When Can I Shower After Breast Augmentation Surgery?
After breast augmentation surgery, the first thing you may want to do is take a shower. You may be concerned about whether or not this is safe to do immediately after your procedure. In fact, there are several conditions that make showering too soon a potentially dangerous decision. That’s why it’s important to know when it’s safe for you to shower after your procedure.
The answer to this question depends on two factors: how long the stitches were in your body and how well they were placed. If you had deep incisions or staples, then it could take six weeks before you can shower again without causing any harm. However, if your incisions were small and/or if the staples were placed correctly without too much pressure being applied at one point during the procedure, then you might be able to shower within 24 hours after surgery.
When Can I Shower After Breast Augmentation Surgery
How you care for your incisions in the days and weeks following your plastic surgery procedure will play a direct role in the way they heal. Keeping incisions dry and clean is essential for proper healing and may help reduce scar visibility following full recovery.
No matter if you have had tummy tuck surgery, breast augmentation, or a facelift, properly caring for your incisions will impact the rate at which you heal – with better care often translating to a shorter recovery period. Proper care will also reduce risks of infection and help ensure optimal comfort in the initial stages of your recovery.
Post-Plastic Surgery Showing Tips
While recovery is unique for each individual, it is generally recommended that showering be avoided for 48 hours after plastic surgery. This allows your incisions time to begin the healing process and helps prevent premature scab removal.
During this time, you can give yourself a sponge bath if you start to feel uncomfortable. Be sure to avoid the incision area entirely and use a soft washcloth and mild soap to avoid irritating your skin.
When you are ready to start showering again, you will want to:
- Avoid hot temperatures. How water can increase risks of inflammation and can irritate incisions during the healing process.
- Keep dressings, drains, and clips dry. Covering dressing, drains, and clips with a plastic bag before showering will help them maintain maximum effectiveness.
- Wash gently. Use a mild soap and keep your shower on a gentle setting. Avoid applying soap directly to the incisions until they are sealed.
- Air dry. Avoid toweling the incision area to prevent reopening the wound.
Showering in the days following plastic surgery should be kept to a minimum. Try to avoid longer showers and make every effort to keep your incisions out of direct contact with water until the wounds are closed. These steps, combined with those above, may help you avoid serious complications and unpleasant results.
Remember, showering is okay during the recovery phase, bathing is not. Like swimming, taking a bath allows incisions to soak and may increase risks of bacterial infection, wound reopening, and unfavorable results.
The type of procedure you have performed, your body’s response to surgery, and other factors unique to you will help inform how rapidly you can resume normal activities. Some patients may be able to take a shower before the 48-hour mark while others may need to wait a bit longer.
When Can I Remove Bandages After Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is often performed with a silicone implant, which is placed under the skin and then filled with saline solution. The procedure takes about an hour and usually involves two incisions: one on the front of your chest, and one on the back. Several days after your procedure, you’ll begin to see swelling in your breasts that will last for several weeks. However, you should never forcefully pull at your wound or stretch it out of shape. Doing so can cause serious complications including infection or even scarring around the area where you’ve had surgery. You should also avoid heavy lifting and activities that require strenuous movement for at least three weeks following surgery.
Once you have recovered from your procedure, your plastic surgeon will typically recommend that you keep any bandages in place for at least seven days following surgery to help prevent infection from developing at the site above your implants.
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When Can I Remove Bandages After Breast Augmentation
Caring for Yourself After Your Breast Implant Surgery
This information will help you care for yourself after your breast implant surgery.
After Your Surgery
- You will have a gauze bandage covering your incision (surgical cut). This bandage will be held in place by your bra or clear tape.
- You may have a Jackson-Pratt® drain (JP drain) in place when you leave the hospital. This is a plastic drain that’s inserted in your chest to drain the fluid from your surgery. The drain is usually removed 1 to 2 weeks after your surgery. Your nurse will teach you how to care for it before you go home.
- Your nurse will give you the resource Caring for Your Jackson-Pratt Drain or you can search for it on mskcc.org/pe.
- You will get a prescription for pain medication and antibiotics.
- If you will be traveling by car, place a small pillow or towel between the seat belt and your reconstructed breast. The skin over your reconstructed breast is often thin and can be scraped easily. This can lead to infection.
At Home
Caring for your chest
- If you have a bandage that’s held in place by your bra, remove it and replace it with new one at least once a day until your follow-up appointment. At your follow-up appointment, your doctor or nurse will tell if you can stop.
- If you have a bandage that’s held in place by a clear plastic bandage, you can remove the bandage 48 hours (2 days) after your surgery.
- To create a natural fold under your breast, your doctor placed sutures (stitches) under your skin that you won’t see. They will dissolve on their own and don’t need to be removed. These sutures may cause you to feel a pinching or pulling sensation and can be painful. If you have any pain, take your pain medication.
For the first 48 hours after your surgery:
- You may have a slight fever. Your temperature could reach 101° F (38.3° C).
- The skin around your reconstructed breast may become pink or red.
These aren’t signs of an infection. They’re signs that your body is adjusting to the implant. Call your doctor if the redness or fever doesn’t get better 48 hours after your surgery or if your temperature gets higher than 101° F (38.3° C).
Showering
- Don’t shower or wet your bandage for the first 48 hours after surgery.
- Talk to your doctor about showering with your JP drain in place.
- Avoid baths, hot tubs, and swimming pools for at least 6 weeks after your surgery.
- Talk with your doctor or nurse before you use deodorant, lotion, or cream anywhere near your incision.
Clothing
- Wear a soft supportive bra for 6 weeks after your surgery, even while sleeping. You may remove your bra when you bathe or shower.
- Don’t wear a bra that has underwire.
Medications
- Your doctor will give you medication to treat your pain as needed.
- Your doctor will give you an antibiotic. Take the antibiotic as it’s prescribed.
Restrictions on physical activity
You can resume most activities right after your surgery, but below are some things you should avoid:
- Don’t do any exercise that will tighten your chest muscles. If you have any questions about this, talk with your doctor or nurse.
- Don’t lift any objects heavier than 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms) for 4 to 6 weeks.
- Check with your doctor or nurse before starting heavy exercises, such as running, jogging, or lifting weights.
When you exercise, wear a soft and supportive bra.
Call Your Doctor or Nurse If You Have:
- A fever of 101° F (38.3° C) or higher
- Redness, warmth, or increased pain or swelling in your breast area
- Shaking chills
- Trouble breathing
- Drainage or oozing from your incision