Advice for Exercise After Breast Augmentation?

Retuning to exercise common concern for many of my patients in Denver, and I certainly support the goals of health and fitness and want to get patients back to their exercise routines as soon as possible. It is important, however, to allow time for the body to heal and to always "listen" very carefully to your body and progress activity a little at a time.Your thoughts about workouts that involve the legs over the arms are the best way to start out. I've answered other questions on RealSelf that detail the recovery period from Breast Augmentation. Here is the timeline from those answers:3-5 days - Return to non-physical work and light activity. Plan to still have some soreness and know that you will be tired more easily. I do encourage patients to use their arms and gently stretch (as long as this can be done without pain) so as to maintain full range of motion of the arms.You can return to sexual relations and regular daily self-care activities as long as these can be done comfortably. Unfortunately, it often takes longer for the breasts to become more comfortable for sexual play. 1 week postop visit - If a bra is being worn, we will assess whether to continue its use or discontinue the bra and apply an elastic band (if we are desiring more downward movement of the implant). You visit with our massage therapist for a 1hr appointment and she will begin very light lymphatic and breast tissue massage and give teaching for performing self massage.2 weeks - Return to moderate activity. Light-impact cardio exercise and some yoga postures and stretching are appropriate, and elliptical trainer or spin bike are a good place to start. Begin to increase light massage of the breasts.4 weeks - Begin a graduated return to full lower-body activity. You may start back to running if the breasts are comfortable while wearing a supportive athletic bra.6 week postop visit - We evaluate for implant position and relaxation of the breasts and come up with a plan for you accordingly. Sometimes we are near optimal position and go into a support bra. Other times we need more movement and step up the downward massage of the breasts.8 weeks postop - Begin a graduated return to full activity, including upper body.6 months - okay to stop breast massage.Hope this helps.

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.