NEED TO KNOW
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Maddison Steiner felt surprisingly good just 72 hours after getting a breast augmentation
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She then went to lift her toddler without knowing it would shift her implant and ruin her healing process
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Steiner shares her story with PEOPLE and talks about the importance of listening to your doctor’s post-operation instructions
Maddison Steiner learned firsthand the importance of taking post-surgery instructions and warnings seriously.
In July 2024, Steiner decided to get a breast augmentation after having “a baby a few years prior,” and going through “all the changes” that come with breastfeeding.
“I felt ready to do something for myself and refresh the way I felt about my body,” Steiner exclusively tells PEOPLE.
The influencer found a surgeon who worked with local content creators in the Seattle area and was impressed with his results. She got 360cc implants placed over the muscle, and her surgeon gave her detailed post-operation instructions, which included the usual care guidelines, such as what to do, and more importantly, what not to do.
“The specific procedure I chose was labeled as a ’48-hour rapid recovery,’ meaning the healing process is meant to be very quick with minimal pain,” she explains. “By 72 hours post-op, I felt great — like I was ready to get back to everyday life.”
Then she made a “big mistake.”
“I started lifting my toddler, even though my surgeon had specifically advised against lifting anything — including children — for six weeks,” she shares. “I misunderstood the instructions and thought it only applied to lifting things above my head, not to all lifting in general.”
By week four or five, Steiner began to notice small changes in the positioning of her implants, specifically around her cleavage. It wasn’t until after a Halloween photoshoot that she noticed something was off. Steiner was wearing a corset, and when she took it off, she saw her implant had shifted dramatically.
“That night, when I laid down, I saw my implant slide into my armpit — it was visibly moving under my skin,” she recalls. “I immediately contacted my surgeon, and he confirmed that the pocket on my left side had stretched.”
She notably carried her toddler on the left side of her body, causing her implant pocket to stretch and allowing the implant to shift out of place.
“As soon as I realized something was wrong, I sent photos to my nurse. She immediately forwarded them to my surgeon, and the next morning, they called me in for an exam,” Steiner recalls. “Not long after, they scheduled me for a revision surgery just a few weeks later.”
“The revision surgery was more painful than the first. My surgeon had to manually stitch the implant pockets to tighten them and prevent further shifting,” she explains. “When I first saw the results the day after surgery, I was honestly horrified. I thought I looked botched.”
“I started crying because the way he had tucked my breast to help the pocket heal made everything look very strange,” she continues. “He told me to trust the process and give it time, and he was right. After a few weeks of healing, everything settled perfectly, and I’m happy with the results.”
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Now, looking back on the experience, Steiner shares her advice for those who might undergo a similar operation, advising, “Take your post-op instructions seriously.”
“Because plastic surgery is elective, people don’t always treat it with the same level of care or seriousness — but it’s still major surgery,” she says. “Six weeks of being careful can feel like a long time, especially if you’re a busy parent like me, but it’s nothing compared to a lifetime of results.”
“If you’re experiencing complications, don’t panic and reach out to your doctor,” she adds. “My surgeon was incredibly responsive and got me back on track quickly, so don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for help.”
Steiner shared her experience about botching her recovery online in hopes that “it helps someone else.” The video of her discussing her experience went viral, amassing 47,600 views.
“Before my surgery, I was scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, watching videos of other women’s experiences with breast augmentation,” Steiner shares. “If even one person comes across my video and it helps them, maybe they take their recovery more seriously or feel less alone, then sharing was worth it. I’m always happy to be honest if it might help someone else navigate their journey.”
Read the original article on People
