Advice for Exercise After Breast Augmentation?

Recovery from surgery is simple. The body will let you know when it is ready for activity. This is not the time for no pain no gain. Here in Miami I get my share of patients that "need" to work out. My experience has been that after two weeks it should be ok to spin. Maybe not position 3, but one or two will get you all the cardio you need. Any earlier, you can try just walking. The metabolic rate rises when the body undergoes a surgical procedure, so for a few weeks you will burn extra calories, without lifting a finger.

My advice is, try it, and if it hurts don't do it.

Most people who consider plastic surgery are doing something already to improve their body.  The time off from exercise is a concern to many.  However important to your routine, it is not acceptable to change the postoperative recovery regimen to fit your personal goals.  Wound healing is wound healing.  Just because an individual wants it to move faster, it won't.  After breast augmentation, it is best to take a full week off from work and stay home.  After that, it is safest to refrain from any vigorous physical activity for a month from surgery.  At that time, low-impact cardio is a good way to start.  If  one engages in exercise before the wounds are allowed to heal, there could be bleeding which ultimately can have a negative effect on the outcome.  It is just not worth it to change what the surgeon has been doing to take care of thousands of patients just because you want to get back to the gym.  This is surgery after all.  You should be relying on your board certified plastic surgeon to provide you with the postoperative care that they have been trained for the better part of a decade to provide.

After breast augmentation, allowing your body ample time to heal is crucial, with the timeline for resuming exercise varying significantly based on several factors. Light activities like walking are generally encouraged within a few days to aid circulation, but more strenuous activities that elevate heart rate or blood pressure, such as cycling, should be avoided for at least the first 2 weeks to minimize the risk of complications like bleeding or increased swelling.
Specific aspects of your surgery, including the placement of implants above or below the muscle, whether it's a revision surgery, and the size of the implants, can significantly influence your recovery and when you can safely return to exercise. For instance, submuscular placement often requires a longer recovery period before resuming strenuous activities compared to subglandular placement.
Surgeons provide guidelines tailored to your specific circumstances, advising a gradual return to full exercise routines, typically over 4 to 6 weeks post-surgery, depending on healing progress. Adhering to your surgeon's advice and paying attention to your body's signals are essential for a successful recovery.

I recommend holding off on any heavy exercise with the arms or chest for two to three weeks after the breast augmentation. However, during that time you are encouraged to walk, work your abdomen, or utilize a weight machine for your lower extremities. Cardio or upper body workouts should not be performed for 2-3 weeks after the augmentation, then slowly advance from there.

Generally, I recommend at least 4 weeks of minimal or decreased physical activity. While minimizing chest exercises is the most important, decreasing high impact activities is also key. As you heal during the first few weeks your body will begin to let you know what's safe and what is not. Its important to go slow and work up to any activities. You made an investment in your body, be patient and work with it to achieve your best results.

I generally recommend no exercise for 4 weeks after surgery. We recommend this for both a healing and bleeding standpoint. Exercise or anything that increases you heart rate can increase the risk of bleeding.