Exercise Guidelines for Fitness Models After Breast Augmentation

By Jerome Edelstein, MD

We always seek to provide our patients with the fastest possible recovery so they are able to return to normal activity without excessive downtime. This is especially important when we perform breast augmentation on fitness models whose livelihood depends on regular exercise and a regimented lifestyle.

Despite the quick healing process offered by our breast augmentation process, fitness models must still expect to take some time off from their usual fitness regimen after their surgery to avoid risking injury or complications.For the first three days after your surgery, arm movements should be restricted. After three days, relatively normal non-strenuous activities can be resumed. You shouldn’t be exercising at this time, although you are encouraged to leisurely walk around.

After three weeks, you may resume lower body training and light cardio workouts. Just the same, it is extremely important to avoid impact-based exercises for at least four weeks after the procedure. Low or non-impact exercises (like stationary bikes or elliptical machines) may be used.

At the six week point it’s possible to gradually return to low weight, high repetition resistance training aimed at the upper body, reconditioning the weak, tightened pectorals and shoulders. Patients should start with upper body exercises such as light dumbbell bench presses and kneeling push-ups, then work their way up from there.

Getting back to an exercise regime is a good idea for breast augmentation patients, but it’s very important to keep caution in mind when restarting a training routine. While a careful, mindful return to exercise can actually help the body heal, abrupt movements and overly strenuous activities may lead to complications. Improper exercise can drastically increase the risk of developing capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is a serious condition and often requires additional surgeries to correct. Even after surgery, it is more likely to reoccur in the future if a patient has developed the issue in the past.

In order to reduce the development of any complications, we encourage engaging in core movement training (bench presses, push-ups and isometric exercises) in order to build strength back after surgery. By focusing on restoring the core to full strength before training isolated areas, the surrounding muscle groups are able to help “save” a pectoral muscle that may be overworked or close to injury. This is why we warn against exercises that focus on working isolated pectoral muscles (fly and cable training) before the rest of the body has returned to full strength.

There is no reason to worry about permanently losing strength or definition due to breast augmentation. Our Plastic Surgeons have treated many bodybuilders and fitness models and they have repeatedly witnessed patients returning to full strength — and competition — after recovering from breast augmentation.

EXERCISE AFTER BREAST AUGMENTATION