If you’ve decided to get a breast augmentation, you’re probably very excited about the procedure, as you should be! Most women who have their breasts enlarged report a high level of satisfaction, and would definitely recommend it to their friends.
Before you have your surgery, it’s important to do your research so you know what to expect after you go home. You’ll want to know how long recovery will be, what kinds of things you need to take care of in advance, and how much help you’ll need at home.
How Long Will It Take to Recover?
For starters, we want to point out that every woman’s body is unique, so your recovery may be slightly shorter or longer than someone else’s recovery. However, it’s common knowledge among plastic surgeons that it takes about six to eight weeks for women to fully recover after a breast augmentation.
After the operation, you will be groggy and sore, but you should be able to go home in about an hour after the anesthesia wears off. Please keep in mind that you will need a friend or family member to drive you home; we do not recommend calling an Uber or Lyft driver. It should be someone who can be there to help and support you.
The First Week Post-Surgery
You can expect the first week to be the most uncomfortable. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medication, and they will most likely recommend that you pick it up the day before the surgery so you have it on hand and ready. After the first few days, you should be able to switch to over-the-counter pain relievers. If you have a desk job, you should be able to return to it a week after the surgery.
After the First Week
After the first week, you’ll be encouraged to slowly easy back into your normal activities and light exercise, like walking. By now, the discomfort should have subsided a lot. You will be advised to refrain from weight lifting and strenuous activities like jogging, CrossFit, and exercise classes until you are fully recovered.
Note: If you happen to have a labor-intensive job, such as scuba diving instructor, construction, professional dancing, etc., you will be advised to wait three weeks before returning to work.
While you’ll come far by the sixth week after the surgery, you’ll come even farther within two months of surgery. By then, you should have made a full recovery and you should be cleared by your doctor to resume all normal activities.
Next: When Should I Start Massaging After Breast Augmentation?
Is breast augmentation right for you? To learn more, contact our office to meet with our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Yuly Gorodisky!