Most patients who undergo breast augmentation are actually surprised to find that they recovery is smoother than anticipated. I find that a majority of patients are most concerned about side-effects related to the standard oral narcotic medications.
To help reduce the need for these following surgery, I not only inject the breasts with numbing medication during the procedure, I also wash out the implant pocket with antibiotic solution and additional numbing medicine. Most importantly, I also perform an Intercostal Nerve Block immediately before surgery which I feel is extremely effective in reducing immediate pain following surgery.
As a result, a majority of my patients transition to non-narcotic pain medications within 24-48 hours following surgery and continually remark to both myself and my staff that their recovery was easier than anticipated.
As far as activity restrictions, I recommend that they not lift anything heavier than 6-8 pounds for one week after surgery and that they hold off on any aggressive physical activities for the first few weeks during their recovery.
