Breast Augmentation Recovery: What is Drop and Fluff?

Breast augmentation is a transformative procedure that can boost a patient’s confidence and self-esteem. Although some changes will be visible right away, it takes some time for breast implants to fully settle and reveal the long-term contour changes. Swelling gradually goes down over a few weeks as overlying muscles and tissues relax and the skin slowly stretches to accommodate the implants, but it may take a few years for scars to become lighter and less noticeable. If you’ve been researching breast augmentation in the Philadelphia area, you may have heard the slang term “drop and fluff”—but even if you have, many people are unsure about what the phrase actually means. It refers to the process of how breast shape changes as an implant settles into place after breast enhancement surgery.

During your recovery, the best thing you can do to accelerate healing and get the most satisfying aesthetic results is to follow your surgeon’s post-operative advice and attend follow-up appointments as needed. You should also be aware of what kind of changes you can expect during recovery, as well as what rough timeline your healing journey may follow. Knowing what may happen next to your body can help you to mentally prepare, as well as plan your activities accordingly.

Week 1

Breasts are usually firm and swollen during the first five to seven days of recovery. Your body needs time to heal. This can be frustrating, but it’s important to have patience; the natural breast tissue will eventually adjust to and work with the implants. Patients often experience tightness, soreness, and discomfort in their chest, shoulders, neck, and back during this time, and pain medications may be needed. By the end of the first week, however, much of the pain can be gone.

During breast augmentation surgery, the goal is to create more symmetrical contours with the most desirable shape and projection possible. Keep in mind that breast implants often look and feel less like real tissue in the initial stages of recovery. They may appear flattened (because the pectoral muscles are pressing on them), overly high and masculine, or even slightly asymmetrical at this time.

It’s common—especially among women who have chosen a sub-muscular placement (beneath the pectoral muscles and tissue) for their breast implants—to have more upper pole fullness, but an emptier lower pole below the nipple at first. The tightening and spasms of the pectoral muscles cause the implants to be elevated and pushed outward.

Week 6

Around six weeks after surgery, breast shape and size will continue to change in small ways, and many irregularities typically correct themselves. Be aware that your breast size may fluctuate more dramatically, however. When swelling reduces, for example, the breasts may look smaller, but an eventual “drop and fluff” can cause them to fill out more.

The “drop” is when the breast implant descends and slides into its final position.

The “fluff” occurs when the lower part of the breast expands to create room for the implant as tension and pressure decrease, which may make your breast seem fuller. Gravity causes larger implants to fall to a lower position than lighter ones. Textured implants usually stay in place better, so they may not drop and fluff as much. Some surgeons recommend using massages, elastic breast bands, or other support garments to speed up this part of recovery.

3 Months

The ultimate breast shape is typically rounder, more natural looking, and anatomically shaped regardless of what type of implants you have, and the breasts feel softer once they’ve settled. It takes about three months for these results to take effect.

That said, it’s important to remember that each patient has a unique experience. There are many aspects that affect how you will recover. These include:

· the elasticity of your skin and tissues.

· the size of the implants.

· your age.

· the size of the breast pocket created.

· whether your implants are smooth or textured.

· how developed your pectoral muscles are before surgery.

Find out more about what to expect from breast augmentation from the Philadelphia area’s Chapin Aesthetics team. Set up a consultation by calling (267) 880-0810 or filling out an online contact form.