The recovery after breast augmentation takes less than one week to get back to work and to feel little to no pain, but it will take 6-12 months to fully heal.
Here is what you can expect after your breast augmentation surgery (other than shopping for new clothes, a new swimsuit and spending lots of time in front of the mirror).
1 Week After Surgery Your breasts will be swollen and possibly bruised right after surgery.
Compression in a surgical bra, icing, rest, and elevation of your chest will all help to lower the amount of swelling and pain you have right after surgery.
Moving your arms, walking and staying hydrated in the first week will also aid in your recovery during the first week.
Your new best friend in the first week after your breast augmentation will be a pain pump.
Not used by all plastic surgeons (although I have no idea why not), a pain pump is a wonderful little ball that is filled with numbing medication.
Two small tubes run from the ball to the areas of your incisions and newly formed "breast pockets" to deliver a continuous stream of medicine.
The pain pump greatly reduces and sometimes even eliminates the need for oral narcotics, which have side effects as mild as constipation and as severe as addiction.
Plus, because the medicine is delivered only to the area of pain and not throughout your entire body, you'll feel better faster.
1 Month After Surgery Your pain is generally gone, and you can begin to enjoy your new "girls.
" Light exercise such as walking is possible right after surgery.
However, wait to do any vigorous exercise until 2-4 weeks after your surgery to allow your incisions to fully heal.
Your nipples and the areas around them may initially feel numb or sensitive followed in the next days or weeks by feeling funny, itchy, tingly, or having a light burning sensation.
The nerves to the nipples are stretched from surgery and then compressed by swelling.
The new sensations are good news and simply mean that the nerves are waking up again and starting to function normally.
This feeling goes away, typically within the first 3-4 weeks after surgery, although it may take up to 6 months to go away.
You (or a lucky partner) will probably be instructed to do gentle "breast implant massage" to allow your breasts to remain soft and hopefully reduce scar tissue formation around your breast implants.
2-4 Months After Surgery Your breasts will finally start to drop at this point, and appear more natural.
In the first six weeks or so after surgery, your breasts are more "perky," and many women start to worry that their breasts will always be standing at attention.
Not to worry.
At this point, your breasts will be less full, more soft and will naturally drop slightly below your breast fold when not wearing a bra.
6-12 Months After Surgery By this time, your new breasts will feel very natural and truly a part of you.
You should have no abnormal nipple sensations and if you become pregnant, you should be able to lactate and produce milk.
Normal breast feeding is very likely for patients who have a baby after breast surgery (...
so is an eventual Mommy Makeover, but that's another topic!) Overall, your self confidence should be greater, and you will be able to rock that low cut blouse that you've been wanting.
Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic procedure on the planet for a reason.
The recovery is relatively quick and women love the results!
Here is what you can expect after your breast augmentation surgery (other than shopping for new clothes, a new swimsuit and spending lots of time in front of the mirror).
1 Week After Surgery Your breasts will be swollen and possibly bruised right after surgery.
Compression in a surgical bra, icing, rest, and elevation of your chest will all help to lower the amount of swelling and pain you have right after surgery.
Moving your arms, walking and staying hydrated in the first week will also aid in your recovery during the first week.
Your new best friend in the first week after your breast augmentation will be a pain pump.
Not used by all plastic surgeons (although I have no idea why not), a pain pump is a wonderful little ball that is filled with numbing medication.
Two small tubes run from the ball to the areas of your incisions and newly formed "breast pockets" to deliver a continuous stream of medicine.
The pain pump greatly reduces and sometimes even eliminates the need for oral narcotics, which have side effects as mild as constipation and as severe as addiction.
Plus, because the medicine is delivered only to the area of pain and not throughout your entire body, you'll feel better faster.
1 Month After Surgery Your pain is generally gone, and you can begin to enjoy your new "girls.
" Light exercise such as walking is possible right after surgery.
However, wait to do any vigorous exercise until 2-4 weeks after your surgery to allow your incisions to fully heal.
Your nipples and the areas around them may initially feel numb or sensitive followed in the next days or weeks by feeling funny, itchy, tingly, or having a light burning sensation.
The nerves to the nipples are stretched from surgery and then compressed by swelling.
The new sensations are good news and simply mean that the nerves are waking up again and starting to function normally.
This feeling goes away, typically within the first 3-4 weeks after surgery, although it may take up to 6 months to go away.
You (or a lucky partner) will probably be instructed to do gentle "breast implant massage" to allow your breasts to remain soft and hopefully reduce scar tissue formation around your breast implants.
2-4 Months After Surgery Your breasts will finally start to drop at this point, and appear more natural.
In the first six weeks or so after surgery, your breasts are more "perky," and many women start to worry that their breasts will always be standing at attention.
Not to worry.
At this point, your breasts will be less full, more soft and will naturally drop slightly below your breast fold when not wearing a bra.
6-12 Months After Surgery By this time, your new breasts will feel very natural and truly a part of you.
You should have no abnormal nipple sensations and if you become pregnant, you should be able to lactate and produce milk.
Normal breast feeding is very likely for patients who have a baby after breast surgery (...
so is an eventual Mommy Makeover, but that's another topic!) Overall, your self confidence should be greater, and you will be able to rock that low cut blouse that you've been wanting.
Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic procedure on the planet for a reason.
The recovery is relatively quick and women love the results!