Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed at our office and by plastic surgeons all over the world. Our patients often choose to have a breast augmentation after they are done having children, when they want larger, fuller breasts (even if they don’t have children), or because they’ve lost a lot of weight and they want to restore the fullness in their breasts.
Regardless of a woman’s “reason” to have a breast augmentation, it’s important that she understands how long the recovery period is before she schedules her surgery, and why she needs to hold off on strenuous exercise.
By knowing what to expect recovery-wise, our patients can take time off work accordingly, have a close friend or family member help take care of them immediately following surgery, and if they have young children, they can ensure their needs are cared for as they recover at home.
What You Need to Know About Recovery
You may have searched out “breast augmentation recovery period” on Google and came back with all kinds of answers ranging from 24 hours to 6 or even 8 weeks. Some plastic surgeons may say you can go out to dinner that night, while others will say that you should be feeling pretty good around two weeks after surgery. So, which timeline is right? Can you have your surgery performed on Friday and be back at work the following Monday? And, when can you resume your normal exercise routine, like running or weightlifting?
Every patient is unique and breast augmentation recovery periods vary from patient to patient. The recovery period also depends on the size of the implants and whether they are placed above or below the muscle. To err on the side of caution, we can safely say that on average, a full recovery takes about six weeks, sometimes longer, but many patients feel really good about one to two weeks after surgery.
Once you have a breast augmentation surgery, your breasts will be very sore and swollen for about a week. To maximize results, it’s very important to limit physical activity, especially strenuous exercises for about three weeks following surgery, but by week six, you should be able to resume all normal activities. Please bear in mind that larger implants and implants placed under the muscle may require more time to heal.
Note: We instruct patients not to do any heavy lifting for three weeks after surgery in order to prevent bleeding, tearing, or hematoma. To combat weight gain post-surgery, patients will often resume light exercise (with Dr. Gorodisky’s approval) when they feel up to it, such as walking, and they’ll use portion control to maintain a healthy weight.
Next: Should I Consider Breast Lift Surgery?
To explore breast augmentation further and to learn more about this exciting procedure, contact our office to meet with Dr. Yuly Gorodisky.