Q. I have new breast implants, and they don’t look exactly how I expected. What happened?

A.If you had your implant surgery recently, it is not unusual for one breast to seem larger or higher or look different than the other, or for both to look larger or different than you expected. It’s important to be patient, because it can take up to 6 weeks for most swelling to go down. In the meantime, many women are worried about how they will look. Once all of the swelling has gone down, you might be much happier with the appearance of your breasts. But the truth is that plastic surgeons differ in their abilities, and every body is different, so implants don’t always produce two identical breasts, and the plastic surgeon can’t always make your breasts look exactly as you wanted. If you are very unhappy with how your breasts look in several months, you might want to consider getting a second opinion from a board certified plastic surgeon. If you need to have additional surgery to fix the problem, make sure you see photographs of the plastic surgeon's patients and ask to speak to several who had implants for at least a few years. That way you will know if the plastic surgeon was helpful as problems arose.

There are signs of problems that need immediate attention, such as major swelling (usually on just one side), which may indicate internal bleeding (a hematoma); or severe pain, swelling, redness, and fever, which could indicate an infection. You should immediately contact your plastic surgeon or other physician if any of those problems occur. However, if you have other concerns about how you look or feel, don't hesitate to call your plastic surgeon to ask about them.



The comments and statements of the National Research Center for Women & Families are believed and intended to be accurate, and where applicable, based on scientific literature. NRC's statements do not constitute medical diagnoses, medical advice, plans of treatment, or legal opinion, and we are not responsible for the use or application of this information. All medical information should be reviewed with your health care practitioner.

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