Advice for Exercise After Breast Augmentation?

Recovery from surgery is simple. The body will let you know when it is ready for activity. This is not the time for no pain no gain. Here in Miami I get my share of patients that "need" to work out. My experience has been that after two weeks it should be ok to spin. Maybe not position 3, but one or two will get you all the cardio you need. Any earlier, you can try just walking. The metabolic rate rises when the body undergoes a surgical procedure, so for a few weeks you will burn extra calories, without lifting a finger.

My advice is, try it, and if it hurts don't do it.

It can be very frustrating for active patients to take time off after any type of cosmetic procedure, but it really is necessary for a favorable result. I strongly encourage my patients to refrain from strenuous exercise for about 2 weeks after surgery. At the 2-week mark, you should be able to return to the gym for some light cardio. Strength training of the upper body should be avoided a bit longer. Taking care of yourself after surgery is just as important to your final result as choosing a good surgeon. Listen to your body and give yourself the opportunity to fully heal. Remember: It's much easier to get back to your original fitness level after a break than it is to recover from potential complications caused by pushing yourself too quickly. 

Most people who consider plastic surgery are doing something already to improve their body.  The time off from exercise is a concern to many.  However important to your routine, it is not acceptable to change the postoperative recovery regimen to fit your personal goals.  Wound healing is wound healing.  Just because an individual wants it to move faster, it won't.  After breast augmentation, it is best to take a full week off from work and stay home.  After that, it is safest to refrain from any vigorous physical activity for a month from surgery.  At that time, low-impact cardio is a good way to start.  If  one engages in exercise before the wounds are allowed to heal, there could be bleeding which ultimately can have a negative effect on the outcome.  It is just not worth it to change what the surgeon has been doing to take care of thousands of patients just because you want to get back to the gym.  This is surgery after all.  You should be relying on your board certified plastic surgeon to provide you with the postoperative care that they have been trained for the better part of a decade to provide.

Caution is the best preventive approach. Limit your "pec" (pectoralis muscle) exercises pre and certainly post op! The body forms normal scar tissue (capsule) around the prosthesis... you want to keep that capsule as thin as possible. I have patients start oral Vitamin E (1000-2000 IU) daily as well as singulair. Both of these will help to keep the capsule "soft." You want to d everything possible to avoid capsular contracture!
Postop, I have patients wear a breast band (above the nipple level) to keep the prosthesis from "riding too high" under the muscle. Also, start gentle massage post-op to 'move the implant around' to help keep the pocket open. After a week or so, use a good bra with lateral support, but no underwire (a broad band is ok).
Slowly, case into your exercise pattern with all this in mind! 

Taking appropriate down time after any surgery is important and breast augmentation is no exception. While fit and healthy individuals will recover very well with minimal pain after the surgery, but it's extra important to recognise the body will still require the appropriate healing and care for the optimal recovery to occur with minimal risk of complications. 

Different patients will heal differently (no matter how fit & healthy you are!) and so advice from your surgeon in customising the recovery plan in accordance with your medical background and life style is critical in ensuring you'll have the best surgical outcome in the long term. This also depends on the surgical technique, especially whether the implants were placed behind the muscle or not. In general, it'll be wise to avoid any upper body exercise especially resistance training for at least the first 4-6 weeks depending on surgical techniques. It is also prudent not to get yourself too "pumped up" with elevated blood pressure & heart rate especially in the first 2 weeks post op to minimise risk of postop bleed/haematoma. Your body will also know your limit, so common sense applies, slowly ease back to your normal exercise routines with lower body works, power walk etc before you escalate to any more strenuous exercise activities. Always be guided by your surgeon's advice and instructions for the optimal recovery process that is right for you.





Hope that helps.





Best wishes





Ellis Choy

I have many patients who are very active, some of whom are
fitness competitors or personal trainers, for all these patients it is very
difficult to take time off from their exercise routine to allow for proper
recovery, but it is very important to see their breast augmentation as an investment.
It is an investment of their time, health and finances. Therefore, everything
the patient can do to minimize their risk of problems or complications should
be of paramount importance just as it is for the surgeon. To that effect, I
feel it is very important to minimize significant exercise during the healing
phase after surgery because I do feel the patient is at higher risk for
bleeding, swelling and possible wound healing problems. Exercise obviously
requires energy and I would rather have the patient’s energy be devoted towards
healing rather than towards building muscle during the early postoperative
period. If the patient does not feel they can take time off from exercising
they may want to reconsider whether having a breast augmentation is the best
idea at this point in their life. I would suggest taking 3-4 weeks off from exercise to allow
everything to heal properly and then easing slowly back into low impact, lower
body exercises in the 4-6 week mark would be a good idea. Some surgeons are
less conservative with their postoperative recommendations. However, I feel
this is a safe timeframe, which has worked well for my patients.

I ask my patients to wait until they are completely comfortable to exercise after surgery. they need to start at 2 weeks and use a supportive bra. I want them to start slowly and they feel pain then stop for a few days.

My philosophy is wait 6wks.  I know lots of doctors tell their patients that they can resume activity in a 1-2wks but I think that is too soon.  There is lots of swelling and healing occuring and when one exercises the blood pressure rises and the swelling will worsen.  Additionally the muscle is healing and you can tear it and cause internal bleeding and get either a hematoma or capsular contracture.....So be patient!

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.

Generally, I recommend at least 4 weeks of minimal or decreased physical activity. While minimizing chest exercises is the most important, decreasing high impact activities is also key. As you heal during the first few weeks your body will begin to let you know what's safe and what is not. Its important to go slow and work up to any activities. You made an investment in your body, be patient and work with it to achieve your best results.