Your Recovery From Cosmetic Breast Surgery
What to Expect After Breast Surgery
One of the keys to a successful post-operative recovery is to recognize that undergoing cosmetic breast surgery is a very special time in your life. As such, it is important to prepare yourself and your loved ones. Most women are very busy with work and family responsibilities and tend to be the nurturers and caregivers to those around them. So, it can be difficult to let those duties go and change the focus to just oneself.
Your Special Time
Many women dream of their aesthetic breast surgery for years, so there is a large emotional investment in the experience along with substantial time and money. It is important to follow through with an investment of preparation, time, and rest to optimize your healing, comfort and results after surgery. This is your special time; a time to pamper yourself and receive care from those around you.
Pamper Yourself
Generally, most women will need three to five days of pampering after surgery. During that period, you will need to take strong pain medication, sleep well, and take an occasional nap. During these first few days, you are not to care for children, or work inside or outside the home. Once you stop taking the narcotics and your energy level increases, you can gradually resume responsibility for your work and home activities.
In the first three weeks after surgery, physical activity is limited to avoid increasing your heart rate and blood pressure, and you are not to lift anything greater than 20 pounds. Three weeks after surgery, you may gradually resume most activities and exercise regimens, except for lifting more than 20 pounds and doing direct exercises with your upper body.
Time is Your Ally
Please understand that a minimum of six weeks is needed to see the results of surgery coming into form. In many cases, your final results will not be fully realized for up to six months after surgery. It simply takes time for the swelling to resolve, your tissues to stretch and soften, and for your implants to drop into optimal position. This means that time is your ally and that your tissues and scars will likely improve with time.
Understanding these facts before surgery will help temper your expectations, hone your patience, and make for a more pleasurable recovery.
For specific details of our post-operative instructions please open the appropriate file below:
Breast Augmentation
Post-op breast augmentation surgery instructions (PDF)Breast Lift
Post-op breast lift surgery instructions (PDF)Breast Lift and Augmentation
Post-op breast lift and breast augmentation surgery instructions (PDF)Breast Reduction
Post-op breast reduction surgery instructions (PDF)
