How Long Does It Take To Heal From Breast Augmentation
Breast Augmentation Recovery and Healing is difficult for women to understand. Some women think it’s going to be a cake walk, then end up in tears because that wasn’t the case for them. A common misconception about breast augmentation is that there’s no recovery process involved. Everything happens in the operating room, and then you’re immediately 100% ready to go.
Breast augmentation is a common choice among women seeking to enhance their figure or recover from breast deficiencies. With the surgery done correctly, you expect your breasts to reach the perfect size and shape. But many times, unexpected results happen. This can be attributed to any number of reasons; aging body parts, over-stretching of skin, malpositioning of implants, or side effects from medications. Whatever the reason may be, you’re left with undesirable results.read more on How Long Does It Take To Heal From Breast Augmentation Surgery/How long does swelling last after breast augmentation surgery.
1) The size of your breasts before surgery.
2) The size of your implants.
3) How much fat you have in your breasts.
4) How tight or loose your skin is.
5) If you’ve had breast-enhancing procedures before, such as liposuction or breast lifts.
6) How much weight you gain or lose between your pre-surgical consultation and when you go back for your follow-up checkup with your plastic surgeon. Typically, patients who have smaller implants and are more active experience faster drops than those with larger implants and less activity.
You should be able to see your breast implants drop between 1 and 4 weeks after surgery.
The implant will shift and settle into its new position as the muscles, fat, and skin around it relax. The best way to tell is by looking at your breasts in the mirror: they should look rounder and fuller, although they may still be swollen and bruised.
If you’re not seeing any change at all, check with your surgeon.
How Long Does It Take To Heal From Breast Augmentation Surgery
On average, a full recovery period usually takes about four to six weeks. It’s important to refrain from physical activity, lifting heavy objects and overworking yourself during this sensitive time.
How Long Does Pain Last After Breast Augmentation
You may feel sore for 2 to 3 weeks, and you’ll likely have a lot of swelling. You may have a pulling or stretching feeling in your breast area. You can expect to feel better and stronger each day, although you may need pain medicine for a week or two.
It’s normal to feel some pain in the first one to two weeks after having breast augmentation surgery. The pain will be most severe in the first few days and should gradually subside.
After six weeks, any pain or unusual sensations should have gone, although it’s fairly common for patients to experience shooting pains up to six months or more after surgery.
Some people also experience nerve pain, which can cause tingling, shooting pains, numbness or itching, particularly where the incision was made.
Is it normal to have a sharp pain where the incision was made?
Yes, it’s normal to have pain where the incision was made in one or both breasts, especially in the first few days after surgery. If the pain can’t be controlled with prescribed pain medication or you feel overwhelmed by it, speak to you surgeon immediately.
Is it normal to experience burning pain after a breast augmentation
Yes, many people experience a burning sensation after having breast augmentation surgery. This happens because the nerves in the breast are stretched during surgery, and after surgery when the breasts are swollen.
The breasts are full of nerve endings so it’s extremely likely that the surgery will affect some of them. The burning sensation occurs when the nerves are regenerating and reconnecting with the area of the breast to which they normally supply feeling.
It can take up to six months or more for these shooting pains to resolve themselves.
How painful is breast augmentation under-the-muscle
Having implants under the muscle tends to be more painful than over the muscles as your surgeon will need to make an incision in the muscle, as well as the breast tissue, to create the ‘pocket’ that your breast implant will fit inside.
You can expect to feel the most pain in the first one to three days after surgery. Your breasts and chest are likely to feel sore but you may also feel some stabbing or shooting pains. Your surgeon will prescribe you with pain medication to manage this.
You can expect to have more swelling if:
- you’ve had implants under your chest muscle, as this involves making an incision in the chest muscle, as well as the breast tissue and skin, so there’s more tissue that needs to heal
- you have large implants—this could mean the breast and muscle tissue has been stretched
- you smoke—smoking can slow down the healing process
- you have certain pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes
You can find out more about how to reduce the risks of surgery here.
Most patients find that any swelling will have gone down by about three weeks after surgery. However, it’s normal to experience some swelling for up to three months. You can find out more about what to expect in recovery here.
How long does swelling last after breast augmentation surgery
24 hours post-op
After the operation, you may experience soreness, fatigue, nausea, tightness in your chest and oversensitivity or a loss of sensitivity in the breasts. You may also notice swelling and bruising, which will fade over time.
After the surgery, you will be required to rest for a couple of hours in the surgical postoperative room until the anesthesia fully wears off. It is crucial you have a ride home from a trusted family member or friend who will continue to help and take care of you a few days post-op.
During the first 24 hours, you may feel extreme pain and discomfort. Taking over the counter pain relievers as directed, like acetaminophen is recommended. Your doctor may also prescribe pain relievers and muscle relaxers so help keep you comfortable.
3 to 4 weeks post-op
At this stage, you should feel little to no pain or discomfort. Swelling and bruising in the breasts should have reduced and faded. However, it is normal to still have bruising depending on the type of surgery and if there were any complications.
Your doctor may start to encourage you to engage in light exercises but refrain from strenuous activities. Continuing to wear a post-surgical bra and front closure bras can still promote healing at this time.
4 to 6 weeks post-op
Usually, at this point, most patients have fully recovered and can resume regular activity. Your breasts should look and feel more natural. Patients are advised to make an appointment with their surgeon for a full evaluation of the breast implants.
Is it normal to have uneven swelling after breast augmentation surgery
Some people experience uneven swelling in the chest after augmentation surgery and this is completely normal as it’s most likely due to the breasts healing at different rates. This will usually resolve itself within a few weeks.
However, uneven swelling could be a sign of something more serious, such as blood or fluid gathering at the wound in one of the breasts. If you’re concerned or experience significantly more pain or swelling in one side of the chest than the other, speak to your surgeon as soon as possible.
How can I reduce abdominal swelling after breast augmentation surgery
After your operation, gravity can make the swelling in your breast tissue move down to the abdomen.
You can help reduce swelling in your abdomen by:
- drinking plenty of water
- walking around as soon as you feel able to do so
- stopping or switching pain medication if your bloating is severe—narcotic painkillers can cause constipation, and it’s important you speak to your surgeon before making any changes to your pain medication
- speaking to your surgeon about taking stool softeners if constipation is causing your stomach to bloat
How can I make swelling go down after surgery
- Wear a supportive surgical bra as this gently compresses the breasts to reduce swelling
- Speak to your surgeon about taking arnica supplements as this herb can be applied to the skin to treat swelling and bruising.
- Being too active can actually aggravate the healing process, so only do gentle exercise for the first few weeks after your operation
- If the top of your breasts still seems swollen around three months after surgery, this could be the implants themselves. It can take six months or more for implants to fully settle in place