If you’ve recently undergone breast augmentation with implants, your surgeon likely explained that it could take months for you to see your final results. While this waiting period can be concerning, it will undoubtedly be worth it as you begin to see your breasts literally take shape over time—a process cosmetic surgeons informally refer to as the “drop and fluff” factor. In this post, Lafayette cosmetic surgeon Dr. J. Kevin Duplechain explains how the drop and fluff process works, why it’s a critical part of implant-based breast augmentation, and when you can expect to see your final results.
What does drop and fluff mean?
While your breasts may appear to sit abnormally high on your chest wall and feel “tight” during the first few months following your breast augmentation, they will settle into a lower, more natural-looking position and become softer and rounder over time—a process known colloquially as “drop and fluff.”
The drop and fluff process is a leap of faith a cosmetic surgeon asks their patients to take with them.
The physiology behind drop and fluff
After your breast augmentation, your breast tissues will feel tight and constricted. Over time, your new implants will force your breast tissues to expand and your muscles to relax, allowing your implants to “drop,” or move down your chest and settle into their respective breast implant pockets, and “fluff,” or fill in the lower portion of the breasts. The drop and fluff process is a leap of faith a cosmetic surgeon asks their patients to take with them, as it can be difficult for patients to envision their final outcome during this initial healing stage.
Is the drop and fluff process unique to each patient?
Every woman’s breasts heal differently, so don’t get caught up in matching every detail of your experience to that of other patients. While it can be helpful to browse a surgeon’s before and after galleries and forums for an idea of the results and recovery period you can expect, your best resource will be your surgeon and your own body. We often hear women say things like, “For the first six months following my augmentation, it felt like I woke up with a different pair of breasts every day!” The truth is, some women’s implants drop and fluff in a few weeks, while others take up to six months to completely fill out.
Every woman’s breasts heal differently; try to be patient, and refrain from comparing your results to others in the first few months.
Factors that can influence your drop and fluff experience
There are a number of factors that can influence your drop and fluff experience. These may include:
- Implant size. Because larger implants weigh more, they often drop faster.
- Implant type. Textured implants tend to drop slower and to a lesser degree than smooth implants due to the friction between the implant and surrounding tissues.
- Surgical bra. Following your breast augmentation, you will likely be asked to wear a surgical compression bra to aid your recovery. Not only will this garment help reduce swelling, but it will also help shape your breasts.
- Breast symmetry. Believe it or not, breasts are rarely 100% symmetrical. For this reason, it is common for one breast to develop slightly quicker than the other following breast implant surgery.
- Time. Because breasts don’t always heal at the same time, it is quite common for one breast to drop before the other.
- Skin elasticity. It may take longer for the breasts to drop in patients with better skin elasticity since their breast skin is firmer and more likely to “snap back.” In contrast, patients who lack skin elasticity in their breasts may experience a faster drop and fluff process because their skin is looser and more easily able to accommodate an implant.
- Inflammation. As inflammation subsides, your breast tissues will expand and allow your implants to drop and fluff.
- Gravity. Gravity’s downward force will help your implants settle into place over time.
How long will it take for my breasts to drop and fluff?
It may take up to three months for your breasts to fully settle into their desired position, and it may take up to six months for your breasts to finish taking shape. After this initial healing period, your implants should also begin to feel softer and more natural.
During the first 6 months following your breast surgery, don’t become discouraged if your results aren’t yet what you’d hoped—they will evolve and be worth the wait.
Can I speed up my drop and fluff process?
While there’s little you can do to speed up the drop and fluff process aside from following your cosmetic surgeon’s instructions, wearing a surgical bra, being patient, and trusting the process, we recommend you take postoperative photos of your breasts every two weeks to help visualize your progress.
If your implants are taking longer than usual to drop, your cosmetic surgeon may advise applying a compression band to the upper portion of your breasts and/or massaging your breast tissue. However, neither of these techniques should be utilized without first consulting your surgeon.
Looking for breast implants in Lafayette, Louisiana? Choose Dr. Duplechain.
Beautiful breast augmentation results are dependent on choosing an exceptional cosmetic surgeon. Lafayette cosmetic surgeon Dr. J. Kevin Duplechain has over 25 years of experience performing breast surgery in Acadiana, and has the skill and experience needed to achieve gorgeous breast implant results. Learn why breast augmentation patients come from New Orleans, Alexandria, and other Louisiana cities to consult with Dr. Duplechain—request a consultation online or call us at (337) 456-3282 today.
Leave a Reply