Breast Augementation Recovery Practices, Which is Better.

I am trying to decide which doctor to go with for my breast augmentation. Both doctors that I am looking at are the same except for their recovery practices. One doctors says to wear a sports bra 24/7 for 3 months and then at night for a year and no submerging in water for 3 months and the other doctor says no sports bra and I could go in water (swimming for fun not exercise) after 1 month. I need advice on which is best and if the outcome is any different? I am a 34B and getting 350cc.

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by Cocoon girl in Louisville, KY

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Breast Augmentation recovery practice.

There are as many postoperative recovery protocols as there are surgeons. There is not one right answer and common sense should prevail. The implant pocket has some need for massage but this is also an area of extreme variability. Find a surgeon that gets good results and follow those directions. Best Wishes Dr. Peterson

Marcus L. Peterson, MD

4 reviews

Saint George Plastic Surgeon

No Reason To Avoid Swimming Pool For 3 Months After Augmentation

I know of no reason to avoid submerging in a swimming pool for 3 months after your augmentation. In fact I allow my patients to do this after only a few days. Three months also seems a bit excessive for wearing a sports bra. I encourage my patients to wear a sports bra for 3 weeks or so and also to wear a Velcro strap over the upper breasts to encourage downward descent of the implants into a favorable position.

Post Operative Breast Augmentation

Every surgeon has his or her own post operative protocol. It is very important that you find a surgeon you are comfortable with and whose post operative instructions you can follow. This will allow for a good patient -doctor relationship. Best of luck!

Which is better

Surgeons are like cooks; they each follow a different recipe but in general have a similar end result. Go with someone you feel comfortable with and follow their directions. Make sure you go to a board certified plastic surgeon. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

3 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Post-op augmentation policy

Every doctor has a different regimen. I prefer to have my patients wear a sports brar for several weeks. Swimming or exertional acitivity should be avoided for 4-6 weeks. Just going in a pool and soaking usually should be avoided until the incisions are fully healed( probably about 3-4 weeks or so).

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation recovery recommendations.

Wearing a bra 24/7 for 3 months is not a good recommendation IMHO. Is this doctor trying to minimize bruising, bleeding, and capsular contracture with compression? Because of blunt dissection rather than careful and precise pocket creation? And even if he is, why 3 months? And no submerging in water for 3 months? This doctor seems both off-base and ultraconservative, perhaps on the basis of bad results in other patients, or inexperience. The second doctor seems more reasonable and... more

Breast aug recovery not that long

I agree with the second doctor. The first recommendations seem extreme. I can't imagine how staying out of water for so long could make any difference. I recommend a surgical bra 24/7 for a week. Then good support during the day for the next few months. If the implants need to drop, sometimes going without a bra can help. I clear all my patients for any activiy at 3 weeks. Ultimately, post op instructions probably are as important as surgical technique.

Postoperative care after breast augmentation

There is no single best protocol following breast aug. Typically, if a doctor has good results, and comes highly recommended, his/her protocol is probably fine. Three months in a sprorts bra seems excessive.

Straightforward recovery after breast implants

Breast augmentation recovery should be straightforward and uncomplicated. We prefer a soft cup conforming bra and breast band worn for two weeks which can be off and on for showering, and non strenuous exercise after three to four weeks. If you receive unusual or complicated recovery instructions this may be a red flag that could prompt a consultation elsewhere. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Breast augmentation recovery

I would disagree with your first doctor. If the breast pocket is made properly, there is no need to wear a bra 24/7 after 1-2 weeks. The capsule of scar tissue should be well formed by then, holding the implant in place. You should be able to submerge in water when the wounds are completely healed (usually by 2-3 weeks). However, swimming and other upper body exercise should be delayed for at least 4-6 weeks, to prevent bleeding or displacement of the implants... more