Breast Lift and Augmentation Recovery

Question

Is recovery the same as for just a breast lift if you get a breast lift and augmentation at the same time? Does it take longer, cause more pain... any differences?

Asif Pirani, MD, FRCS(C) · Answer

It really depends on a few factors.  Adequate pain control is likely the most important.  Individual pain tolerance differs greatly.  I find that women who have had children generally have less post-op pain, as they have a much higher pain tolerance. From a surgical point of view, there are several things the surgeon/anaesthesiologist can do to decrease your post-op pain.  I generally perform breast blocks prior to making any incisions with a mix of short- and long-acting local anaesthetics.  I have found this greatly reduces post-op pain.  I also encourage patients to take the prescribed pain killers regularly every 4 hours especially for the first 24-48 hours. If you don't stay on top of the pain in the immediate post-operative period, it is extremely difficult to "catch-up".  Most of my patients experience very little post-op pain after breast augmentation.Of course, the type of augmentation you have will also determine your post-operative discomfort.  Larger implants, and subpectoral implant placement will also increase post-op discomfort.  This doesn't mean you shouldn't get large implants, or place them under the muscle - you simply need to know what to expect.  Many women also experience difficulty with sleeping in the first few weeks after augmentation due to the weight of the implants on their chest.  This is more significant in back-sleepers.To answer your question about time off work, my experience has been that there is a huge  range.  I have patients that go back to work the next day (against my advice), and I have had patients take as much as 2 weeks off of work.  It really depends on what you do for work, and how you feel.  As for taking care of your kids, if your implant is placed under the muscle, it will be a few weeks before you feel comfortable enough to pick them up.As for scars, I tell patients it will take a year to see the absolute final result.  Practically, however, by 3-6 months the scar will be very close to the final result.  I suggest 3M paper taping, and have a specific scar massage protocol I use to help speed scar resolution.I hope this helps.  Good luck!Sincerely,

Rady Rahban, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question. Maximum discomfort will occur in the first few days after surgery and will subside the following weeks. Six weeks after surgery, your incisions will heal over and it would be safe to slowly resume regular activity. Breasts could be sore, tight, swollen and bruised for several months. It will take approximately three months for your breasts to settle. Hope this has helped.

Kevin Dieffenbach, MD · Answer

Recovery time will vary from person to person and what your daily activity involves.  We tell our patients here at plasticsurgeryoahu recovery time is average 7 days for office job or light activities.  It may take 2-6weeks for more strennous  activities.  Scars begin to fade after ~6weeks, but can take 6-12 months for complete healing.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Both #BreastLifts and #BreastAugmentations are #outpatient procedures under intravenous sedation and local or general anesthesia. The patient will go home in a bra or with only light dressings over the incision lines. Sutures are dissolvable but an ending knot, if present is removed within 1-2 weeks. Initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral #medication. Light activity may be started 7-10 days after surgery. If your work keeps you sedentary, you may return whenever you feel up to it. If your work is strenuous, wait until your work activity does not cause any superficial #pain. Do not begin light aerobic exercise for 3 weeks and strenuous exercise for at least 6 weeks. Let your body tell you what it can tolerate. Further instructions are provided prior your release. It is always recommend to call and see your surgeon to discuss your concerns on #recovery.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Post-Operative recovery after breast lift with implants:In general the healing is approximately the same time, perhaps a few more days for the combined procedure and not much difference in discomfortHere are the instructions we give to my patients -The patient will go home in a bra or with only light dressings over the incision lines.Patients can usually return to work in one week to ten days. Sutures are dissolvable but the ending knot is removed within 1-2 weeks.Initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. Light activities may be started in 7-10 days with light lifting of 20 pounds or less from 10 days to 3 wks. After 3 weeks progressive exercise with running and lifting of heavier weights after 6 weeks.

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

The recovery for
breast lift combined with breast augmentation is very similar to an isolated
breast lift recovery with one major exception. When breast implants are placed
beneath the muscle, patients tend to have more post-operative pain and
discomfort.

In many cases,
management not only requires narcotic pain medications, but muscle relaxants as
well. The vast majority of patients are able to return to work in about a week
with either procedure. In six weeks, patients should be able to resume all of
their normal activities including heavy lifting.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD, FACS · Answer

You may have more pain with the augmentation, especially if the implants are placed under the muscles. However, oral pain meds should cover this well. Also, it may take longer to recover if the implants are placed under the muscles. Soreness may be an issue in the immediate post-operative. The overall recovery is very tolerable, and you should be back to work in about a week. Good luck!

Darrick E. Antell, MD, FACS · Answer

We routinely add long acting local anesthesia to the wound at the end of the procedure.  Thus, up to 95% of my patients never take pain medicine. Instead they may take a muscle relaxant with or without Tylenol.
The operation you are anticipating is commonly performed in my practice, but you need to have an examination as there are too many variables to simply answer your questions. While the combined operation does take longer to perform, in my opinion the recovery is not substantially different. Most patients from breast surgery are back at a desk type job in 5 to 7 days.  
There are follow up appointments to determine just when you might be able to excercise depending on how quickly you are healing. Walking is OK on the day of the surgery but it will be 2 or 3 weeks before other excercise is permited.

Trevor M. Born, MD · Answer

Dear Twiggymom
We use long acting freezing and have you start moving right after surgery for both the breast lifting and augmentation procedures.  The combination of early pain control and mobilization works very well and our patients are back to normal activities in a couple of days including working out.
With Warm Regards,
Trevor M Born MD

Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD · Answer

Recovery takes longer if there is an implant because there is more dissection of tissue.

	If the implant is above the muscle, the difference in pain and overall recovery will be minimal.

	If the implant is below the muscle there will be more pain and recovery will be longer. Still, we are only talking a recovery of 7-10 days rather than weeks.

	If you are going with an implant, the use of nerve blocks in combination with postoperative pain pump can make a tremendous difference in postoperative comfort and shorten overall recovery time.

	Check out the link below for more info.

Breast Lift and Augmentation Recovery

Answers (17)