Recovery Time After Breast Augmentation?

I work as a RN on a pretty busy floor. Wondering how much time I will need to take off from work for a breast augmentation. I'm pretty sure with the research I have done that I will be going under the muscle. Also not trying to get too large of an implant. Just want to be able to fit into clothes better more then anything. The recovery time is a huge part of my decision to do this. I can't afford a 6 week leave from work.

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by megan737 in Chagrin Falls

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Recovery Time After Breast Augmentation

It usually takes 2 weeks to recover. One can resume most activities in 3 weeks and in 4 weeks for heavy lifting.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

10 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Recovery Time After Breast Augmentation? #breastaugmentation

We all vary with our rules but there are a few that I feel are pretty hard nosed. I do not allow patients to do any heavy lifting more than 10-15 pounds for 6 weeks. There are several reasons why this is important. There is an inherent risk of bleeding after creating the pocket for the first few weeks and too much vigorous work can lead to a hematoma. Incisions will not have their strength back until the classic 6 week mark and you do not want to risk an open incision with an implant beneath... more

You need the "24-hour recovery" breast augmentation! Or is it the "Flash recovery?"

Megan, thanks for all you do to help the doctors in your life treat your patients! I see a fair number of RNs in my breast augmentation practice, and of course want them to have a smooth, complication-free recovery as much as you want to! So how about one of those "brand-name" "quickie-recovery" breast augmentations? Any clever plastic surgeon (and clever NON-plastic surgeons who call themselves "cosmetic surgeons" and may be Dermatologists or Family Medicine doctors with little or no... more

Time needed for breast augmentation recovery

Recovery time following a submuscular breast augmentation is variable for all patients. In general expect to need to take pain medication night and day for the first 2 - 3 days then night only for another 2 - 3 days. You will need to avoid activities that make the breast bounce up and down for the first 6 weeks, this includes high impact aerobics and jogging. Lifting is variable and depends upon your comfort level. I have many patients who are nurses and they can... more

Breast augmentation recovery

I typically tell my patients to avoid lifting more than 10 lbs for at least 4 weeks, but driving is ok after a week. If you can return to nursing and not have to physically lift patients for that length of time you should be okay. You need to find out from the plastic surgeon who will be performing the surgery what he/she recommends.

Recovery After Breast Augmentation

Most of my patients are comfortable to drive and return to a desk job type activity in a few days after breast augmentation. However, I generally recommend no heavy lifting or strenuous activity (lifting above 15-20 lbs, working out, etc) for 3-4 weeks after augmentation. As a busy RN, you are likely involved with moving patients and heavy lifting. So I would recommend you take off 3-4 weeks if possible. I would clear you to resume activity as tolerated gradually at... more

Recovery after Breast Augmentation

HI, For patients who have a sub-muscular medium sized implant I usually tell them to get the surgery at the end of the week (Thursday or Friday) and then take that weekend and the next week off. That will give you 9-10 days.You should be able to return to work with just ibuprofen for the pain. You might want to go on a shift where there is not a lot of heavy lifting for several weeks, but otherwise you should be ok. I hope this helps. Regards, Daniel A. Medalie, MD more

Recovery time after augmentation

It depends on how you define recovery. Pain free and not aware you even had an operation? probably 6 weeks. Functional and able to do an office job? within 7 days. I think if you don't have to do heavy lifting at work you will be able to be back relatively soon. Most nurses I know, though, have pretty strict physical requirements that must be signed off on by their surgeon before returning to work.

Recovery Time after Breast Augmentation?

Thank you for the question. If you are able to avoid heavy lifting you should be able to return to work within 7 days. Otherwise you may have to wait 4 to 6 weeks. As you know, recovery time after any type of operation will vary from one patient to another. Your plastic surgeon will be able to guide you more specifically depending on how you do postoperatively. Generally speaking, I do have to remind my RN patients to be good patients and follow... more

Recovery after breast augmentation

Your time off of work will ultimately depend upon what you are specifically needed to do on your job. If you are required to complete heavy lifting (transferring patients), then I would think you might need 4-6 weeks off. But if you can modify your job description for a time to light duty, you might be able to be back at work in as little as 3-4 days.