While the breast augmentation recovery timeline is different for everyone, the process and guidelines are the same. Having a good understanding of what the recovery process entails will ensure a positive result. Patients must look after themselves throughout the recovery process to achieve their desired look.
Breast augmentation surgery is designed to enhance, reconstruct, reposition, or modify a patient’s breasts. In some cases, this procedure is sought out for purely cosmetic reasons. In other cases, patients seek it out to restore their natural beauty after undergoing a mastectomy, pregnancy, or other condition.
How long does breast augmentation recovery take?
Generally speaking, it can take anywhere from six to eight weeks for patients to fully recover from a breast augmentation procedure. While many women start to feel better after just a week of recovery, factors such as age, body, health history, and lifestyle all play a role in this period of time. If patients follow the guidelines of their practitioner and prioritize resting, they are likely to get through the process faster.
Breast Augmentation Recovery Timeline
The recovery timeline for a breast augmentation procedure can be broken down into various steps.
Immediately following the surgery
Right after the surgery has been completed, patients will still be under the influence of sedation medications. They will wake up in a recovery room and remain under medical supervision until they have completely regained consciousness. It is normal for patients to feel achy, dizzy, and have muscle tension during this time. These effects are not serious and will subside eventually. However, if patients feel excess pain, they should mention it to their nurse right away.
Patients will be given a multitude of medications to help relax their muscles, reduce tension, and lower inflammation. A local anesthetic will be injected into the surgical site in order to keep the area numb for a period of two to three days.
A few hours after the surgery
Patients will have to spend a few hours in the recovery facility before being allowed to leave. Patients must arrange a ride for themselves, as they will be unfit to drive under anesthesia. Patients will only be released to a person who can take them home and look after them following the treatment.
Before being released, the patient’s breasts will be wrapped with a supportive bra or elastic band to keep them supported. At this time, patients will receive detailed instructions on how to care for themselves throughout the recovery period.
The first two days following the surgery
Patients must prioritize rest for the first two days. Even something as small as lifting one’s arms should be avoided at this time. Nonetheless, blood circulation is important. As such, patients should get up and take a short walk through the house every few hours.
Days three to five
From day three to day five, soreness and discomfort are totally normal. Pain in general is common, and the practitioner will prescribe a painkiller to reduce these effects as much as possible. It is normal to develop some bleeding around the incisions, but an excess level of bleeding should be reported to the surgeon right away.
One week after the procedure
As the one-week mark approaches, patients can slowly transition from taking the prescribed pain medication to taking an over-the-counter pill such as Ibuprofen. After the first week of recovery has come to an end, some patients feel well enough to start doing light physical activity. However, they must run this by their doctor first.
One month following the procedure
In the fourth week of the recovery process, patients can start getting back into their normal routine but with a more limited amount of energy. Excessively exhausting tasks such as heavy lifting still need to be avoided during this time. Patients whose jobs require large amounts of physical activity may need to request a longer leave of absence to ensure that they recover properly.
Two months following the procedure
By 6 to 8 weeks, patients will have made close to a full recovery. The breasts will be settled into their new position and patients will feel more comfortable with themselves. While this time frame applies to many patients, there are of course exceptions. Patients who still feel unable to get back to their normal routines by the two-month mark should reach out to their practitioner.
What is the takeaway?
As with any surgical procedure, recovering from a breast augmentation procedure will take a different period of time for everyone. Some people can heal in as little as a few weeks while others may need more than two months. Patients should not put any expectations on themselves to heal in a quick manner. It is vital that they receive the proper amount of time off from their job and other responsibilities to ensure that they are under no pressure throughout the recovery period.
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