Lifestyle Changes for Long-Term Breast Health After Augmentation

Short-term changes to make after a boob job

The recovery period after your breast augmentation surgery will typically last 12 weeks. That’s the time it takes for you to be completely healed. Your surgeon and patient care coordinator will discuss the steps you can take to enhance your recovery with you during the consultation and after your surgery. You can also contact our team at any time if you have any questions or concerns during your recovery.

Wear your post-operative compression bra

You will need to wear a special post-operative bra after surgery to enhance the healing process. It helps to minimise swelling, support the breasts and reduce the pain and discomfort you feel. It also enables the breasts to settle into the desired position. 

Typically, you must wear and sleep in your compression garment for six weeks for a breast enlargement and around eight weeks for a breast lift. As long as your incisions are healed, you can then wear normal non-wired bras, and after 12 weeks, you can switch to wired bras.  

Take time off work 

The amount of time you should take off work after breast surgery depends on the nature of your job and how well you’re healing. If you have a desk job, you will typically need between one and two weeks. However, you could potentially return to work after that if you feel ready and are cleared by your surgeon. If your job requires more activity, we’d advise you to take at least two weeks off and avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting for at least eight weeks.

At Enhance Medical, we give all of our patients a sick note for one to two weeks following their procedure. Read more about returning to work after breast surgery.

Rest and avoid strenuous activities

Avoid demanding physical tasks and exercise for the first six weeks after a boob job to allow the incisions to heal properly and reduce the risk of complications. You should rest for the first week and have a friend or family member on hand to help with physical tasks around the home. By around day seven, you can gradually phase light activity back into your regime, and after two weeks, you should be able to return to non-strenuous activities at work. 

We recommend you do some very light exercise, such as walking, after one to two weeks, as this type of low-intensity cardiovascular exercise will be beneficial. You can gradually increase the intensity of your exercise six weeks after your boob job, but you should avoid any upper body exercises for 12 weeks after the procedure. 

Attend all your wound care appointments

Wound care appointments are an important part of the aftercare that’s included with your breast augmentation surgery at the Enhance Medical Group. They allow your surgeon to check the incisions are healing properly and your recovery is progressing nicely. We encourage you to attend all the appointments to help you get the best possible result from your treatment. 

Steer clear of sunbathing and sunbeds

You should not sunbathe or go on a sunbed for at least six weeks after your breast surgery. That’s because sunlight can hinder the healing process, increase post-surgical inflammation and worsen your swelling. Exposing your incisions to direct sunlight can also cause your scars to darken. If you are in the sun, keep your scars well-concealed under a swimsuit for at least a year. 

If you are planning a summer holiday, we advise you to carefully consider the timing of your breast augmentation surgery. 

Avoid underwired bras

Avoid wearing underwired bras until you have been cleared to do so by your surgeon, as they can irritate the incisions and catch on the stitches. After your breast augmentation surgery, you’ll no doubt be excited about buying some new outfits. However, it can take time for your breasts to settle into their final shape, which is why we recommend you wait at least a couple of months before rushing out to the shops. 

Sleep in a reclined position

Immediately after breast surgery, sleep in an upright or reclined position to reduce the amount of swelling that occurs. Your surgeon will usually clear you to sleep flat on your back after one week. You should also avoid sleeping on your side for two weeks and on your front for six weeks after surgery.

Cut down on drinking

Make sure you drink plenty of water after your surgery and avoid alcohol completely for the first two weeks. Alcohol acts as a blood thinner, can increase the risk of complications and interacts with pain medications in an unpredictable way. You should also steer clear of caffeinated and sports drinks, as they cause water retention and can make it more difficult to reduce swelling. 

Long-term changes to make after a boob job 

As well as the changes we’ve discussed in the weeks after surgery, there are also some more enduring lifestyle shifts you can make to ensure the best possible results. 

Quit smoking

Breast augmentation surgery could come with the added benefit of helping you stop smoking. Nicotine reduces blood flow, which makes stopping smoking in the weeks before and after surgery a must. Failure to do so can lead to an increased risk of:

• Heart attacks
• Blood clots
• Tissue necrosis
• Strokes 

We advise our patients to stop smoking for at least two weeks before and after the procedure. That’s a month without smoking, which could be just enough to help you kick the habit. 

Eat a balanced diet

We recommend eating certain foods after breast surgery to nourish the body and enhance the recovery process. These foods will also help you to look and feel your best long after surgery, so there’s no need to stop once the healing process is over. 

The best foods to eat after breast surgery include:

• Foods that reduce inflammation and support the body’s immune system, such as pineapple, papaya, fatty fish, mushrooms, grapes, olive oil, turmeric and tomatoes. 
• High-protein snacks to help you heal, including almonds, peanuts and cheese
• Foods that are rich in vitamin C, like oranges, lemons, kiwi and broccoli
• Collagen-rich foods, such as eggs, beans and fish
• Dark leafy greens that are rich in vitamin K, like spinach and kale

You should also limit your salt intake to reduce the risk of swelling (watch out for those TV dinners) and drink plenty of water to speed up the healing process.

Aftercare and post-surgery guidance from the Enhance Medical Group

From the exercises you should avoid to the best food to eat after breast surgery, your patient care coordinator and surgeon will ensure you have all the information you need to get the best possible results from your surgery. 

Find out more about breast surgery and breast enlargement at the Enhance Medical Group and book your free consultation today.