Before we get started, let’s go over the purpose of muscle relaxers. A muscle relaxant is a medication that makes your muscles less tense and spastic, which in turn can help decrease pain. After any type of surgery, including breast augmentation, your body may experience some tightness or spasms in the muscles that were used during surgery. Muscle relaxers can help alleviate this tightness by relaxing those muscles and allowing them to rest more easily.
You can typically take muscle relaxers for up to six weeks after having surgery. However, many surgeons recommend taking them for a shorter time period—especially if it’s possible that you won’t need them at all during this time period. Some surgeons even advise against taking these medications at all! If you don’t need them, they could do more harm than good by making your body feel groggy instead of relaxed and comfortable.
There are a lot of things to consider when you’re getting breast implants. One of the most important is how long you need to take muscle relaxers after surgery.
It can be hard to know how long to take muscle relaxers after breast augmentation. But, here are some basic guidelines that should help you make an informed decision about your post-surgery medication plan:
In this article we will discuss about breast augmentation recovery week by week and do muscle relaxers help after breast augmentation
Medications and Diet: All of the medications you have been prescribed are very important. Please read all the directions below carefully, and call us if you have any questions. REMEMBER TO EAT BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR MEDICATION.
CELEBREX (200mg)– Take one tablet by mouth every 12 hours for the first 72 hours and then continue as needed.
GABAPENTIN (100mg)- Take one tablet by mouth every 12 hours for the first 72 hours only.
ULTRACET If prescribed (37.5 mg TRAMADOL/ 325mg ACETOMINOPHEN) -Take 1-2 tabs every 4-6 hours as needed for pain. When you have finished the Ultracet or you don’t need it anymore, you can take Tylenol instead. You can start taking Tylenol 6 hours after your last dose of Ultracet.
This is your pain medication that is taken as needed only for pain. You should try to cut back on your pain medication three days after surgery to avoid nausea and constipation. Please note that per DEA regulations, we are unable to refill this prescription. Please call us if you are experiencing more pain than is covered by the medications provided. You may need to get additional pain medication from your primary care provider. You should try to wean off the Ultracet to acetaminophen alone (Tylenol) as soon as possible after the surgery.
ZOFRAN (Ondansetron 8mg)– Place one tablet under the tongue on the day of surgery and then used as needed every 8 hours after surgery if you have nausea
This is a very potent anti-nausea medication that will prevent nausea after your surgery. It is placed under the tongue and dissolves immediately.
FLEXERIL (Cyclobenzaprine 10mg)-Take one tablet by mouth every 8 hours as needed for muscle spasms. You should take this medication every 8 hours after surgery for the first two days, then as needed, and at night before you go to bed.
MILK OF MAGNESIA (OTC LAXATIVE)-12 OZ bottle- Take 1 tablespoon in one dose to help relieve constipation as needed. The maximum dose is 4 Tablespoons in 24 Hours.
You can stop it once your bowel habits return to normal.
BOIRON PELLETS (Arnica Montana – herbal medication used for swelling) – Dissolve 5 pellets in the mouth 3 times a day for 5 days. Use until finished.
Activity: You should refrain from high impact activity and limit your day to day activities to support your healing. Have someone help you to go to the bathroom and take a shower. For the first week you should stay at home as much as possible and only go out for emergencies. Don’t drive for the first few days, if it hurts or if you are on pain medication or taking the muscle relaxant. Over-activity can cause bleeding, so be very careful. You should not be cooking, cleaning, running errands, shopping, or picking up kids.
Normal things: It is NORMAL for the implants to be high up, have un-even size, position or swelling, have sloshing noises, be painful, and be hard for the first few weeks after surgery. Please be patient with them. Depression and mood swings are common, too. Remind yourself that everything will be better soon! Do not be concerned with the size, position or shape of your implants for the first couple of weeks—do not make any judgments about them until they have had a chance to settle for at least a month.
Appointment: PLEASE REMEMBER your one-week appointment. This is a very important appointment to keep. We will give you further instructions at this time.
Breast Augmentation Recovery Week By Week
It can be helpful to know what to expect after your procedure, but it can be difficult to find specific information about the weeks and months after breast augmentation. The more you know about your recovery schedule, the more you can plan accordingly.
Take a look at our healing progression timeline with breast augmentation recovery photos showing you a typical breast augmentation healing process.
Below you will find more information about what can typically be expected following breast augmentation surgery.
1 Day After Surgery
- Implants look high and compressed
- Breasts are very firm and tight
- Nipples will most likely appear very low and may point downward
- There will be very little side rounding or bottom breast rounding
- This is typically the phase where breasts look like pecs. This means they are squared at the top, don’t show much outward projection, and have little to no fullness at the bottom
- Breastbone is swollen
- Breasts have mild to moderate bruising
- Necessary to wear a non-support athletic bra 24/7, except while showering
- Dr. Cruise will prescribe pain medication to reduce discomfort during this time
1 week after breast augmentation
- Implants will still be high and compressed, but may have a little more projection
- Breast tissue will still be firm and tight
- Nipples will still appear low
- Breasts will have slightly more bottom rounding and still no side rounding
- Swelling on the breastbone should be mild or nonexistent
- Bruising will be mild or nonexistent
- Breasts will still resemble pecs more than natural breasts
- You can begin sleeping flat on your back but not on your sides yet
- You may start feeling an itching or burning sensation— this is normal
- You may begin walking (even brisk walks) as early as a couple of days after surgery. Be sure to monitor for increased pain and swelling. If this happens, give yourself more time to heal and try again in a few days or so.
2-3 weeks after breast augmentation
- Implants will still be high, but will start to become less compressed
- Breasts are still firm, but not quite as tight
- Natural scar tissue has almost fully formed around the capsule
- Nipples may still be low, but will start to elevate upwards
- Bottom rounding is becoming more pronounced, but the breasts are still much more rounded at the top
- Very little side rounding, if any yet
- Bruising is typically gone
- You may notice more shooting pains and itching
- You may notice one breast dropping faster than the other breast. Asymmetry issues may be obvious, but this is normal
- Your implants may begin dropping at this point, but this varies by patient
- You will start being evaluated for bra management
- You may begin additional physical activity. Biking, walking, and lower body workouts are acceptable, but without bouncing. Stop if your normal activities become painful or increase swelling in your breasts
6 weeks after breast augmentation
- Your enhanced breast size looks more natural and is taking on a more attractive appearance
- Breasts are starting to soften, but could still be firm on the sides
- Nipples are rising slowly to the center of the breasts. They may not be perfect at this stage, but should have good improvement.
- Side breast rounding is slowly beginning, but is not pronounced
- Shooting pains may still be present, but are less frequent
- Muscle aches may occur as you reengage chest and shoulder muscles
- One breast could still appear higher than the other. Asymmetry is normal.
- You will again be evaluated for bra management at each appointment with Dr. Cruise
- It’s okay to sleep on your side, but stomach sleeping is not recommended
- You will most likely be able to comfortably wear a bathing suit or strapless dress
- Incisions should be completely closed. If so, you can go into the water fully submerged. Make sure the incisions have been closed for a minimum of 1 week.
8-9 weeks after breast augmentation
- Breasts are looking much better, but will likely not be 100%
- Breasts are softer than before, but may still need more time to settle
- Nipples are in a good position, but may still be slightly low and uneven from side to side
- Side rounding becomes more pronounced at each visit
- Bottom rounding fills in and becomes more pronounced
- Bra management will be evaluated at each appointment
- One breast may still be slightly higher than the other, but should be slowly improving
- Depending on how you are healing, you may be cleared to increase your physical activity to include running, high impact activities, and upper body work outs. Ask Dr. Cruise for specific surgeon’s instructions.
12 weeks after breast augmentation
- Breasts will have a nice, attractive shape. You may be almost completely healed at this point. However, some patients may still need a month or two for further softening and implant dropping.
- Breasts continue to soften, and swelling is almost gone
- Nipples should be almost centered, if not already
- Side rounding is good, but may not be perfect depending on your muscles and tissues. Some patients round over a 6-month period.
- Bottom rounding is much more noticeable, but will continue to improve
- Surgical tape is no longer needed on incisions. You can begin Scarless scar gel treatment
- Upper body workouts and running are now okay. Heavy lifting may be acceptable as well. Be sure to wear a fitted sports bra with support.
- Bra management evaluation continues
6 months after breast augmentation
- Breasts will be in optimal position
- Breasts will be much softer to the touch
- Side and bottom rounding have good definition
- Continue to use Scarless scar gel on incisions, if needed
- Underwire bras are recommended for most patients at this point
- Fitted support athletic bra will still be recommended during high-impact activity
Do Muscle Relaxers Help After Breast Augmentation
Pain after surgery is expected and normal. Not is the pain only due to the surgery itself, but also to the muscle’s response to the presence of the implant. If the implant is under the muscle, the muscle has to stretch, which is also painful, (like doing the splits). Pain pills (analgesics) and muscle relaxants will help reduce the pain. Ice is also helpful as it not only decreases swelling, but numbs the area.
When the snug surgical dressing is removed and replaced by a surgical bra, usually first day post-op, there is relief from that pressure. However, most of the pain is not from that, but from the muscle expansion. As the muscle stretches, the pain subsides a lot. This takes about a week or two.
If the implant is on top of the muscle, pain is much less, since the implant is not stretching the muscle at all.
Swelling causes discomfort and is maximal at 36-48 hours after surgery. It then gradually subsides. However, although you look fine and feel fine at about two weeks, the swelling continues to resolve, now much less noticeably, for about a full year, surprisingly enough.
Nipples may become quite sensitive post-op, due to irritation of the sensory nerves that supply them. It may be very uncomfortable to let the shower run on them. This will gradually resolve with time.
During that time, I recommend a gentle massage of the nipples and any other sensitive spots, to let the nerves get “accustomed” to pressure. You can do this with progressively rougher materials, as tolerated, from your soapy hand in the shower, to your hand with skin lotion but not in the shower, to no lotion, to a washcloth and then even rougher cloths. It’s like getting calluses on your fingers when you are learning to play the guitar. In time, your nipples will become accustomed to the pressure.