When to Start Basic Cardio Exercises After Breast Augmentation?

Hello SoCalfitgirl,
At our practice, we boast a 24-hour rapid recovery program. Usually with our patients, we recommend resuming low impact lower body exercises after two weeks and resuming high impact lower body exercising after four weeks (i.e. running, cardio). After six weeks, usually our patients are resuming normal upper and lower body activities.
It is always best to check with your plastic surgeon for your specific recovery process.
Good luck with everything.
Best,
Dr. Christopher Chang, MD
Washington DC, Maryland and Virigina

It would be best to consult with your surgeon as he may have different recommendations, but my personal advice to my patients is to start walking (NOT power walking) as much as they want AFTER the first week. To resume sports, cardio, heavy lifting, or any other strenuous activity, after 4-6 weeks.

I advise them to wear extra high impact sports bra for adequate support, when exercising, and to start gently and gradually build up to the level they were before they had the surgery.

After the initial 6 weeks, depending on your healing process, you should be able to resume all activities that you used to do, before surgery, but you should still be careful and avoid activities such as contact sports for a few months to come. Although you may feel fully recovered, your breast and chest area is still healing and any trauma against your breasts could result in unnecessary complications.


It is important to allow your body to heal and not rush through the recovery. After all, you have had the surgery and would like to enjoy of your results without any unnecessary complications.

Thanks for your question. I tell all my breast augmentation patients (and my technique involves placing the implants under the muscle) that they can resume "cardio" or aerobic exercise at 2 weeks after surgery as long as they wear a well-supported sports bra during the exercise.  This would include spinning, running, and eliptical classes.  This would not include kickboxing because of the impact/contact/sparring nature of it.  This also would not include weight lifting or some types of "cross fit" training because of the heavy weights, etc.  I also think "squats" can be started at 2 weeks because it works the quads, but no "burpies" or push-ups still.  Push-ups usually take at least 6 weeks in most cases if the breast augmentation is under the muscle because push-ups isolate a lot of pectoralis strain and force.  I typically say light weights (5 - 10 lbs at most) at 4 weeks and full weights (and push-ups) at 6 weeks after the surgery. This way you you can do "aerobic" exercise at 2 weeks after surgery and not "get out of shape" without straining the pec muscle. Good luck!