How Long Can It Take For Breast Implants To Soften?

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Posted on March 10, 2021 under Breast Implants

Without a doubt, breast augmentation ranks as one of the most popular cosmetic surgery options for women. If you are unhappy with the size or shape of your breasts, getting breast augmentation surgery may be the best thing for you.

Of course, you want your breasts to feel as natural as possible after this procedure. As with any cosmetic surgery treatment, it takes time before you start to feel normal and natural again. After you get your breast augmentation, you may notice that your breasts feel somewhat hard to the touch and that they sit higher on your chest than you’d like. This is totally normal and will pass over time. As you begin to heal, your new breasts will go from feeling hard to gradually settling and softening so that they look and feel more like natural breast tissue.

When Will My Breast Implants Soften?

After your breast augmentation surgery, you may feel concerned to find that your breasts feel too hard and seem to sit too high on your chest. However, you should take some assurance in the fact that this is not permanent. Your final results will be much better. A variety of factors can come into play that determine how long it might take for your new breasts to soften. Breast implant softening, also known as “fluffing,” can take anywhere from eight weeks to six months. If your breasts don’t feel soft by the six-month mark, you should make an appointment to see your plastic surgeon at Cosmetic Surgery Associates.

After your surgery, it’s normal to experience swelling. This is one of the biggest contributors to your new breasts feeling firm and too high. Over time, your breast implants will drop into proper position and soften as the swelling goes down. At that point, your new breasts will begin to feel and look more natural. However, the larger your implants, the longer this process takes.

Sometimes, a woman will notice that one breast implant softens and the other one remains hard, even beyond six months after the procedure. This can be a sign of capsular contraction, a complication that occurs when there is too much scar tissue after breast augmentation surgery. Due to this potential risk, if your breasts still feel hard or one feels hard while the other has softened, you need to follow up with your plastic surgeon and schedule an appointment to have the procedure revised.

How Can the Soften Process Be Expedited?

You can do your part to expedite the softening process of your breast implants. Your plastic surgeon may recommend daily breast massages once you are cleared to do so. You can massage your implants by gently pressing them inward, outward, and up and down multiple times per day. This massage process can help your breast pocket to expand, which allows your implants to settle in their proper position. There is an additional benefit as it can also help to prevent capsular contraction from developing.

Breast Augmentation in Maryland

If you live in Maryland area and are interested in getting breast augmentation surgery, or have questions about the results of a previous breast surgery, Cosmetic Surgery Associates is here to help. Call us at (301) 493-4334 or contact us online at your earliest convenience to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jabs, Dr. Richards, or Dr. Magge.

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Our Plastic Surgery Associates team includes Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. A. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge. Each of our plastic surgeons is board-certified, and together they have over 60 years of combined experience. Drs. Richards, Jabs, and Magge are all highly qualified in procedures for the face, breast, and body, and pride themselves in providing excellent results through our state-of-the-art, Quad A certified operating centers