Breast Augmentation: Part 2—Your Recovery Guide
Posted December 23, 2019 in Breast Augmentation
3 Min Read
We hope you enjoyed our previous blog on the 6 things to do when preparing for breast augmentation. Now, you’ll learn about the 6 things to do while recovering from breast surgery.
Resting comfortably at home will speed your breast augmentation recovery.
While the recovery for breast augmentation is usually well-managed, there will still be swelling, bruising, and soreness that will last for several days and weeks.
And even though you are anxious to move on with your newly augmented breasts, your results will not show overnight.
To improve the comfort of your recovery, you should follow this breast augmentation recovery guide.
1. Get Plenty of Rest
You will be tired, groggy, and sore in the hours and days following your breast augmentation.
The best practice that you can do for yourself and the quality of your results is to rest comfortably at home. It would be best if you did not overexert yourself. Instead, take a few days to catch up on some duly deserved TLC and rest.
You can return to your regular routines in a few weeks, so take the initial time for yourself.
2. Alleviate Your Discomfort
You will experience some discomfort after your breast augmentation that stems from the incisions, bruising, and swelling. You will be given a prescription for pain medication that can be taken during the initial days of your recovery. Following that—or instead of that—TYLENOL® can be taken to alleviate any additional discomfort.
Some patients prefer to take extra-strength or regular-strength TYLENOL® from the beginning to avoid the use of prescription medication.
3. Support Your Breasts
Your breasts may be wrapped in a supportive compression garment that will reduce swelling, ensure the placement of the healing implants, and promote comfort. This garment will be worn around the clock for several days or weeks before you will be cleared to switch to a supportive bra. An elastic band may also be used to control the positioning of the implants right after surgery.
A “normal” underwire bra should not be worn for one month as it does not provide adequate support, and the wires may irritate the healing incisions.
4. Slowly Ease Into Exercise
Your body needs time to rest and restore itself.
You must take at least one to two weeks of all normal activities, and at least four to six weeks off of any strenuous exercise. Strenuous exercise means activities like running, yoga, and lifting weights.
You should not lift, push, or pull anything over 10 pounds for at least four weeks. When you do return to exercise, you should work your body back into slowly to prevent any injury or unnecessary strain.
While you do not want to overexert yourself, taking leisurely walks and performing light stretches like arm circles or shoulder rolls are essential for promoting and speeding recovery.
5. Maintain a Healthy Diet
A nutritious diet—one that is full of protein, vitamins, and antioxidants—will help to reduce inflammation and promote tissue regeneration. This is essential to speeding your recovery period and ensure that you are on the right track.
Keeping yourself hydrated with water, herbal tea, and broth will also help your body recover faster.
6. Follow Up With Your Surgeon
Your surgeon will schedule follow-up appointments to be sure that your incisions and implants are healing well. This is an important part of the recovery process and should not be avoided.
Following this appointment, it will be up to you to monitor and maintain the health of your implants. Women with silicone implants should have an MRI or ultrasound performed on their breasts every few years to be sure that they are not experiencing any unwanted complications like a rupture.
Find Out More
If you are interested in learning more about breast enhancement surgery and would like to set up a consultation with Dr. Chin, contact our Fresno, California, office by calling (559) 435-9646 or by filling out our online contact form.