Breast Augmentation Recovery Week by Week
Healing from breast augmentation takes time. This blog covers the general breast augmentation recovery timeline, week by week, to help patients prepare for their procedure.
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Table of Contents
- Breast Augmentation Recovery
- How Long Does Breast Augmentation Take to Heal?
- Recovery Timeline for Breast Augmentation
- Learn More About Breast Augmentation in Huntsville, AL
Breast Augmentation Recovery
Choosing to get breast augmentation can be exciting, especially for those who have been anticipating full, voluminous breasts for quite some time. Women who have always had smaller breasts or who have lost breast volume after pregnancy or weight loss can often achieve their bustline goals with breast augmentation. However, before breast augmentation patients can show off their newly enhanced breasts, they’ll have to allow their breasts to fully heal during the recovery period.
How Long Does Breast Augmentation Take to Heal?
Breast augmentation is customized to fit the individual’s unique goals and address their concerns. Thus, it only makes sense that recovery will vary from patient to patient, depending on the body’s natural healing process. With that in mind, many patients have a breast augmentation recovery period that lasts around six weeks.
Dr. Knowling works with each patient to make sure they understand the specifics of their breast augmentation procedure. Aftercare instructions will be given to patients to ensure they know how to care for their incisions and which activities they need to take a break from. Additionally, patients can always reach out to Dr. Knowling’s office with questions throughout recovery.
Recovery Timeline for Breast Augmentation
While each case is different, breast augmentation patients can generally expect the following recovery timeline.
Coming Home From Surgery
After waking up from the anesthesia, patients can expect to feel some soreness, discomfort, and pain once the anesthesia effects wear off. The breasts will be wrapped in bandages and/or a compression bra to help support the implants as they adjust to the chest walls and to reduce swelling. The compression bra should be worn day and night until the end of the recovery period (unless otherwise instructed by Dr. Knowling).
Many patients are able to return home the same day as their breast augmentation surgery. It is important for patients to arrange for someone to drive them home and stay with them for the first few days of recovery to assist with moving around the house and taking medications.
Week One
The first few days following breast augmentation surgery are typically the most uncomfortable of the entire recovery journey. This is because the patient’s body will be adjusting to the breast implants. However, pain levels should generally decrease each day after surgery.
Strenuous activities must be halted to avoid putting pressure on the implants or straining the healing incisions. Resting should be a top priority, yet patients will still need to take short walks (even just around the house) to prevent blood clots from forming and to promote healthy blood circulation. When resting, patients need to lie on their backs at an inclined angle. This will help prevent implant complications and allow for optimal healing.
Patients will experience limited mobility in their arms and be unable to raise their arms past a certain length. During this time, patients should not be lifting heavy objects or picking up children.
Week Two
Depending on the nature of a patient’s job, they may be able to return to work after one to two weeks of recovery. People with desk jobs, work-from-home flexibility, or similar types of work may be cleared at this point.
Patients will still need to refrain from strenuous physical activity, yet lighter movements and exercise may be acceptable. It’s also important to be very gentle with the breasts.
Weeks Three and Four
As the weeks progress, patients can expect discomfort to decrease and mobility to increase. Many patients can go about their daily routines with minimal restrictions around the three to four-week mark. Patients should always check with Dr. Knowling before integrating new activities into their routines.
Weeks Five and Six
Around five to six weeks after surgery, many patients have completed their recovery period. At this time, they can resume all activities (including strenuous exercise) and return to sleeping on their sides or stomachs.
Learn More About Breast Augmentation in Huntsville, AL
To learn more about breast augmentation and the recovery process, contact the Cosmetic Surgery Center of Huntsville. Call (256) 881-2220 or complete the online contact form today.