What to Expect After Your Breast Augmentation

By Jerome Edelstein, MD

A breast enhancement is a great way to change your look and boost your self-confidence, but it is also a major surgery. Like any other surgical procedure, you will have a recovery period during which you need to rest and heal. The things you do in recovery can have a huge impact on the ultimate outcome of your augmentation. By understanding what your recovery will be like, you can be fully prepared.

What to Expect in the Days and Weeks After Breast Augmentation Surgery

Augmentations do not give immediate results. It will take a little time for your body to heal and your implants to settle, so you can expect quite a few changes in feel and appearance following your surgery.

• 1 to 5 days after: Right after surgery, you will have some swelling and possible bruising. The implants and your breasts will look very high, compressed, and tight. Your nipples may be very low, and the sides and bottoms of the breasts will look flat and potentially square. Expect some discomfort.

• 7 days after: Breasts will still feel fairly firm, but there will be more projection. The bottom will start to round out. You may feel some burning or itching. Bruising will start to fade, and breastbone swelling will go down. You can move around better, but you should still try to take it easy.

• 2 to 3 weeks after: As implants become less compressed, they will feel less tight and more rounded. Implants will start to drop down to their final positions, and your nipples will start to look more elevated. It is fine to resume some light physical activity, but things may still feel sore.

• 6 weeks after: Both swelling and bruising are gone at this stage. Your breasts may still feel a little firm and flat along the sides, but they are beginning to soften up and take on a rounded appearance. Your nipples are moving into the correct position. Asymmetries may be present still.

• 2 months after: Both breast softening and rounding continue as implants are almost entirely settled. The sides of the breasts finally start to round out. Most people can wear normal bras instead of athletic support bras. At this stage of recovery, most patients can resume normal physical activity.

• 3 months after: Your breasts finally take on a rounded, natural shape on all sides. Your nipples will look centered and reasonably high. The scars will start to lighten and look less red as the incisions are entirely healed.

• 6 months after: By this point, the final look of your breasts should be evident. They will feel soft to the touch and will have an attractive shape. You can wear underwire bras as desired.

How Long Is the Recovery for a Breast Augmentation?

The exact amount of time spent in recovery will vary depending on the type of augmentation you get and your own individual healing rate. Recovery typically progresses in stages. The initial recovery stage usually lasts around just two to three weeks. During this stage, there may be discomfort, and you will likely be less active than normal.

Though you may feel mostly well, you will still need to take it easy for a while. Most patients feel relatively good after three weeks, at which point they can resume physical activities. Upper body muscle work, however, should wait until six weeks. It may take six months for your implants to fully settle in.

How Long Should I Take Off Work After an Augmentation?

For the typical desk job, you will need at least five days off. Expect to spend most of your time relaxing in bed or on the couch. You will not be physically able to do things like drive around, walk through your office, or feel comfortable in your work clothes. However, most doctors advise that their patients take a full week off work. The ability to rest helps your body use its energy to heal, so taking things easy for a week can jump-start your recovery process.

If you have a more active job, like bartending or working with animals, then you will need to take at least two weeks off work. During the first couple weeks post-surgery, you need to avoid any strenuous exercises, especially things that involve upper-body strength. You may feel too stiff or too sore to move around a lot, so a high-energy job will require a longer break.

What Is the Follow-Up Care Like After an Augmentation?

During the recovery period, the right care makes a huge difference. Your healthcare team should discuss post-op surgery recovery with you. This typically includes changing surgical dressings, wearing a special bra, and not showering for the first 24 hours. Sometime during the first two to three weeks, you will typically have a follow-up appointment. The doctor will check to ensure everything is healing properly.

You will typically also have a follow-up appointment around two months and six months after surgery. These follow-ups are just a checkup where the doctor will track your progress. As you heal, you will eventually be cleared for wearing underwire bras, running, and doing other activities. Your doctor may also recommend scar gels and other treatments to speed recovery.

Having a cosmetic surgery team who is involved with every step of recovery will make the process a lot easier for you. At Edelstein Cosmetics, we continue to work with our patients long after their surgery. Our expertise can help your recovery go as smoothly as possible. Ready to learn more about the augmentation process? Let’s talk.