How Soon After Breast Augmentation Can I Resume Activities?

Hello,

Each surgeon has their own post operative preference.  In general post operative restrictions are designed to prevent certain complications and each category has a different time frame:

Day 1-7

Hematoma.  Keeping a low blood pressure and heart rate may prevent blood vessels which have been sealed from opening up.

Infection.  Avoiding submerging your incisions in water early will prevent possible infection

Day 8-14

Swelling:  Excessive excercise or activity may prolong post op swelling and tenderness.

In general, normal daily activities can be resumed post op day 1.  Some level of excercise can be begin day 14 and slowly increased until back to full activity.

All the best,

Dr Repta

Web reference: http://aaaplasticsurgery.com

I use a rapid recovery breast augmentation technique and my patients are resuming normal activities within days! Speak to your surgeon about his/her anticipated recovery. Not every surgeon uses rapid recovery techniques and I have heard of some patients being miserable for weeks.

Web reference: http://www.drschulmanplasticsurgery.com/breast-augmentation-photo-gallery/

I tell patients to avoid formal exercise for one month post-op but they can walk as much as they want as of the day or surgery. Best of luck.

Generally speaking, I allow my breast augmentation patients to return to work within 2-5 days; however I prefer they do not drive for 3-5 days.  I do not have patients drive if they are taking any narcotics and ask them to wait to drive until they feel comfortable moving around freely.  They can resume light activity such as an elliptical or a stationary bicycle by one week and may run or jog by three weeks.  I do not alllow my patients to perform yoga, pilates, tennis or golf for 6-8 weeks following a subpectoral breast augmentation.

Web reference: http://www.drgrover.com/breast-augmentation.htm

Concerns about the recovery period are very common amongst patients considering breast augmentation surgery.  It’s important to realize that every patient’s situation is unique.
Some patients have desk jobs, while others have jobs that involve heavy lifting.  Some patients have children, while others have significant support systems available to them.  Some patients have more extensive procedures, while some patients have a low pain tolerance.  All of these factors can impact the recovery period.
I generally recommend that patients take a week off from work.  Patients who have desk jobs may return sooner.  Light exercise can usually be undertaken at about two weeks, and strenuous physical activity can be resumed at six weeks.  At that time, I tell patients that they can return to full activity, without restrictions.
It’s important to remember that recoveries vary from patient to patient.  Everyone’s a little different, but most patients agree that the recovery wasn’t as difficult as they thought it might be.

We typically perform surgery in the middle of the week, and patients return to work on Monday.  We allow resumption of full activity after 2 weeks.  Our only suggestions is that after two weeks restart your exercise program slowly.  We always have to tell our runners not to do a big run on day 15, but start slowly.

 Post operative guidelines vary greatly among surgeons as to when activity may begin following breast augmentation. This is based primarily on their training and type of breast augmentation.  Most patients do extremely well with a "rapid recovery" technique. This involves early mobility following surgery, muscle stretching, and early activity with anti-inflammatory pain medication only.  For most of my patients, they have been able to resume normal daily activities, except for aerobic exercise, within 2-3 days following surgery. I recommend low-impact aerobics after 10 days and high impact aerobics after 3 weeks based on your own comfort level.  Depending on the nature of your work, you should be able to return to work within 5-7 days and should be able to go to the beach after swelling resolves, which typically is within 7-10 days. Look for a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in rapid recovery techniques if recovery time is important to you. 

Web reference: http://www.stevenringlermd.com/breast-procedures-grand-rapids/rapid-recovery-breast-augmentation/

Recovery can vary from patient to patient. I usually allow my patients to return to work in about a week.  Light aerobic exercise in 3-4 weeks and heavy lifting and strenous workouts in 6-8 weeks.

You can start going to the beach within 3 weeks but you should avoid sun exposure with a high spf sunblock or sunscreen with a spf of 30. Acitivities are somewhat limited for 3 weeks wheeby they began to slowily provide increasing resistance over the ensuing months.

Almost all of our patients will return to work within a week after breast augmentation whether the implant is submuscular or subglandular. Unless your job involves lifting you shouldn't have a problem with it. You may experience some soreness however it is unlikely that the activity of daily living will negatively impact your result, and really most can't afford to take any more time away.

We place our patients is a snug conforming surgical bra and upper breast wrap which we keep inplace for two weeks. This keeps the implant still and dramatically reduces swelling and soreness.

As far as the beach is concerned again one week should be fine, but you may do best by keeping the breast dry, clean water bathing only the first two weeks. Also the breast will be very sun sensative so use sun block and cover up before you are pink.

Best of luck,

peterejohnsonmd