Recovery Guide: What to Expect After Breast Surgery

Breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction are all among the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries nationwide and around the world. But recovering from any kind of surgery can be a source of concern or even anxiety. Whether you’re considering breast surgery or already have your surgery date scheduled, you may be wondering–or worrying about–what recovery will be like. Is it painful? Will you have to take heavy-duty pain meds? How long will the recovery last? What supplies will be needed? With the right preparation and a great surgical team, recovery after breast surgery can actually be a smooth, simple process.

How Important Is A Smooth Recovery?

While finding a skilled surgeon and the success of the surgery itself are, of course, crucial for ideal results, a good recovery is also extremely important. Proper healing can help avoid complications like infections or unexpected scarring. In addition, healing after surgery takes extra energy so it’s important to get enough rest and not try to do too much, too soon, even once you start feeling better. Not only do incisions need to heal, but anesthesia and surgery in general can be taxing on the body, so focusing on rest, hydration, and nutrition is vital to helping your body get back to feeling like yourself and to start really enjoying your new physique. Even with the best surgical experience, improper recovery can result in poor results and a higher possibility of complications.

Breast Augmentation Recovery

Breast augmentation typically refers to the placement of silicone or saline implants in the breasts. While the type of implant used won’t make much difference when it comes to recovery, the placement of the implant typically does. Implants may be placed above the muscles in the chest, known as subglandular placement, or beneath the muscles, known as submuscular. Since there is more tissue involvement with submuscular placement, most patients do experience a slightly longer recovery and may experience higher levels of discomfort. In either case, most breast augmentation patients can expect some swelling and a sensation of tightness for around a week. Some numbness around the nipples or near incisions is normal and typically temporary. In most cases, patients are able to resume light, daily activities around three to five days after surgery, but may need to take up to two weeks off work. Strenuous activities like intense cardio or weight lifting will likely require a month or more.

Recovery Tips:

• Wear your compression bra or a fitted sports bra every day, around the clock, for optimal healing and final implant position.
• For less swelling, sleep on your back, slightly elevated, for four to six weeks (specialty wedge pillows can make this much easier for back and side sleepers).
• Since incisions should not be submerged, avoid baths and hot tubs for at least a month.

Breast Lift Recovery

Recovery after a breast lift is similar to augmentation, but there are a few differences. The length of recovery is the main difference since a breast lift, also known as mastopexy, is typically a less extensive surgery than augmentation. This procedure is used to reshape and sculpt sagging breasts, so there will be incisions where skin and tissue are removed, and the nipple is often repositioned, but there is rarely any muscle tissue involved, and no implant for the body to adjust to. Many patients are able to return to light activities within just a few days, and some may return to work after a week. Just like with augmentation, however, vigorous exercise and other activities should wait four to six weeks.

Recovery Tips:

• Most find it easy to remember to avoid heavy lifting, but patients should also avoid bending over for a few weeks, as this can put tension on healing incisions.
• Raising the arms above shoulder level for about the first week can also put a strain on incisions so gently moving the arms in a low position can help prevent muscle stiffness.
• Applying fragrance-free moisturizer to the breasts can help with blood flow and to relieve some of the tightness sensation, but incisions should be strictly avoided.

Breast Reduction Recovery

Breast reduction recovery often varies between patients depending on the scale of the reduction and how many cup sizes the patient is going down. This procedure includes the removal of breast tissue, fat, and skin as well as nipple repositioning, so patients can often expect to have multiple inches of incisions, and some may experience a sensation of deep pressure or ache. In addition, there may be significant inflammation and some bruising after surgery. Generally, initial recovery can range from one to two weeks or more, although some residual swelling may last months.

Recovery Tips:

• Don’t try to “tough it out” since pain can hinder the healing process, so it’s important to keep up on pain meds and not wait until pain escalates.
• Hydration and nutritious eating are also crucial to support your healing body.
• After a few days, short walks and light movement can help get blood flowing and stretch stiff muscles.

Concurrent Recovery

Many patients opt to combine augmentation with breast lift or reduction with breast lift for a fully comprehensive and sculpted result. In these cases, patients might experience a slightly longer recovery than they would with a single procedure, but it usually doesn’t add a significant amount of time. This can be a beneficial choice because combining surgeries means a single recovery period and a single anesthesia fee.