Post Breast Augmentation Recovery: Tips for Enhancing Results

While beauty standards shift over the years, the breasts have long remained a symbol of femininity and status. For decades, society has been fascinated with achieving what many view as “perfect” round, perky breasts and ample cleavage. Breast augmentation, otherwise referred to as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgery that involves modifying the size, fullness, and shape of the breasts by adding volume. Research from The American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that in 2018 alone, 313,735 individual breast augmentations were performed, making it the number one cosmetic surgical procedure in the country. Cosmetic Surgery Institute in the Los Angeles area offers breast augmentation surgery and other breast surgeries for patients throughout the region and from all over the country. Because of this, the team often fields questions from patients who want to know more about the procedure—including what to expect after—before they decide on it.

The reasons why women may choose to have breast augmentation vary: Some might be dissatisfied with their naturally smaller breasts, while others may dislike their shape, or perhaps they simply want to look great in bikinis and revealing tops. Naturally, all breast augmentation recipients want to get the most beautiful outcome possible. In addition to doing all the necessary prep work (such as creating a checklist of questions to ask during an initial consultation), what you do after breast surgery can also have a major impact on the look of the ultimate results.

Sometimes—as a result of pregnancy, weight fluctuations, age, or simply genetic lottery—women have breasts that are smaller than they desire them to be. There two main types of implants designed to address this issue: silicone gel and saline. Implants also may come in round or teardrop shapes. One particular implant size or shape may not suit every woman, but there are a vast number of options available to choose from in the United States.

While they aren’t made to last forever, breast implants are typically very strong and durable, with a lifespan of up to a decade or more. Medical advancements have given way to surgical techniques and improved devices that have greatly reduced risk of infections and ruptures.

If you’ve had breast augmentation, chances are good that you’ve been warned ahead of time that additional surgeries are most likely going to be needed in the future. That said, a surgeon’s (and patient’s) goal is to prolong the lifespan of capsules as much as possible. Adhering to pre-operative and post-operative instructions from your cosmetic surgeon will not only help to speed up healing, but will also give you the greatest chance for the most flattering outcome while lowering the risk of complications, such as capsular contracture.

Of course, each woman’s recovery process will be unique, as everyone’s body reacts differently to a device placed in the breast pocket. However, breast augmentation patients can generally expect a timeline of around a month and a half for recovery from the initial procedure—meaning bruising and swelling are resolved. Many women actually feel significantly better by the end of the first week after their surgery.

The earliest stage of recovery is when patients typically feel the most discomfort and swelling, but taking prescribed medications or using a pain pump can help.

During the following month, patients should get as much rest as they can, while avoiding any intense physical activity that may cause trauma to the chest area or dislodge the implants. This means planning ahead to ensure that children, pets, and household tasks will be taken care of throughout the recovery period so that you can recover in a peaceful environment.

Recovery bras or compression garments, as opposed to regular bras, may be recommended to help stabilize the implants while improving circulation and drainage. Recovery bras are made up of materials that don’t cause irritation or put pressure on the healing breasts. As smoking can delay the healing process and put you at risk of other complications, it’s best to avoid this habit for as long as possible before and after the surgery.

Ready to learn more about breast augmentation? Palm Desert’s Cosmetic Surgery Institute understands that this is a significant decisions, which is why the team is happy to provide guidance on what happens before and after the surgery. Request a consultation or call (760) 837-0364 for more details.