Welcome to my blog!
I’m Dr. [name] and I’m a board-certified plastic surgeon in [city], [state]. I specialize in breast augmentation, as well as liposuction, tummy tucks and other cosmetic procedures.
Today’s post is all about my two-week post op visit with my patient Missy [name]. She came in for a breast augmentation procedure and wanted to check in after her surgery.
2 week post op breast augmentation
2 weeks post op breast augmentation You can resume some light physical activity, with heavy lifting and intense cardio still being off limits. At this point the pain you feel will be milder, but it won’t be gone completely – you will continue to see a decrease in swelling, bruising, discomfort and sensitivity.
Don’t Wear an Underwire Bra
You’ll need to wear a surgical or sports bra after surgery for three to four weeks. The support provided by these garments can keep your breasts in place and help you sleep more comfortably. An underwire bra, on the other hand, can irritate your incisions and prevent implants from properly settling.
With this in mind, you should also delay shopping for new undergarments. You might be tempted to invest in a few lush bras, but you won’t know your new cup size until your breasts ease into their final, more natural position. We recommend that you simply rest and enjoy taking some time for yourself. You’ll have plenty of time to shop for new bras after you’ve recovered.
Don’t Sleep On Your Stomach or Side
The position in which you sleep can greatly impact the appearance of your breast augmentation. This is why it’s crucial you sleep on your back for a short time after surgery. Your body should also be elevated, particularly while you sleep. This enhances circulation, reduces fluid buildup, and keeps the breasts in a more natural position during healing.
Sleeping while you’re elevated can also assist with mobility. You need some upper body strength to get out of bed. But after surgery, we strongly recommend you not use your arm or chest muscles (more on this in a moment). Sleeping upright can keep you from needing these muscles, and many patients sleep in recliners or against a stack of pillows to help them stay in the proper position.
Maximize Your Surgery Results
Sleeping on your stomach or side can apply pressure to your implants and incisions during the recovery process. Rest assured you can return to your normal sleep habits soon enough. In fact, you’ll likely be cleared to return to side sleeping while wearing a supportive bra within just two weeks. Sleeping on your stomach, however, is off the table until a member of our staff gives the go-ahead.
Don’t Take Aspirin
Unless your medical doctor has suggested otherwise, it’s generally not a good idea to take aspirin during your breast augmentation recovery. Aspirin disrupts the normal aggregation of platelets, which can lead to prolonged or abnormal bleeding after your procedure. Additional reasons to skip aspirin as you recover include:
- Anemia
- Potential interactions with prescription medicines
If you were advised by a doctor to take aspirin every day for your heart, you’ll need medical clearance to stop this regimen before surgery. You should never stop prescribed aspirin therapy without your doctor’s guidance. Doing so may increase your risk for a cardiovascular event.
Don’t Take Medications Unless Prescribed
The first two weeks of your recovery are generally the most important. It is for this reason that you must be cautious with the medications you take. The best rule of thumb is incredibly simple: only take those medications prescribed by our office or your doctor. This protocol ensures you don’t take any medications that might interfere with your healing.
Don’t Shower
We know what you’re thinking: showering is a part of good hygiene. But for at least 48 hours, you must avoid this common practice. Incisions need about two days to completely close. Getting incisions wet too soon after surgery can cause them to re-open, interfere with the healing process, and even lead to infections. Once you’re outside of the 48-hour window, you can gently wash your breasts – but don’t scrub or rub the treated areas.
Don’t Swim
Getting into a pool, lake, or ocean can expose your incisions to bacteria, meaning you may be vulnerable to infection. We therefore recommend you resist swimming for a bit and simply relax poolside or walk along the beach. You should likewise avoid jacuzzies and hot tubs to further protect your incisions.
Don’t Sit in the Sun
As you’re outside enjoying nature, you should not expose yourself to the sun. Ultraviolet rays can, again, interfere with the way your incisions heal. Even after you receive clearance to go swimming, you should use caution in the sun. The same is true for tanning beds. Avoid them until we give the necessary approval. Or, better yet, make a conscious decision to stay out of the sun and tanning beds from this point forward.
Don’t Engage in Strenuous Activities
This recommendation is important enough that we’ll likely repeat it a few times. All strenuous activities, especially exercise, must be avoided for about a month. You can and should go walking during this time to encourage strong blood flow throughout your body. But other exercises are off the table.
We’ll likely clear you to engage in lower body exercises after your first month of healing. Then, gradually, you can start to again incorporate upper body exercises.
Don’t Lift Heavy Objects
Most surgeries require that you not lift heavy objects for a while. Breast augmentation is no exception. After your procedure, you won’t be able to carry groceries, pets, or even your child for at least a few weeks. This promotes rapid, healthy healing and beautiful results.
As long as you’re watching what you lift, it’s also important you not raise your arms above your head. This means no reaching for objects or lifting your arms to get into a shirt. With this in mind, you should plan to wear button- or zip-up shirts for a brief time.
Don’t Drink Alcohol
A small amount of alcohol is, for most people, absolutely fine. But you can hasten your recovery by abstaining for a couple of weeks. Alcohol is known to inhibit healing by:
- Impeding the immune system
- Contributing to dehydration
- Increasing the risk of bleeding
Don’t Get Steamy in the Bedroom
It’s best to delay intercourse for a brief time after surgery. You and your partner may want to try, but we recommend you wait. If you do decide to be intimate, you need to wear a sports or surgery bra and avoid placing pressure on your breasts.
Don’t Eat the Wrong Foods
A diet low in protein and vitamin C can put you at greater risk for post-operative complications. Your body needs these nutrients to heal, and vitamin C is crucial to collagen formation. You should therefore choose wholesome foods during your recovery like:
- Leafy greens like kale and spinach
- Red and yellow peppers
- Poultry
- Eggs
- Greek yogurt
- Tomatoes
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Seafood
If you cannot enjoy a diet rich in these nutrients for health reasons, such as digestive issues, it’s important you speak to our office. We can likely recommend dietary supplements that will provide the nutrition you need without compromising your well-being.
Don’t Neglect Your Rest
We’ve mentioned multiple times that your body needs to rest after breast augmentation. The exact amount of time you need to heal will depend on your body, but most women can safely return to work after about one week.
The time you are at home should be spent relaxing. This means napping when you need to and enjoying plenty of downtime. You’ll probably feel more like your old self after just a few days, but we urge you to continue resting. Your body will thank you by healing more quickly.
one week post op breast augmentation pictures
2 Week Plastic Surgery Update with Before & After Pictures
2 Week Plastic Surgery Update with Before & After Pictures
Time flies when you’re having fun. It’s now been two weeks since I had my breast augmentation surgery!
I think recovering from my first surgery is a bit like childbirth. The more time passes, the less you remember about the pain and discomfort and just enjoy the outcome.
For some reason even with the experience still fresh, I’m forgetting a lot quicker this time around. But I don’t just want to share my thoughts on the post op experience.
When I was researching the procedure, before and after breast augmentation pictures is what I wanted to see. Plastic surgeons are proud to show their before and after pictures, but I want to show how things look like in the early stages and how much better my clothes fit.
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Last week when I shared my breast augmentation story, I hadn’t yet gone to my one week follow up appointment at Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. While at the appointment, Dr. Craven examined my incisions which were healing nicely with only a few traces of a scab left.
He gave a demonstration on how I was to perform my new breast implant massage routine. Something that I’ll be doing a minimum of three times a day for six months. And we discussed my compression strap.
For the week following surgery, I had to sport a not-so attractive compression strap. At all times, except while showering.
The strap was serving a purpose in pushing the implants down and speeding along things. But as the name suggests this device is not meant for comfort.
And compression and swelling don’t often play well together. This made things uncomfortable at times. Fortunately, at my one week appointment Dr. Craven threw my strap away!
2 Week Plastic Surgery Follow Up Appointment
Today has been two weeks since my breast augmentation and while I wasn’t supposed to have been seen until my two month follow up, I had to return to the office again. I’m choosing to blame it on the medications I was on at my one week follow up, but somehow I convinced myself I didn’t completely grasp the breast implant massage techniques that were demonstrated for me.