How Long Can It Take for Breast Implants To Soften? - UCI Plastic Surgery (2024)

Waking up to an enhanced bustline after breast augmentation surgery can feel thrilling. However, you may be concerned by your new breasts’ first impression; they will likely rest high on your chest and feel hard to the touch. 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.

Read on to learn more about recovering from breast tissue, including how long it might take your breast implants to soften.

When Will My Breast Implants Soften?

The initial high-set, hard results you see from your breast implants are not permanent. 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.

What Is Dropping And Fluffing After Breast Augmentation?

During your breast augmentation, your plastic surgeon carefully creates a muscle pocket within each of your breasts. Your surgeon then safely settles the implants into these pockets before closing your incisions and concluding your surgery. However, these breast pockets and the implants within them can take some time to settle.

“Dropping” refers to your breast implants shifting into a lower, more natural-looking position after your surgery, while “fluffing” is when your implants fill out your breasts. Together, these processes lead to a smoother, softer and more rounded final appearance, resolving temporarily high and hard implants as you continue to heal.

Why Should You Wait for Dropping and Fluffing to See Results?

Swelling is part of your body’s natural healing response to breast augmentation surgery. Because of this, your skin and muscle will become tighter, and it takes time for them to relax. During your initial recovery phase, your breasts will appear firmer and higher on your chest.

As your body adapts and accommodates your new implants, they will settle into the breast pockets as the envelope created by your surgeon stretches and expands and the swelling subsides. Once this happens, your implants will look and feel more natural.

Does Breast Implant Softening Take the Same Amount of Time for All Implant Sizes?

Typically, larger implants need longer to soften and drop into the desired position. However, everyone heals at a different rate, so pay close attention to all your post-surgical instructions and return to your plastic surgeon’s office for follow-up visits to ensure your recovery is going smoothly. Listen to your body and give yourself the time and space you need to recuperate at your pace.

Remember, even surgeries performed for purely aesthetic reasons are still invasive procedures, and you should take the healing process as seriously as you do any other medical treatment.

Do Both Breast Implants Soften Equally After Breast Augmentation?

Generally, both implants go through the dropping and fluffing process at an equal pace, ensuring symmetry in your eventual results. But in some cases, one breast implant stays hard while the other softens, possibly signifying a complication called capsular contraction. If either of your breast implants still feel hard six months after your procedure, schedule an appointment with your plastic surgeon as soon as possible.

Can You Do Anything to Help Your Breast Implants Settle Faster?

To expedite the healing process, your plastic surgeon may recommend daily breast massages. Starting at the top pole of each breast, gently massage them in a circular pattern. Doing so will encourage your breast pockets to expand and enable your implants to settle into position. Daily massages may also prevent capsular contracture.

Depending on your lifestyle, you can also get specific tips from your plastic surgeon on how to take care of your breast implants after your surgery, shorten your recovery time, minimize your risk of complications, and get the results you want sooner.

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Call Today for Your Breast Augmentation Consultation

To learn more about breast implants and what you can expect from breast augmentation surgery, contact UCI Plastic Surgery today to arrange a confidential initial consultation with one of our experienced board-certified plastic surgeons. Please call (714) 456-3077 to schedule a consultation at our Orange or Tustin location, or call (949) 999-2411 for a consultation at our Costa Mesa location.

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