After Your Breast Enlargement Surgery: Getting Back to Normal

After Your Breast Enlargement Surgery: Getting Back to Normal Related Information:

Everyone responds differently to breast augmentation and no one can accurately predict how your body will react. The recovery period may be longer for some women than others, depending on your lifestyle and tolerance for pain. Some women report that they have a lot of pain, while others are able to resume their normal activities after only a day or two. You will have the stitches in for at least a week before the doctor takes them out. There may be some swelling even after the stitches come out, but this will gradually subside after a few weeks. The swelling may cause your breasts to feel hard, but will soften to feel like natural breasts. The doctor will then make an assessment of how the breasts look and feel with the implant and whether or not the incision is healing as it should. He/She will be able to discuss any further concerns you have and will advise you when you should return to work.

In general, the best way to help your breasts heal is to get plenty of rest. Even if the incisions are small, you have still had invasive surgery and the body has to have time to heal from the trauma to the tissues. Limited movement, especially of your arms, will also speed up your recovery time. The length of time for recovery will depend on whether or not any incisions were made under the chest muscle. If the implant was placed under the muscle, more incisions were needed so a more extensive rest and recovery period is necessary. Younger women are usually able to adapt to the surgery better than older women.

The date your doctor gives you for returning to work depends on the particular job you do. If your job does not require any heavy lifting or straining, and if you lead an active lifestyle, you can probably return to work in about a week. Of course, each individual case is different and the surgeon has to make the decision based on your individual case. Even after you return to work, you follow the doctor’s orders regarding lifting your arms over your head. For at least 3 to 5 days you should not lift your elbows higher than your armpit. It could even be a few months before you are able to resume all your activities.

The recovery period for breast enlargement surgery needs to be planned based on your own life schedule. You have to allow sufficient time to heal and not try to rush the process along. Having the time you need to recover will provide you with the best results and you will not encounter any problems with the implants. Straining and lifting and in general trying to do things before you are fully healed will result in setbacks that could possibly mean you will need to have additional surgeries.

Breast implants will help make the breasts larger for the life of the implants that are used. Larger breasts will sag more quickly than small breasts, whether you have had breast augmentation or not. You may require a breast lift at some point in the future if you breasts start to sag. Having implants will not prevent sagging due to the natural aging process, being pregnant, breastfeeding or if you lose or gain weight.

Almost all women are well pleased with the results of their breast enlargement surgery. The breasts are not increased dramatically – just one or two bra cup sizes to help your body become more proportional in size and to help your clothes fit better. With the new implants you may also feel more self-confident.