Recovering from Breast Augmentation Surgery

 

While your breast augmentation surgery may have only taken a few hours, the recovery period can take a great deal longer. While this is an elective procedure, it is surgery, and you should be equipped and prepared to face the challenges of recovery. Remember that during the operation the plastic surgeon has to cut through some nerves, blood vessels and skin in order to insert your implants. While surgeries are becoming less invasive, the implants need to be placed beneath the skin and sometimes muscle. With each cut comes a necessary healing and proper healing ensures a favorable and aesthetically appealing outcome to your breast augmentation surgery.

 

 

The damage to local nerves and to the blood vessels means that you’ll feel sore, tired and have some bruising for a few days after the operation. Your plastic surgeon will no doubt have prescribed you some pain-relieving medication to help you overcome this initial discomfort. She will also inform you of the dates when you need to come in for follow up appointments. While this depends on scheduling issues and the invasiveness of your exact breast augmentation surgery, you should expect to return to the office within a week for the removal of stitches and in two weeks for bandage removal.

 

You should rest completely for a few days after the operation. Beyond this you should be prepared for the possibility that you may not be able to engage in any strenuous activity for up to six weeks after the operation. The skin and subcutaneous (deep) tissues are healing during this time and anything but modest activity could potentially interfere with recovery.

 

Your plastic surgeon will also inform you of any symptoms for which you should seek urgent medical attention, such as breathlessness, chest pains or fever. Aside from following the instructions of the plastic surgeon, you can help your own recovery by adjusting your lifestyle for the first six weeks of recovery. Look at ways of avoiding stress as studies have shown that this can diminish the immune system and slow the healing process. A well-balanced diet will also help by ensuring that your body has all the resources it needs to recover fully.

 

You should notice a decrease in swelling within the first few weeks and the area should begin to take on a relatively natural appearance. Be advised that the incision lines of breast augmentation surgery will be pink and firm for quite some time and scars could take one to two years before they fade. Your chances of scarring rest largely in the competence and skill of your surgeon but also in your body’s ability to heal skin injuries in general.