also feel uncomfortable.
What happens as the implants drop?
Over time, the muscle tissue will relax into its new shape. As the tight tissue relaxes, it will no longer press on the implant. This allows the implant to settle down into the pocket that was created during the surgery. As long as this pocket was created using good surgical technique, the resulting breast shape will look much more natural.
It generally takes about six months for the muscle to fully relax. In some women, it can take even longer, up to a year. The implants will slowly drop over this period of time, coming closer and closer to their final positions. The discomfort of the muscle stretch will also disappear over time.
The squeezing of the tight muscles also tends to make the implants appear smaller at first. This leads some women to believe that they chose implants that are too small. However, as the muscle tissue relaxes and this squeeze disappears, the implants also tend to appear larger. This is often known as “fluffing.” Often, after the implants have fluffed, women find that they’re satisfied with the size that they chose. It’s important to wait for this process to occur before making a decision to change implant sizes.
Women who work out a lot, especially those who lift weights, often find that their implants take longer to drop and fluff. This is because the larger and thicker the chest muscle is, the longer the tissue will generally take to relax.
Sydney Kogarah Miranda breast implants
It’s important to be patient as you wait for the final results of your breast augmentation to appear. Once your implants have finished dropping and fluffing, you’ll be able to see the results of your investment in the procedure.
Getting great results from any cosmetic surgery requires excellent surgical technique. As an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Sydney, A/Prof Marucci keeps up-to-date on the latest surgical techniques. His patients know that they’re in highly trained hands, which helps to get the best possible results. If you’re considering breast augmentation and would like to book a consultation with A/Prof Marucci, simply contact our friendly front desk staff to schedule your appointment.
