Are you on the fence about breast augmentation surgery because you’re worried about the recovery process?
There is an abundance of myths and misconceptions about breast augmentation recovery time out there, so it’s important for you to have all the real facts.
You have real questions that need real answers. Should you wear a bra immediately after your surgery? How long should you wait to start working out again?
To make sure you have all of the real facts, we’re going to walk you through the whole process.
Table of Contents
Before Your Surgery
Your surgeon will most likely give you a detailed checklist of pre-op activities. But, generally speaking, this is what you can expect.
You will want to make sure that there’s nothing in your stomach for the 8 hours leading up to your surgery. It’s also best to try to avoid smoking for as long as possible.
You will also pick out something loose-fitting to wear to your surgery. A zip-up hoodie is ideal, so you can avoid having to put your arms over your head. Ask the clinic if they will provide a sports bra for you to wear after the procedure, or if you need to bring your own.
Don’t forget to arrange for someone to drive you to and from the clinic.
The Day of Your Surgery
Your actual surgery will only take about 60 minutes, but you will likely be at the clinic for about 2 hours. They will want to monitor you for a bit after your surgery and give you a chance to recover.
Your procedure will also be performed under local or general anesthesia. This means that you will be pain-free, but you will not want to drive home.
After Your Surgery
The first two days will be all about rest and recovery and following any instructions that your surgeon gave you. This will include whether or not you should wear a bra after surgery. Not all surgeons agree on this. Some may recommend a 6-week braless period to allow your breasts to settle.
There will be some swelling and bruising in the chest area, but any pain should be easily managed with prescribed pain medication. After the first couple of days, there will be a large reduction in pain and you can ease yourself back into most of your daily activities.
You can resume light workouts after about a week. However, you will want to avoid anything that will put too much stress on your pectoral muscles. Also, your sutures will be dissolvable, so there is no need to have them removed.
Your surgeon may coach you on breast massaging techniques that can help your implants settle into place.
We hope this gives you a good idea of what to expect. Of course, if you have any more questions, you should reach out to a qualified plastic surgeon. They can go into more detail about what to expect before, during, and after your surgery.
