How Long to Wait to Have Sex After Breast Augmentation?

This is a very practical question that many of my patients ask me.

The answer to this is quite simple - you can return to sexual
activity at any stage after surgery.

However, the reality is that for the first few days at least after
surgery you will be far too sore to think about that.

My general recommendations about returning to normal physical
activities includes refraining from normal heavy upper body manual
handing/lifting and straining for the first four weeks after surgery.

So with this in mind, you can return to sexual activity at any time,
but for the first four weeks after surgery you basically need to take on a very
passive role.

Also, you are advised to commence breast massaging at
three weeks after surgery to help your breasts soften and settle. So this also
means you and your partner can handle your breasts normally from this stage. You’ll
still be a bit sore, so your body comfort levels will guide you as to what you
should and shouldn’t be doing.

I prefer that patients wait 1 month after surgery before engaging in any strenuous physical activity.  The risks of hematoma before that are just too high to justify the activity.

The increase heart rate, blood pressure and dilation of blood vessels that accompany sex or other "activities" are risky in the first two weeks after this surgery.  You don't want to endanger a great result with impatience.  

All strenuous activity, including sex, should be minimized until week 6 to reduce your likelihood of a complication.

Due to risk of bleeding (hematoma), I restrict my patients from all activities that could raise their blood pressure for two weeks after surgery. Most patients are too sore to consider sexual activity in the first two weeks anyway. Hope that helps!

It would be reasonable wait 2 weeks before resuming sexual activity after surgery. This is to reduce risk of bleeding and implant displacement. I still recommend to avoid exercises for four weeks at sex can be considered a sort of physical activity. Furthermore I advice to keep the bra on for four weeks postoperatevely.

Hi there,
In general, I advise my patients not to engage in any strenuous activities, heavy lifting, upper chest exercise etc for the first 4 to 6 weeks post op breast augmentation. In particular, I also emphasise to my patients that it'll be extremely important to refrain from doing any thing that will raise their blood pressure (including having sex) in the first 7 to 10 days as there is still risk of haematoma during that period of time. 
Obviously common sense apply, even if my patient is to resume normal sexual activity after that period of time, they are always reminded to be extra careful and gentle with their breasts as the healing are still fresh and in early stage and they'll need to be mindful at all times. Otherwise they should be able to slowly ease back to their normal routines.
Hope this helps.
Ellis Choy

Thanks for your question. I tell my patients to wait for at least 2 weeks until having intercourse, because the aerobic nature of it, similar to any exercise after surgery can cause high blood pressure which can leading to bleeding or hematoma.  After two weeks I allow patients to resume aerobic exericise (no weights) or sex (no breast implant manipulation).  I also don't recommend heavy manipulation of the breast implant for at least 4 weeks. I hope this is helpful. 

In theory you can engage in sexual activity the day after surgery. Specially if the implant is not placed under the muscle (e.g subfascial) in which case you will have very minimal pain. However, it is important to:
not have your blood pressure increased, which can cause bleeding and short or long term complications for the implant,not have the implant displaced due to aggressive squeezing.Therefore, I usually permit sexual activity a week after surgery with care and totally normal activity 6 weeks post surgery.
Hope this helps,
Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Instructions regarding the timing for when it's okay to have sex after breast augmentation varies between surgeons. I can only speak for the recommendations that I give. Basically, I would hold off for a couple of weeks to be safe. Really you can have sex anytime you feel ready as long as your activities don't involve contact with your breasts for 6 weeks. Using common sense and avoiding any type of rough or strenuous activity is best. 

This is a reasonable and common question that patients ask fairly frequently.  We generally tell patients to refrain for vigorous sexual activity for several weeks for several reasons. Firstly, we just want the patient to focus on recovery and allow the surgical site to heal appropriately. In fact, patients usually find that discomfort from surgery puts the sex conversation on hold anyways. Secondly, as just stated, we do not want the implants to be manipulated, traumatized, etc or the incision pulled, twisted, traumatized, etc which all may occur during sex.  Lastly, depending on ones aerobic sexual activity there is a chance of increased swelling in the breast with increased heart rate and movement of post surgical fluid that can increase the risk for hematomas and seromas.