How long implants settle

Right after breast augmentation, breasts often have a high, elevated appearance, especially if the implant was placed under the pectoral muscle. 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. Your breast size may also increase slightly. The breast implants drop into a lower position on the chest and expand in size as the pectoral muscle and breast tissues place less pressure on your implant.

Keep in mind that depending on what breast surgery you may have had such as a breast implant exchange or breast lift the final look of your breasts may vary. There is no simple calculation for determining how long until your breast implants settle or drop.

There are many different factors in play depending on the types of cosmetic surgery procedures you have. Give it time and know that most women are happy with their breast appearance by 6 weeks after surgery. One breast may settle before the other. This is normal and is nothing to be concerned about. The settling and breast implant drop process takes time after breast surgery. Your breast size may change several times as you progress through the recovery process. Give it time, be patient, and wait to shop for a new lingerie wardrobe.

We recommend waiting about three months before investing in a lot of new undergarments. By this time, the breasts are usually close to their final size and shape. There are a number of factors that affect how quickly breast tissues take to soften. 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.

Over time, the implants will drop into the breast pocket, as the envelope created by the surgeon has time to stretch and expand, and breast tissue will soften as swelling gradually subsides.

When this happens, your implants will look and feel more natural. Typically, the larger the breast implant, the longer it will take for the implants to soften and drop into the desired position. As the muscle relaxes and the surrounding tissues loosen up to accommodate the implants, gravity takes over to help them settle and fill out the tissue pocket. The drop and fluff process is the same across implant fill materials and shapes. Saline and silicone implants, as well as round and teardrop implants, all go through these subtle changes in position after placement.

However, factors such as implant size and texture can affect drop and fluff timing. Larger implants weigh more and therefore tend to drop faster.

This is due to friction between the implant and surrounding tissues. Additionally, implant placement — either above or below the muscle — can determine the settling time. Individual characteristics, such as breast size and chest muscle development, also play a role in this process. Talk to our board-certified plastic surgeons about what you can expect in your unique situation.

Usually, the implant in the breast with more space between the nipple and the breast crease will drop first. Soon after, the other implant will follow. Some things can be done to speed up this process.