How Do You Soften Breasts After Implants?

Breast augmentation or breast enhancement is a surgical procedure that works to enhance your body’s curves by adding volume to your natural breasts. At Schaffer Plastic Surgery, Dr. Christopher Schaffer applies his skill and eye for aesthetics to create the most natural enhancements which are individualized to each patient. Achieving these results involves personalized care including answering questions about the procedure, ensuring a healthy recovery and offering guidelines for returning to normal activities.

Immediately following the procedure, your newly augmented breasts will appear to be positioned higher up on your chest and feel harder to the touch than natural breast tissue. Because of this sensation, a common concern is how to resolve the swelling after a breast augmentation procedure. There are several techniques to hasten the swelling resolution following a breast augmentation to get you to your desired natural look and feel.

What to Expect After Your Breast Augmentation

Every patient is unique, and just as your procedure is tailored to your body and individual preferences, it is important to understand that your recovery will be unique as well. Dr. Schaffer will prepare an individualized plan for you to take care of your body after surgery and to lead to the best results. He has even been known to provide his personal cell phone number to patients and make house calls as needed to ensure the healthiest recovery possible. More dramatic breast enhancements can mean a longer recovery, as your body may take more time to heal and adjust to your newly augmented breasts.

In the immediate days  following a breast augmentation, your body naturally swells as part of the healing process, and that swelling contributes to the breast tissue feeling hard to the touch. 

Implants seem to settle into the pocket created during surgery. This is an illusion as the “settling” is actually resolutions of swelling of the pectoral muscle which has been elevated to create room for the implant. This process begins in the first few days following your procedure and gradually continues for several weeks. “Settling’” occurs as the muscular swelling resolves and the tissue achieves a more normal state. This appears to result in the implants settling to a more natural position and does result in a softer feel to the tissue.

Tools to Encourage Soft Tissue

While recovery time varies by individual, there are multiple techniques and tools that can help encourage breasts to soften after implants:

Take Time to Rest

Taking time to allow your body to heal following your procedure is key to a healthy recovery. It is essential to follow Dr. Schaffer’s instructions and avoid heavy lifting following a breast augmentation. This will allow your body to adjust to the implants and will help minimize the risk for injury.

Wear a Support Bra

Support bras are post-surgery garments that can keep you more comfortable and support your breasts as you recover from surgery. Some support bras are specialized to encourage more directed support for certain situations or conditions.

Massage

Daily displacement exercises are routinely initiated at four weeks following the operation – earlier if certain situations dictate. Massages also decrease the likelihood of capsular contracture, a common bodily response to implants. As your body heals, the immune system recognizes that implants are foreign and naturally forms a scar tissue envelope, or capsule, around them. This “capsule” can tighten—or contract—over time and become problematic, known as a capsular contracture. At its worst, a capsular contracture squeezes the implant and can lead to discomfort and reoperation. While it may be uncomfortable at first, due to swelling and tender muscles, regular massaging works to discourage the development of scar tissue in the breast and facilitates the healing process.

Choosing the Right Surgeon

Breast augmentation is an investment in your body and your confidence, and it is important to select the right surgeon for your procedure. As a nationally recognized expert in the field of aesthetic plastic surgery, Dr. Schaffer maintains a high standard for safety and a high level of care for all patients at Schaffer Plastic Surgery. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, he is a prior member of the LEAD Advisory Board, a prestigious group of plastic surgeons selected for their leadership and experience in shaping the future of breast augmentation. He is dedicated to helping all of his patients learn how to soften breasts after implants and will be with you every step of the way during your recovery.

Through a one-on-one consultation and individualized procedure, Dr. Schaffer can work with your goals, lifestyle and natural shape to achieve the best results for your body. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Schaffer today to learn more about breast augmentation.