10 Tips to Make Your Breast Augmentation Recovery Easier

Breast augmentation recovery: If you’ve got a breast augmentation coming up, you’re probably already thinking about what your recovery is going to be like. To be sure, planning ahead for this period will go a long way toward ensuring a healthy and successful outcome for your surgery. 

To help guide you, we’ve outlined some useful breast augmentation recovery below.

Use the following tips to help guide you during your recovery from breast augmentation. If you have questions about your recovery, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Breast Augmentation Recovery : What to Avoid

NSAIDS, water submersion, sunlight and tanning beds

NSAID stands for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. For example, ibuprofen is a common NSAID that is usually taken to reduce inflammation. While these drugs can be useful when you’re not recovering from surgery, it’s important to avoid them while you’re healing. Taking them can increase your risk for bleeding.

Avoid swimming, getting into a hot tub, or bathing in a bath after your surgery. Naturally, after a few weeks, you’ll be able to return to these activities. But for at least the first few weeks of your recovery, you’ll need to avoid them. Around 48 hours after your surgery, you will be able to shower. 

If you know you’re going to be outside and in the sun, take care to cover your incisions and make sure they are not exposed to UV rays. Not doing so may cause problems with the healing of your incisions. Likewise, scars can become more noticeable when they are exposed to UV light.

Breast Augmentation Recovery: Basic Self-Care

Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious meals

Staying hydrated during your recovery will help flush out toxins and reduce swelling. Always have a water bottle with you while you recover, and aim to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses every day.

It’s always good to eat a nutritious diet, but especially when your body needs extra nutrients to heal, you should take care to prepare healthy, well-balanced meals and snacks. Try to eat protein and fiber with every meal, rounding everything out with healthy fats and plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Shower carefully and ease back into physical activity

You’ll need to avoid showering for at least the first 48 hours after your procedure. It’s important to keep your incision sites dry and clean. Even when you do start to shower after this initial period, always take care around your incisions, and follow the hygiene directions provided to you by your surgeon. 

One of our most important breast augmentation recovery is to get moving right away. However, it’s important to go slowly and not rush into vigorous physical activities.

Most likely, your surgeon will have you walking around gently for short periods of time almost immediately after your procedure. But this is as intense as you should get for a while. Avoid anything strenuous, including lifting heavy objects and getting out of breath. 

Especially avoid doing anything physical with your upper body, including your upper arms, chest, shoulders, and abdominal muscles. As you progress during your recovery, you will first be cleared to do lower body exercises (squats, lunges, etc.) before you are cleared to perform upper body activities.

Take precautions to sleep correctly

Nearly all breast augmentation patients will be required to sleep on their back for several months. This can be a challenge for some people who are used to sleeping on their stomach or side. Practicing beforehand can help and will make your post-surgery sleep more comfortable. 

Your upper body should be elevated no matter what position you are in during the day, but especially when you sleep, avoid being fully prone. Instead, use pillows to prop up your upper body (or invest in a wedge-shaped pillow). Raising your upper body while recovering from surgery will improve circulation and help keep your breasts in a natural position as they heal.

Because so much downtime is required during recovery from breast augmentation, you’ll definitely need a place in your home to rest during the day. However, it’s best not to make this place your bed. Your bed should be a place for sleeping only. If you rest there to read, watch movies, or scroll around on your phone during the day, it may be difficult when it’s time to fall asleep at night.

FAQ: Breast Augmentation Recovery

How much pain should I expect after breast augmentation?

There will be some breast augmentation side effects after surgery — potentially more if your surgery involves implant placement in a subpectoral or submuscular pocket. Generally, however, most of the pain and soreness will be concentrated in the first few days after the procedure, and from there, you should continue to feel increasingly better. Your surgeon will provide you with pain management options, including prescription pain medications, to make you more comfortable.

When can I return to my normal activities after breast augmentation?

Generally speaking, you’ll need to refrain from any strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting for around four weeks after surgery. Most patients can go back to work sooner than this — usually within one to two weeks at the latest.

Around this time, you should be able to start driving again as well (as long as you’re not taking pain medications). The exact timing will depend on how you’re recovering, however, so always check with your surgeon to determine when you can resume your regular activities.

What is the best bra for after Augmentation

Right after surgery, your surgeon will place you in bandages and a supportive post surgical bra. This will need to be worn around the clock for anywhere from several days to several weeks.

The best bra for after Augmentation will be chosen by your surgeon based on your surgery, body type, and other factors.

Schedule a Consultation for Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgeries in the nation, and it can deliver great results for patients, no matter what your particular goals are. If you’re ready to take the next step toward new breasts, contact Hill Country Plastic Surgery today. Either Dr. Farber or Dr. Shah would be happy to meet with you to discuss your candidacy and options.

See Also BREAST LIFT VS BREAST AUGMENTATION: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE

References

Breast Augmentation Recovery: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/four-tips-for-a-healthy-recovery-after-a-breast-augmentation