How Long is Recovery from Breast Augmentation

Recovery from Breast Augmentation: Many women want to increase the size of their breasts with breast augmentation. However, it’s a significant procedure that requires plenty of recovery time. The good news is if you plan, your recovery will go well, and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying the benefits of your enhanced profile.

How long is recovery from breast augmentation? The first thing to remember is every patient is different, so your recovery time could be different than someone else’s. Also important is the size of the implant, type, placement, and the skill of your surgeon.

Below are more details about breast augmentation recovery.

Recovery from Breast Augmentation Overview

As noted above, everyone’s body is different. Therefore, learn about breast augmentation recovery tips to understand what to do before the procedure and what you do after it.

However, we can say that most patients fully recover from breast augmentation after six to eight weeks. This means they can go back to work and resume strenuous physical activities.

Your plastic surgeon will be familiar with your procedure and anatomy and offer you more specifics about how long your recovery will be. The surgeon also will tell you how long to wait until you take a shower; patients usually should wait two or three days after the procedure to reduce the chance of infection.

Most patients who recover without major complications usually follow a similar path. Below is a general timeline for breast augmentation recovery.

Immediately After Surgery

After you wake up from the procedure, you will be tired and sore. Some patients say it feels a bit like a mild hangover. But as the hours pass, the anesthesia effects will fade, and you will probably want to have something to eat and drink.

Keep in mind that you will need someone to drive you home from the surgical center, and it’s essential to have someone stay with you overnight.

Three To Five Days After Surgery

Most patients experience the most discomfort during this period. You will probably feel moderate pain and tightness in the chest and incision sites. Take the prescription pain medication your surgeon prescribed, and you should be comfortable.

It’s wise to take your pain medication simultaneously every day so you don’t end up in pain and waiting for the new dose to kick in. Also, you should eat protein or a healthy carbohydrate with the medication, so you don’t get nauseated.

Some patients also like to take a stool softener with each pain pill to avoid constipation.

It’s normal to have minor bleeding from the incisions. But if you see a lot of blood coming from the incisions, call your surgeon.

Moderate swelling and bruising in the breasts are expected at this stage. The breast implants also will be higher on the chest than usual, but they will drop to their normal position after one or two months.

Recovery from Breast Augmentation: One Week

After a week, you can probably manage your pain with over-the-counter medicine. Your pain should begin to subside at this point. Then, if your surgeon says it’s okay, you can start some light physical exercise.

But you shouldn’t push yourself too hard because it could stress your body and incisions. Remember, you are recovering from major surgery, so it’s vital to take it easy.

Recovery from Breast Augmentation: One Month

You may still have swelling and soreness in the breasts, but it should be manageable. You should be able to go for walks and be back at work. But if you have a physical job, you could need another week or two of rest.

You shouldn’t do upper body workouts or lift heavy objects yet. Instead, talk to your surgeon about your progress and whether you are ready to go back to work and be more active.

Recovery from Breast Augmentation: Two Months

After two months, most patients are fully recovered from breast augmentation or a breast lift. However, the implants may still feel firm; they can take up to a year to soften and feel like normal breast tissue. The recovery from breast augmentation with fat transfer is a little bit faster because you are using fat from your own body.

Complications To Watch For

If your surgery is done by a board-certified plastic surgeon, you should have no significant problems during recovery from breast augmentation. But there are a few potential complications to be aware of.

Watch for excessive bleeding from your incisions and call your surgeon immediately if you notice anything unusual. For example, too much swelling in one breast may be internal bleeding that needs immediate medical attention.

Some soreness in the breasts is normal, but you shouldn’t ever be in severe pain. If you have a fever, pain in the incisions, and aches and pains, you could have an infection. Watch for these signs and call your doctor if you have questions.

But remember that most patients have excellent results with their breast augmentation. After you recover, you’ll have an improved silhouette and more self-confidence, so talk to your surgeon today about breast augmentation.

You also may want to talk to your surgeon about other procedures. Having more than one procedure at a time is more time and cost-effective. Popular options include a tummy tuck, liposuction, and a thigh lift.

Request A Breast Augmentation Consultation

Interested in learning about recovery from breast augmentation? Dr. Scott J Farber or Dr. Amita Shah of Hill Country Plastic Surgery can help. They will consult with you about your desire for breast augmentation. Your surgeon will also go over the options, goals, and more to determine if breast augmentation is a good fit for your needs and goals.

References

How Long Is The Recovery From Breast Augmentation? (2020). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/how-long-is-the-recovery-for-a-breast-augmentation