I am so happy with my new breast lift and augmentation! I’m still on the mend, but I have been feeling great for the most part.
You can check out my before photos here: [link]
I’ve been back at work for about a week now and it’s going well. I’m able to do everything I need to do, but it’s just hard to sit in a chair all day long. My butt hurts from sitting so much! It’s so much more comfortable when I stand up or lie down on my stomach, which is why I’m getting up every hour or two now (instead of every two hours).
The pain has been manageable though. I don’t even take any pain medication because the pain isn’t that bad. If anything, I feel like it’s more uncomfortable than anything else because my nipples are super sensitive right now and they get irritated when anything touches them—even clothes rubbing against them feels weird! But other than that, it hasn’t really bothered me too much.
I do have some scars though—they’re red and raised right now and they’re still healing (the scars will fade over time). The scar on my right nipple
1 week after breast augmentation
What to Expect One Week after Breast Augmentation
What to Expect One Week after Breast Augmentation
The healing process from breast augmentation surgery can take weeks until full recovery. At Premier Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, we focus on educating our patients about each step of their procedure and recovery. We want to ensure that our patients’ expectations and goals are met and that their healing process is smooth.
Breast augmentation surgery is an outpatient procedure where patients return to the comfort of their home to heal. During the first week of recovery, pain and swelling is expected. Some bruising is common. However, after a week of healing from the breast augmentation procedure, patients may still feel some soreness and discomfort. It is normal for the swelling and soreness to last for several weeks. However, if the gradually fading soreness becomes a burning sensation, medical care may be needed. (A.D.A.M., American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Mayo Clinic, U.S. National Library of Medicine)
After almost a week of healing time, the new contours from the breast augmentation will be visible, as well as the scars at the incision sites. The scars will gradually fade, but this process could take time and some scars may never completely disappear. Care should continue to be taken when patients cleanse the incision areas. If incisions begin to appear redder instead of fading, patients should seek medical care as an infection may have developed.
Patients should continue to wear a support bra for a few weeks after their breast augmentation surgery for extra support. After direction from the doctor, patients will need to begin massaging their breasts to prevent the hardening of the capsules around the implants. The implants will take time to settle into their final position. Gradually, lifting objects and light activity may begin after clearance from the doctor. Typically, patients may return to work after the first week of recovery, so long as lifting and strenuous activity is avoided. (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Mayo Clinic, U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Our Pittsburgh plastic surgeon Dr. Brian V. Heil consults with every patient to discuss the benefits and risks of a breast augmentation procedure. Dr. Heil seeks to ensure our patients undergo their breast augmentation surgery fully informed and educated about the process. Should you desire to discuss the aspects of a breast augmentation procedure with our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian V. Heil to determine if breast augmentation is right for you,
For many women, breast augmentation is an exciting prospect. This procedure allows you to regain your pre-pregnancy figure or feel more confident and proportionate in swimwear and clothing. As you consider breast augmentation, you have every reason to feel optimistic.
With that said, it is also very natural to have some reservations regarding your recovery after surgery. Prospective patients naturally want to know how much discomfort they will have, how long it will be before they feel normal, what kind of scars they can anticipate, and more.
These are all questions that should be covered during your breast augmentation consultation. Your plastic surgeon will be able to provide you with a more personalized set of expectations. In the meantime, we have put together this overview to provide a general sense of what to expect and how to prepare for your breast augmentation surgery.
What to Do Before Your Surgery
Before you have your breast augmentation surgery, there are several steps you should take to ensure that you are fully prepared for the procedure and for the recovery process. These steps can help your recovery go much more smoothly.
Read All Instructions Provided by Your Surgeon
Your plastic surgeon will provide you with plenty of written information about postoperative care, and about general expectations, you should have following your surgery. Take the time to read through all of this is well before the surgery itself, ensuring that you have plenty of time to ask follow-up questions and get clarification as needed.
Fill Your Prescriptions
You will need prescription medications to take before and after surgery including a pain management prescription as well as an antibiotic, and other medications. Be sure to pick up your prescriptions well in advance of surgery.
Your plastic surgeon may offer further guidelines for you to abstain from certain medications, supplements, and herbs especially those that can cause bleeding.
Stop Smoking and Vaping
Among the many adverse effects of nicotine is that it can impede your body’s ability to heal, increase your risk of complications such as infection, and worsen the appearance of your scars. If you smoke or vape, make sure you cease all nicotine products for at least 6 to 12 weeks before and after your procedure.
Arrange For a Support Person
You are going to need someone who can drive you home following the surgery and stay with you for the first 24 hours. But really, it is best to have a spouse, friend, or relative who can help out for the first day or two, helping you with meal prep, child care, and household maintenance. Remember that you are going to have limited energy and mobility and will appreciate the extra help. Be sure your support person has access to your written post-op instructions from the surgeon.
Go Shopping
After surgery, you will not be able to run a lot of errands. Make sure you stock up on healthy foods and snacks, water, and Tylenol. (This is the safest option with regard to over-the-counter pain management.)
Recovering from Breast Augmentation: Important Guidelines
In preparing for surgery and recovery, patients can be overwhelmed by all the information given to digest. In the following checklist, we have distilled some of the most important tips and guidelines for you to know in the immediate aftermath of your breast augmentation procedure.
- Following your surgery, you are going to feel very fatigued. You should not plan on doing anything but resting for your first week or so of recovery.
- For the first two or three days, it is crucial that you avoid any activities that could elevate your blood pressure. This can cause bleeding which may necessitate further surgery.
- It bears repeating: You need someone staying with you for at least the first 24 hours, and ideally the next day or two if you have young children, toddlers, or infants. Your support person can help around the house, but also keep an eye open for any unexpected complications.
- You may feel tightness, soreness, or pain in your chest for several days. This is why you will have medication options, both over-the-counter and prescription.
- You cannot shower for the first 24 hours. And, you will want to avoid any still water, such as bathtubs and swimming pools, for at least 2 to 6 weeks.
- Do not plan on traveling for the first week or two.
- Be alert to the common signs of infection: Warmth, redness, and fever. If you exhibit any of these symptoms, call your plastic surgeon’s office ASAP.
- For the first 6 weeks, you will need to wear either a post-surgical bra or other non-underwire bras at all times.
- Avoid bending over, reaching up or across your body, and do not lift anything that weighs more than 5 pounds.
- Due to the medication and anesthesia in your system, you may have constipation for your first few days of recovery. Be prepared for this with Colace or other over-the-counter constipation medications.
- Do not sleep on your stomach. Ideally, you should lie on your back with your head slightly elevated.
By sticking to these basic tips and guidelines, you will be well on your way to a smooth, fast, and safe recovery.
Breast Augmentation Recovery: Timeline
One of the most common questions that patients ask before breast augmentation is how long is it going to take for them to feel fully recovered.
There is no simple answer to this question as all patients are different. Your recovery time can vary depending on the type of implant and the type of incision, as well as your healing progress. Adherence to your surgeon’s post-op instructions will help you to recover more quickly.
For some patients, it takes just a few days to a week before they are able to resume most of their daily non-strenuous household activities. For others, it may take more time. Even if you have a perfect recovery, you should wait at least 3 to 6 weeks before returning to the gym or engaging in any strenuous exercise, and always check with your surgeon when in doubt.
With that said, here is what you can expect in terms of a general timeline.
The First 24 Hours
Breast implant surgery will usually take less than one hour to complete. After surgery you will be taken to a recovery room, where your condition will be monitored for another hour then you will be cleared to head home with a caregiver.
When you first wake up, you will likely feel some pain and soreness in your chest. Your movement will be limited, and you may also have some minor dizziness and fatigue.
Once you get home, you are just going to want to rest. Follow your doctor’s orders with regard to painkiller use.
The First 48 Hours
You will likely need pain medication for the first 2 or 3 days. Hang in there and remind yourself that this is temporary. You will soon begin to feel quite a bit more normal.
You may experience varying levels of pain, swelling, and bruising. Use your pain medication as directed by your surgeon, and make sure you stay consistent with your antibiotic use.
One thing to keep in mind: Some patients develop a very mild fever during the first couple of days. This is not necessarily a sign of infection. If the fever worsens or persists, let your surgeon’s office know.
Do not shower until cleared by your surgeon. Remember to avoid still water, including baths and swimming pools.
The First Week
For the first 4 to 7 days, you should stay home from work and continue resting as much as possible. Avoid strenuous activity of any kind. By the end of the first week, you should notice your energy coming back to you and your pain and soreness lessening quite a bit.
Another important note about the first week is that your incision will still be covered with gauze bandages and/or surgical tape. Follow your surgeon’s instructions with regard to changing and checking your dressings.
Your implants may appear to be too high, especially if placed under the muscle. This is normal and will take weeks to months to settle into the correct position.
what to expect after breast augmentation day by day
Small or large, round or narrow, side set, teardrop or asymmetrical, breasts come in any number of shapes and sizes. But for those who aren’t happy with the breasts they were naturally dealt, breast augmentation has long offered an opportunity to change them.
As one of the most consistently popular cosmetic procedures of recent decades, breast augmentation has come a long way since the experimental surgeries of the early 20th century and since the advent of breast implants in 1961. The operation is among the most recognizable examples of plastic surgery and has come to play a pivotal role in shaping the cultural understanding of the space for many years. Yet, even as roughly 200,000 Americans underwent breast augmentation in 2020 alone, confusion persists around its recovery process, and many patients remain unsure of what to expect after the procedure.
How long does recovery take following breast augmentation?
While recovery time can greatly differ depending on the specifics of your procedure, your health, and after-care, there is a general timeline that often rings true for breast augmentation.
“Depending on the technique used, recovery can be three weeks (with subglandular augmentation, my preference) or three months (with submuscular technique, which is much more painful and involves cutting your pectoralis major muscles and stretching them over an implant),” explains Karen Horton, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco and ASPS member.
Is there anything you should avoid before surgery to minimize recovery time?
Contrary to popular belief, recovery actually starts before you even have your breast augmentation. Although patients aren’t at all limited in their physical activity in the days and weeks leading up to the surgery, there are certain medications and supplements that should be avoided.
“The main offenders for increasing bleeding and bruising with surgery are anti-inflammatories,” Dr. Horton says, referring to aspirin, ibuprofen, and the like. There are also a number of vitamins and supplements, like vitamin E, fish oil, ginkgo biloba, and garlic, that you should avoid for two weeks before (and after) surgery. “In concentrated forms, they can increase bleeding in some studies.”
What is the first week of recovery like?
As with any surgery, breast augmentation carries different points of recovery in the days, weeks, and months that follow. Immediately following the operation, rest and icing will be top priority.
“Ice is your best friend in terms of keeping swelling down and helping to control the pain, and that’s the process I do with my patients now,” says Anureet Bajaj, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and an ASPS member.
Drains can significantly speed up recovery time, as they remove wound fluid rather than forcing the body to absorb it, but in most breast augmentation surgeries, they are not needed.
“After a breast augmentation, most women don’t have any drains, and the incisions are all healed,” says Dr. Bajaj. “So, theoretically, there shouldn’t be a whole lot to deal with.” The one thing that may come up, however, is itchiness around the incisions during the first 24 to 48 hours.
And although it’s natural to think of bedrest as necessary in the first few days following surgery, Dr. Bajaj says this is not actually the best course of action after breast augmentation.
“I think the conception of being bed-ridden or on bed rest can be misleading because you really want to be up and about and walking,” she notes. “It makes you feel better because it keeps the blood moving. The more sedentary and stiffer you are, the more you almost freeze up, and the more painful it is.”
It may sound ambitious, but according to Dr. Bajaj, it should only take between three to five days to get past this first stage of recovery.
“Typically, with breast augmentation, most people should be able to glide within three to five days. And if you have a desk job, you should be able to go back to work within three to five days,” she says. “So, if things are done appropriately, it’s very reasonable to be able to do that.”
To be on the safe side, though, it may be wise to plan for up to a week.
“I recommend one week off of work for subglandular augmentation and longer if the muscles were operated on (i.e. revision surgery) or if the patient has a physically demanding job (firefighter, police officer, nurse, surgeon),” Dr. Horton advises.
How much pain can you expect?
The pain experienced after breast augmentation is subjective and will depend on a variety of factors, but it can be helpful to have a rough idea of what to expect.
“From what I remember, the pain and discomfort wasn’t like a sharp pain,” Dr. Bajaj recalls of her own breast augmentation. “I remember feeling like I had done 150 pushups and that my chest was just really sore. To me, it felt like muscle soreness after the biggest workout of your life, and that’s how I describe it to my patients.” She warns her patients that they will feel especially sore the morning after the operation and that when they first wake up, they aren’t going to want to move.
Many women who’ve undergone breast augmentation also report feeling some muscle soreness whenever they move or raise their arms in the days after surgery. “Your pectoralis is connected to your humorous, so any time you move your arm, you may feel some soreness in your chest,” says Dr. Bajaj. You also may experience a burning sensation around incisions in the immediate aftermath, but this should subside fairly quickly.