How It Feels To Have Breast Implants

According to a 2018 study by American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), breast augmentation remains the most requested cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States and has been since 2016. Those interested in breast implants in Orange County can easily schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons. Before your consultation, one of your biggest curiosities may be how your new implants will feel.

While your implants settle

Immediately after your breast augmentation surgery, your implants may sit a little higher on your chest than you might imagine. Implants are often placed a little higher than expected to allow the muscles surrounding the implants time to stretch. It can take a few months before your muscles fully adjust and allow your implants to settle. You’ll probably notice minor adjustments to the size and shape of your breasts as the implants get into their final position.

You will most likely be held in a recovery area for an hour or so after surgery. The majority of your recovery will take place in the first two weeks. Be careful not to overdo it during this time. Try to avoid heavy lifting, overhead motions, or anything else involving excessive arm movement.

Typically, you can return to normal activities at around six weeks, but be sure to confirm with your surgeon. Full recovery is generally set when the implants are fully established, approximately twelve weeks for most patients.

Improved sex life

A study conducted at the University of Porto found that most women are more satisfied with their sex lives after receiving breast implants. Women found they had higher levels of desire and arousal. Most of the researchers pointed to increased self-confidence as a critical factor.

Higher self-confidence can have an impact in more than just the bedroom. Many women who have breast augmentation procedures also make positive changes in other areas of their lives. With a new sense of self, many women take bolder approaches to their careers and social lives as well.

How implants will feel: physically

Breasts with implants tend to feel different to the touch than natural breasts. You may lose feeling in your nipples immediately after the procedure. Sensation loss in your nipples is perfectly normal. Even if you have a slight loss of sensation, your nipples will still respond to cold air and stimulation via touch.

The types of breast implants you get will also affect how your breasts will feel.  There is a slight difference between saline, silicone and textured implants. Another factor that will impact the feel of your new breasts is the amount of existing tissue. Typically, if you have more muscle and more tissue in your chest wall, your results will feel a bit more natural.

How implants will feel: emotionally

While most people tend to fixate on the physical results of breast augmentation surgery, there is also a psychological side to consider. 

Emotional responses are normal with cosmetic surgery. You are making a significant change to the body you’ve lived with your entire life. Incorporating your new shape into your identity can take time; you might even feel like your new breasts don’t really belong to you. Some of your favorite clothes might not look the same.

Be patient and don’t panic; these feelings are entirely normal and will come and go. Within a few weeks to months, most patients don’t even think about the fact that they have breast implants. 

How implants feel: to other people

Some people claim that they can tell the difference between natural breasts and breast implants. In reality, it isn’t always easy to tell, and many professionals are fooled. Of course, several factors can give away that breasts have been augmented.

It can be easier to tell immediately after a procedure since the implants aren’t in their final resting places yet. Breasts that are too high or too close together can be a dead giveaway. 

What’s most important is how you feel about your new look. 

Return visits

Nearly a quarter of all women who undergo breast augmentation plastic surgery return for another procedure. Unfortunately, implants do not last forever. The FDA rates most implants for ten years, but many factors can impact the time it takes before implants need replacing.

While mostly harmless, implants can leak over time or due to hard falls. Weight loss and pregnancy can also change the shape of the breasts. These changes often push women to replace their breast implants.

The new you

Breast implant surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the country. While most people are aware of what the final results look like, they may not consider how new implants will feel. There may be some discomfort during recovery, and the outcome depends on several factors, including implant material, size, and so on. Ultimately, breast augmentation surgery has been shown to improve self-confidence, making it a truly life-changing procedure.

What tips would you give someone undergoing breast augmentation surgery? Leave your comments below.