How Long is Breast Implants Recovery Time?

Dear Geneseo,Most of my patients are back to work in 3-4 days, however most sit at a desk.  The majority of implants are placed partially under the pectoralis major muscle or in the subfascial plane. The recovery from implants placed over the muscle in the subfascial plane is faster.   I you can go back to work in a "light duty" capacity, or you control the workouts and can avoid having to demonstrate or perform any upper body workout or activities that make you chest bounce for that period of time, then you can consider doing it over winter or spring break. Best of luck. 

Breast augmentation is the most common aesthetic surgical procedure in the United States.  For the majority of patient the surgery and recovery is very straight forward and they are extremely happy with the results.

The surgery is a day procedure, which means that patients go home the same day.  They are then seen the next day or two after their surgery by their physician.  For the first couple of days patients will feel pressure on their chest.  This typically comes from the muscle being stretched by the implant underneath it.  Occasionally patients will feel some burning at the incision, however this is usually minimal.  It also takes patients a day or two to get all of the anesthesia out of their system so that they start feeling more like their normal self.



The tendency is for patients to do to much as they start to feel pretty good after a couple days.  It is important for patients to take it easy for a couple weeks.  They can resume all of their normal daily activities after a week.  And most patients are back to work after several days depending on their specific occupation. 



The breast implants themselves tend to sit a little high the first couple weeks and then settle as the skin and muscle relax and the implants fall into position.  It takes several months for all of the swelling to resolve and the implants to completely settle, however patients already look great after a couple weeks. 



I hope this gives you at least an idea of the general recovery and process of a breast augmentation.  Please consult with your board certified plastic surgeon.  

Breast augmentation is a short surgery which is typically performed as an outpatient. I prefer the patients take a week off from work. At that point they can return to work or school, but should refrain from all vigorous physical activity. At 1 month, they can resume cardio type exercises. At 2 months they can lift weights. It is extremely common to have surgery during Spring Break and Winter Break, returning to school without extra vacation time.  In fact, those are our busiest times of the year!

Typically, a long weekend for most patients.  Of course, some return quicker and some need more days off.  If physical activity is part of work, then it is usually 1 to 2 weeks.Discussion pre-op with your plastic surgeon is recommended.

Everyone recovers a little differently but in general most individuals are able to go back to work within 3-5 days. If you're required to do a lot of activities as a Physical Ed teacher you may need to limit what you do at work for an additional few weeks. 
In general, I advise patients to limit the use of their arms for the first two weeks to weight less than 10lbs. No upper body exercising. It's okay to do gentle range of motion but should keep the shoulders below 90 degrees. 
They can then slowly start doing more but I still advise to limit heavy exercising until 6 weeks. 
I hope this helps. 

Hi there.  I advise my breast augmentation patients to take a week off of work.  With that being said though, even after returning to work at 1 week post surgery,  they are not allowed to do any physical exercise, including cardio and swimming, for 6 weeks post surgery.  In addition, no lifting anything over 5 lbs until the 6 week post surgery mark.   You mentioned you are a phys ed teacher so I am assuming you are quite active during the work week.  Perhaps think about waiting until summer break for your surgery, when you will have adequate rest and recovery time, so that you get the best results possible. 

It is certainly possible to return to work in a week after breast augmentation surgery. Every patient recovery is different. Choosing a board certified plastic surgeon in consultation allows you to discuss the size and placement of the implant above or below the muscle.A natural look may use a smaller implant which may reduce the healing time as well. However, physical activity, such as lifting or exercise may be limited in the first week.  It is best to discuss your options with your chosen plastic surgeon.

Returning to work one week after breast enlargement should definitely be possible.  In fact, you should be well on your way to complete recovery from a standpoint of discomfort, swelling, and healing of your incision.  Most of my patients are off any pain medication by 48 -72 hours after surgery.  I allow patients to drive after 4 days.  Clothing choice will be important when you first return to work.  After one week the implants may still sit slightly high and be more firm than they will be once complete healing has occurred.  While the difference will be obvious in a bathing suit or tight fitting clothing it will probably not be as noticeable in regular fitting clothing.   Finally, it is important to work together with your board certified plastic surgeon and choose breast implants sized to fit your chest wall well.   This will give you a natural appearance that looks fuller and more voluptuous, but does not look obviously like breast implants.  I tell patients they should appear to have full breasts for someone with their proportions, but people will think you were just "born lucky" as far as breast size.   In summary, it should be possible to return to work one week after breast augmentation and maintain your privacy.

After performing this procedure for many years, I have seen some variability in recovery. However, in general, most women are off the pain medication in a few days, and once in a while I have a patient that doesn't require any pain medication at all.Unless you have a job that requires heavy lifting, most patients are back to work in a few days. I have had many women have the procedure on Friday and are back to work on Monday. But occasionally, I will have someone experience significant discomfort for the first week. It is described as a pressure sensation due to the pectoralis muscle being stretched.On average, regarding appearance, it takes about a month for the implants to drop and center behind the breast tissue. Prior to that, the implants will often look a little high on the chest. Good luck!

I use a rapid recovery process.  Combination of pre and post operative medication to make a smooth, quick, and comfortable recovery.  Patients are typically surprised at how comfortable they are immediately after surgery.  I do not limit are movement only restrict patients to light activity/lifting for 3 weeks.   Most patients do not need narcotics or only for a couple of days.    

It all depends on the type of breast implant procedure that you're having. Having breast implants alone vs breast implant lift can have different recovery expectations and requirements. In general all post operative swelling is worse over the first 5 to 7 days after surgery, before it begins to subside over the subsequent 4-6 weeks. Post op pain can vary widely between different patients' thresholds and tolerance as well as surgical techniques involved. Over this period of time, it's wise to take things easy without any heavy lifting for optimal wound healing. There will also be a period of both physical & psychological adjustments to your new breasts and you new life in the overall recovery process. So while there are some general expectations of what's involved in your breast implant recovery, it's always best to adhere to the specific instructions from your treating surgeon for the optimal surgical result.

Best wishes

Ellis Choy