A Guide to Exercising After Breast Surgery
Exercise plays a hugely important part in many people’s lives. It helps them stay physically and mentally fit and can be a crucial part of their social calendars. The truth is that breast surgery will impact your ability to exercise as usual in the short term. However, with proper rest and by following the aftercare advice closely, you will be able to start walking as light exercise after two weeks and get back to your usual regime six weeks after breast surgery. Strenuous exercise and upper body exercise should be avoided until 12 weeks post-surgery.
In this article, we guide you through what exercise after breast augmentation looks like, from how soon you can exercise after breast surgery to the activities to avoid.
Recovering from breast surgery
The most popular cosmetic surgical procedure of any kind in the UK is breast augmentation, which involves the use of implants to enhance the shape and size of the breasts or to make them more even.
Although it’s difficult to give an exact timeline for your recovery after breast augmentation, most patients take one to two weeks off work to rest and recover. By week six, most women have made a good recovery, the swelling has died down and their breasts feel more natural. After 12 weeks, most women have completely healed and can do everything they did before the procedure.
How closely you follow your surgeon’s advice will affect your recovery time. You must refrain from strenuous physical activity and avoid lifting heavy objects until 12 weeks after your surgery. You should also get as much rest as possible, particularly during the first few days, to allow your body to heal and recover. Even if you’re desperate to start exercising again, you must follow your surgeon’s advice closely or you will increase the risk of complications.
Read more: Breast augmentation recovery: Everything you need to know & What to expect on your breast augmentation journey
How to re-introduce exercise following breast surgery
If you’re wondering how quickly you can exercise after breast surgery, the good news is you won’t have to wait long.
First two weeks
Rest should be your priority in the first two weeks of recovery. You can start with some light walking immediately after the surgery. Walking around your room or the house every hour or so will help keep the blood circulating and prevent clots, but you certainly shouldn’t do anything more strenuous.
During these first two weeks, it is also advised that you do not lift your arms repeatedly above your head. Swimming should also be avoided until 6 weeks post-op when your incisions have completely healed.
Three to four weeks
With your surgeon’s approval, you can begin to increase light exercise, such as longer walks. Importantly though, you should still refrain from jogging.
Read more about reintroducing running into your routine following breast surgery.
More intense exercise, heavy lifting, upper body exercise and repetitive arm movements should still be avoided 3-4 weeks post-op.
At six weeks
Six weeks after breast surgery, you should be able to resume most normal exercises. That said, you should listen to your surgeon and your body. If you are still swollen or bruised or have pain when you exercise, stop and give yourself more time to recover.
At this point, you should still avoid heavy lifting and strenuous chest exercises like press-ups. That’s particularly the case if your implants were placed under the chest muscle, as the contraction places pressure on them that can cause drooping or displacement.
At twelve weeks
After twelve weeks, you should be fully healed and have recovered. Only at 12 weeks can you reintroduce more strenuous exercise, along with heavy lifting and upper body exercise, into your routine. However, it’s essential that you listen to your body and consult with your surgeon to ensure it’s safe for you to begin exercising again.
Good exercises and exercises to avoid after breast augmentation surgery
There are several exercises after a boob job that can aid your recovery and keep you fit while you recover, but there are also some activities that are best to avoid.
For the first two weeks, limit your exercise to gentle walking around the house and a few stretching exercises. That means definitely no treadmill, Peloton, staircase, elliptical training, or upper-body exercises.
In weeks three and four, you can walk outside for longer distances and increase the frequency of these walks.
At week six, you can add light cardio, such as using an exercise bike, but you should consult your surgeon and stop exercising immediately if you feel pain. You may also introduce light upper-body exercises into your routine.
If swimming is your favourite form of exercise, you should wait until around six weeks after surgery to get back in the pool. The same applies to running. However, you should keep in mind that the pace of healing is different for everyone, and if you don’t feel ready to run or swim after eight weeks, don’t push yourself. If you feel ready, wear a supportive bra or swimming suit that helps your body adjust to the new implants and allows you to exercise comfortably.
Post-surgery support bras
Immediately after your breast augmentation, you must wear a compression garment for between four and six weeks. After that, you should still wear a supportive bra when exercising.
A good support bra will protect your implants and help them maintain their position and shape. Look for a snug-fitting bra that provides enough support to stabilise and hold the weight of your breasts, but is also comfortable and not so tight that it impairs blood circulation. It should also be easy to put on and remove.
Everyone with implants is at risk of breast tissue stretching or sagging to some extent, but by following the correct advice and making sure you have the necessary support, you can keep your breasts in the best possible shape.
In the Enhance Medical shop, you’ll find the perfect garment for every stage of your recovery. We can also provide friendly advice to point you in the right direction.
Running after breast augmentation
If you’re a keen runner or want to take up jogging after a breast augmentation, you should have no issues jogging with breast implants, but there are a few things to consider.
You should wait around six to twelve weeks before you start running after breast surgery. That will allow the implants to settle and give the incisions the time to heal properly. If your incisions haven’t fully healed, the sweat you produce while jogging could cause an infection.
We also advise you to get back into your running gradually and increase your intensity slowly to let your body adjust. Even with a snug-fitting support bra, the extra weight of your implants can cause some discomfort initially.
If you have large implants, you can still run but the extra weight and change in your centre of gravity may cause muscle aches and strains. If you are a keen runner, that is something to consider when choosing the size of your implants.
Start your journey with the Enhance Medical Group
You might be in a rush to start exercising after breast surgery, but there’s no avoiding the recovery process that comes after a breast augmentation procedure. Our comprehensive aftercare service, which is included in your quoted surgery price, guides your recovery and ensures you only take the next steps when you’re ready.