How long does it take for breast implants to fully settle? (2023)

Will my implants look bigger once they drop?

Your breast implants may appear to be bigger or fuller once they've dropped to a lower, more natural-looking position on your chest and "fluffed" into a rounder and softer shape. Changes in the size or shape of your new breasts after augmentation can also occur as swelling and tightness subside.

Breast implants generally take 6 weeks to 3 months to adjust and look natural. Like many other things in life, they're well worth the wait. The length of the adjustment period depends on a few different factors such as your age and how much swelling you experience.

Breast Implants Start High

Your breasts may also look smaller than you were hoping for. At first, the muscle and breast tissues are tight, compressing your implant. In time, these tissues will relax and loosen, and the breast implant drop will occur and develop into a more natural-looking position.

Essentially, you'll need to sleep in an elevated position after breast augmentation surgery for at least one to two months (around six weeks for the majority of patients). The reason is that this position helps to reduce swelling, largely by taking the pressure off the incision areas and the implants themselves.

Answer: Cleavage

They will not drop closer together as you heal. The placement of the implants and your natural cleavage is based on your anatomy pre-op. They will, however, become softer as you heal and you will be able to push them together to form the look of the cleavage you desire.

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.

Is it normal for boobs to appear pointy after breast augmentation? The breasts can often look slightly strange after a breast augmentation as swelling can cause the implants to appear too high or pointier. It can take up to six months for the swelling to dissipate and the implants to drop and fluff.

Popular implant size – The most popular size for breast implants is between 350 to 400 cc. For most patients, this would look like a small to a large C cup. In fact, all of the top 5 most popular sizes are between 350 to 500 cc.

Answer: Smaller

Over time they will settle and the swelling will decrease. The breasts will ultimately appear more normal by 6 weeks to 6 months.

But, if you were to pin me down on how long this whole process takes, I would give you a range of anywhere from 2 to 9 months until your breasts feel normal.

What happens if you move too much after breast augmentation?

Capsular Contracture: Heavy activity before you have healed enough from breast augmentation can cause capsular contracture, an uncomfortable condition that can only be corrected with surgery.

Even though patients believe exercises after breast augmentation will speed up recovery, it actually causes the opposite effect. Working out too soon can cause the implants to shift, which can make the breasts appear asymmetrical. It can also increase side effects, such as swelling and bruising.

This could put pressure on the implant or your incisions as you heal, which may affect your results. My patients can typically return to side sleeping (while wearing a supportive bra) within 2 weeks. Sleeping on your stomach is an absolute no-no until you get the green light from your surgeon.

You'll notice the first signs of implant drop after a few days, and this process can be moved along by using a breast band and massaging your implants to promote faster dropping. (Silicone gels and sheeting may minimize your scarring as well.)

Answer: Implant drop sensation

The muscle usually holds the implant up until it relaxes. This may be related to muscle spasm, and I suppose it is possible to feel it relax a bit.

Is there anything I can do to speed up the drop and fluff process? You are advised to wear a specially designed surgical support garment in the weeks after your surgery. This will reduce swelling quicker and help shape your breasts, as the implants and tissues are supported during the healing process.

Many women begin to feel like their breast implants are a “normal” part of their body around 6 – 12 months after surgery, if not sooner.

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.

Breast implants are either round or shaped. Round implants can provide a natural look as long as they are the right size and profile for the patient. When an implant is used that is too large or too high of a profile for the patient, the result is a very full, round upper pole.

Around three months after your breast augmentation, your implants should have nearly completed this dropping and fluffing process.

When will I know my final bra size after breast augmentation?

It can take as long as three to four months before you are able to see your final results. This is due to the fact that it takes time for your breast implants to settle into their proper position and for all residual swelling to subside.

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! This is all normal. At this stage of augmentation recovery, you still have swelling and may even experience mild to moderate bruising.

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.

Generally speaking, implants begin to drop and fluff after a few days, approach their final position after six weeks, and settle entirely after three months. At Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery, we want you to know exactly what to expect after breast enhancement.

Placing the implant below the muscle does typically make the implant look slightly smaller as the muscle will give the implant a touch more of a natural slope. It also compresses the implant, which makes the breast look slightly smaller.

After the swelling goes down the breasts will appear smaller. However, as the implants settle, it may appear that the breast enlarges as the lower aspect of the breast fills out (at the expense of the upper portion of the breast).

Answer: Large breast implants

It depends on where they are placed: under the breast or under the muscle. If they are under the breast, they drop faster because they are only supported by the skin. If they are placed under the muscle they drop slower because they are supported also by the muscle.

Breast augmentation revision can remove the scarring for a soft, natural look. You always have options, even after surgery. And rest assured that in many cases, breast revision surgery is covered by your health insurance. Come in for a consultation to see how revision surgery can give you the look you deserve.

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.

Drop and Fluff Timeline

It will feel tight especially while breathing deeply with discomfort on your upper abdomen. Pain meds will be prescribed to manage the pain and discomfort. Bruising and swelling around the implants is normal, and the implant contour is less defined until the swelling decreases.

When do implants start feeling natural?

The softening process is referred to as “fluffing”, and can last anywhere from eight weeks to six months. If your breasts feel hard longer than six months, see your plastic surgeon. Postoperative swelling contributes to the firmness of newly-placed breast implants, as does their placement.

Breast implants placed under the muscle are ideal for offering a more natural breast contour, especially in extremely thin patients or those who do not have a lot of breast tissue. If saline implants are chosen, these should always be placed below the muscle to prevent rippling in the cleavage line.

Capsular Contracture: Heavy activity before you have healed enough from breast augmentation can cause capsular contracture, an uncomfortable condition that can only be corrected with surgery.

After two weeks, you may stop wearing the surgical bra and wear a non-underwire, supportive. This should still be worn both night and day for an additional two weeks. After four weeks from the date of your surgery, you may stop wearing a bra at night.

Your First Week after Augmentation

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! This is all normal.