Before you embark on any cosmetic surgery, you should know exactly what to expect from the procedure, both in terms of the surgery itself and your recovery. The good news is that the breast augmentation recovery time is relatively quick, with most patients making excellent progress after around six weeks.
That said, recovering from breast augmentation surgery is a process that requires patience, rest and proper aftercare. We’ve created this guide so you know what to expect from the breast augmentation recovery process, from what your recovery will look like week by week to the things you should avoid.
How long is breast augmentation recovery?
Every woman’s body is different, so it’s hard to give an exact timeline for your breast augmentation recovery. However, based on the hundreds of successful procedures we’ve performed, we find that after six weeks, most women have made a good recovery. Their breasts are no longer numb, tingly or sensitive, the swelling has died down and the implants are feeling more natural. And by 12 weeks, you should be completely healed.
We will assess your overall health and give you a more accurate idea of your recovery time before the procedure.
How painful is the breast augmentation recovery?
You can expect to feel some pain and discomfort, which will be most acute in the first few days after the procedure. Your doctor can prescribe you some pain medication to help you manage it.
After the first week, the pain typically gets significantly better and should be manageable with over-the-counter pain medications. At this point, with your surgeon’s approval, you’ll be able to return to light daily activities. For most patients, the pain has completely gone after around four weeks.
As well as the breasts, some patients also experience discomfort in the neck, back and shoulders due to the extra weight of the chest area. That can cause them to hunch and change their posture. Some postural awareness and light stretching are usually enough to correct this.
Breast augmentation recovery week by week
This is what a typical recovery looks like on a weekly basis, although the exact timeline will differ from patient to patient.
Week 1 – Patients will experience some discomfort and swelling and bruising is likely to appear in the chest area. You should rest and recover and avoid any strenuous activity or heavy lifting. You’ll be required to wear a compression garment or supportive bra. You must also sleep on your back with your upper body propped up at an angle to reduce the swelling and discomfort.
Week 2 – You’ll begin to feel more like yourself and the pain will lessen during the day. You may find that your stomach area feels swollen as the swelling moves down the body. You should avoid any strenuous activity, continue to sleep on your back and wear a supportive bra.
Week 3 – You may still experience pain at night, but it should be less frequent. The bruising and swelling will subside and you should be able to return to non-strenuous roles at work.
Week 4 & 5 – By now, you should be healing nicely and feeling better. The scabs will disappear and the scars will close, although you should still avoid using products on the incisions. The nerves in your breast tissue will start to awaken, which can cause pins and needles in the nipple area, although skin numbness is still common.
Week 6 – You’ll now be nearing a full recovery. The final swelling will subside and your breasts will feel softer and more natural. You should be able to reduce your dose of painkillers and resume many of your normal activities, including non-strenuous exercise such as swimming. Your scar tissue will progressively fade and relax.
Things to avoid after breast augmentation
There are several things you can avoid to speed up the breast augmentation recovery process and reduce the risk of complications.
Initially, it will be uncomfortable to raise your arms high in the air, so tasks like washing your hair are best avoided. After around seven days – to two weeks, you’ll have more movement and be able to perform more everyday tasks.
Avoid alcohol for up to four weeks after the procedure as it can affect your hydration levels and interfere with the healing process. Also steer clear of caffeinated and carbonated drinks if you can, at least for the first few days. It’s also advised to stay away from smoking or vaping too.
Another recovery tip is to keep your scars out of artificial UV light (sunbeds) or natural sunlight for up to a year after surgery. That’s because the skin in this area is thinner, so it will burn more easily and carries a greater risk of hyperpigmentation. After the 12 week mark, It is advised to protect the incisions from sunlight following surgery using 35+ SPF. Also, please avoid sunbeds until around 6 weeks after the procedure and then scars must remain covered for 12 weeks whilst using the sun bed.
You should also avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and stretching for 12 weeks after the procedure, as it can cause your stitches to open. You can reintroduce some low-impact cardio such as swimming after 6 weeks post op.
How long after breast surgery can I drive?
We advise that patients are usually fine to drive after around 10 days, although you should check that you can safely perform all the actions before you set off.
How long after breast surgery can I fly?
Generally speaking, you can fly short-haul two weeks after the procedure and long-haul after six weeks. That said, it’s worth checking with your clinical team before you go. You should also wear TED stockings or compression socks on flights lasting more than three hours.
How long after breast surgery can I exercise?
We do not recommend any form of exercise other than walking for the first six weeks. That includes vigorous movements such as lifting children or strenuous household tasks. You should also avoid lifting your arms repeatedly above your head for the first two weeks after surgery, and avoid all upper arm exercises for 12 weeks.
Breast augmentation recovery tips
Here are a few quickfire tips to keep your breast augmentation recovery on track:
- Prepare your home before the surgery by doing any meal prep, shopping and housework in advance.
- Make sure you have the help of a partner, family member or friend following the surgery. You won’t be able to pick up small children for a couple of weeks post-surgery, so you’ll need someone you can rely on.
- Eat healthy foods post-surgery to aid your recovery. Keeping light, easy foods on hand will stimulate your appetite and reduce food prep.
- Get plenty of rest and avoid smoking and alcohol during your recovery period.
- For most procedures, you’ll need to sleep propped up on pillows at a 25 to 45-degree angle to aid comfort and circulation.
- Keep your post-op recovery bra on tightly for the first seven days to reduce the pain and speed up the healing.
- Drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated and reduce the swelling. Constipation is also common after surgery and drinking water will help to move things along.
Breast augmentation aftercare: Get expert advice from Enhance Medical
Although these recovery tips are useful, you’ll also receive personalised and expert breast augmentation aftercare from the experienced surgeons at Enhance Medical. From the initial consultation to the end of the recovery process, we’re with you every step of the way. Find out more about breast surgery and get in touch to book a free consultation with our experts.