First of all, no such thing as a stupid question, however we have put together a little guide of breast augmentation recovery process: dos and don’ts to help guide you.
To obtain the best results after breast augmentation, it is important to put some thought into your post-breast augmentation care. To make sure your breast augmentation recovery is as safe, speedy, and as stress-free as possible. We have put together some general dos and don’ts that should be taken into consideration.
First, it is especially important you choose a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon for your surgery. He or She will have adequate training, skillset, and experience to provide the best results. Board-certified surgeons dedicate themselves to a longer and more comprehensive education. This means they operate under stricter standards for patient care, safety, and the best aesthetic results. If you are not sure whether a plastic surgeon is board-certified, do not be afraid to ask or research online.
Most importantly, it is crucial to follow your Surgeon’s instructions for your breast augmentation recovery and aftercare. Your surgeon will give you special instructions on how to care for yourself and your recovering body to ensure that no complications occur.
DOs:
Follow your Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon’s instructions: listen to your doctor’s advice on post-breast augmentation recovery and aftercare.
Get lots of rest: give yourself enough time to sleep and avoid any strenuous activities. Give your body time to decompress and heal.
Massage & moisturize your breasts: it might help alleviate the pain and keep the skin hydrated, but do it only if your doctor advices you to.
Stock up on healing foods: a healthy diet promotes the body heal faster. Healing foods such as: nuts, seeds, fruits, veggies, leafy greens, or protein. They are essential macro-nutrients for repairing tissue. We have prepared a guide for foods that promote healing for breast surgery recovery.
Maintain optimism and a positive attitude: healing is as much psychological as it is physical. Adjust your expectations, if necessary.
Keep hydrated: drinking a lot of water and liquids will help you recover faster. Water also helps move nutrients through the body including the wound sites for increased healing.
Have some help at home: Have a friend or family member stay home with you after to drive you from surgery and help you get around the house for the first few days. Especially if you have children or pets since your movements will be limited the first few days of postsurgical care. Plan so that you can rest without concerns.
Take time off work: Depending on the surgical technique or approach your surgeon uses for the surgery can influence time off you will need from work. Schedule your PTO accordingly, really you have to rest, plan to take at least 4–7 days off from work and from home chores.
Don’ts:
Do not push yourself too hard: Seriously rest! Your surgeon will give you aftercare instructions, you should follow them seriously and. If you try to do too much too soon, you risk injuring yourself and altering your results.
Do not sunbathe: Avoid direct sunlight, pay special attention particularly to your incision scar, keep it out of the sun to avoid discoloring and hyperpigmentation (getting dark). Ideally, keep your incision scar away from direct sunlight for a year post-surgery. Remember always wear broad spectrum SPF!
Avoid drinking alcohol: In order for your medication and anesthesia to work as effectively as possible, you should avoid alcohol two weeks or more prior to your surgery and afterwards. Always follow the advice of your expert surgeon when drinking alcohol before and after surgery
Avoid smoking cigarettes and/or use tobacco: Cigarettes and surgery are a bad combination. Avoid smoking weeks prior to your surgery and avoid after. Tobacco negatively affects impacts your body ability to heal.
Don’t do heavy lifting: Lift or carry anything heavy in the first few weeks, this includes your children, house hold items or weight lifting in the gym. Lifting, running, and stretching too soon can extend your recovery period and might also affect the result of your surgery.
Avoid baths and pools: try to keep your dressings dry right after surgery. Have someone help you the first few days to get in and out of the shower, to help change your surgical dressings and keep the area clean. Avoid pools since chlorine and bacteria might give you an infection.
Don’t go braless right after surgery: it’s important for you breasts to be correctly supported for at least 6 weeks after your surgery, or longer depending on your Surgeon’s advice. Compression bras like our NOA, are excellent to keep your new breasts supported.
Don’t expect to see results right after surgery: it will take a while for the results to settle into a more natural position in your chest. During breast augmentation surgery, the muscles react by tightening, which causes the resting position to be a little higher than normal. The chest tissue may look a little swollen and you might see your breasts bigger due to the inflammation, which is normal. It always depends on each individual patient but generally speaking; actual results are visible approximately 8-12 weeks after surgery.
Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question. If you have any questions, doubts or worries contact your Plastic Surgeon he or she will be able to provide qualified answers based on your medical history and procedure.
Sources:
https://www.rosecosmeticsurgery.com/breast-augmentation-recovery-dos-and-donts/
https://moraitisplasticsurgery.com/dos-and-donts-after-breast-augmentation-surgery/