Breast Augmentation: Cost, Reviews, Photos

 Working and sunning

Every surgeon has slightly different preferences – check with yours when scheduling your procedure. Many patients with desk jobs can return to work after three days.

People with active jobs may take a week to feel comfortable. You should not do any lifting, pushing, or strenuous arm activity for four weeks. No swimming (hot tub, pool, ocean) or baths for two weeks while your incisions heal- protect your investment! Avoid the sun for at least a week after surgery.

You should keep your incisions covered with cloth and sunscreen for the first year to get the best possible scar. (Grant Stevens, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Activity after Breast Augmentation

In my practice, I require patients to avoid lifting more than 5 pounds for 2 weeks after surgery. Generally, walking is fine within a few days of surgery and can be progressed after I see you at your first post op visit.

There will be swelling after surgery which is normal. Heat and sun at the beach can exacerbate the swelling so I would advise avoiding extreme heat and sun exposure for 4 weeks following surgery. (Christopher J. Morea, MD, Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon)

Two Weeks Before Hitting The Beach After Breast Augmentation

It depends on what you are planning to do at the beach or what kind of work you do. If you are just sunbathing, then you may be able to do this after two weeks, however you should cover up your incisions well to avoid making them worse.

You will also be able to go swimming, but do not strain yourself. For work, you can go back to sedentary desk work after about 5 days to a week, or longer if it is physically demanding. If you need to lift things at work, then you should wait until about 6 weeks. (Jerome Edelstein, MD, Toronto Plastic Surgeon)

Breast Augmentation Recovery

Each surgeon has different viewpoints regarding return to activity after breast augmentation.For the most part, womencan return to most normal day-to-day activities such as driving within three to five days after breast augmentation. Many surgeons will caution a woman to restrict movement of the arm and shoulder area for a few weeks after the procedure. Unless a woman has a job that requires heavy lifting, most patients will return to work within one week. Normally, all restrictions can be lifted after one month. (John J. Edney, MD, Omaha Plastic Surgeon)

Resuming activities after Breast Augmentation

I use a rapid recovery breast augmentation technique and my patients are resuming normal activities within days! Speak to your surgeon about his/her anticipated recovery.

Not every surgeon uses rapid recovery techniques and I have heard of some patients being miserable for weeks. (Matthew Schulman, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)

I tell patients to avoid formal exercise for one month post-op but they can walk as much as they want as of the day or surgery. (Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS, Boston Plastic Surgeon)

Every plastic surgeon has different recommendations as to when one can resume activities.

Generally speaking, I allow my breast augmentation patients to return to work within 2-5 days; however I prefer they do not drive for 3-5 days. I do not have patients drive if they are taking any narcotics and ask them to wait to drive until they feel comfortable moving around freely.

They can resume light activity such as an elliptical or a stationary bicycle by one week and may run or jog by three weeks. I do not alllow my patients to perform yoga, pilates, tennis or golf for 6-8 weeks following a subpectoral breast augmentation. (Sanjay Grover, MD, Orange County Plastic Surgeon)

Activity After Breast Augmentation

Post operative guidelines vary greatly among surgeons as to when activity may begin following breast augmentation. This is based primarily on their training and type of breast augmentation.

Most patients do extremely well with a “rapid recovery” technique. This involves early mobility following surgery, muscle stretching, and early activity with anti-inflammatory pain medication only.

For most of my patients, they have been able to resume normal daily activities, except for aerobic exercise, within 2-3 days following surgery. I recommend low-impact aerobics after 10 days and high impact aerobics after 3 weeks based on your own comfort level. Depending on the nature of your work, you should be able to return to work within 5-7 days and should be able to go to the beach after swelling resolves, which typically is within 7-10 days. Look for a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in rapid recovery techniques if recovery time is important to you. (Steven L. Ringler, MD, FACS, Grand Rapids Plastic Surgeon)