How Much Time off from Work As a Hospital Nurse Will I Need After Submuscular Breast Augmentation?

For a submuscular breast augmentation, 2 weeks would be optimal. You will still be sore but should be able to do the duties you describe. We would all like to see the patient have 4 weeks off, but in reality few can take this much time. I have only seen 1 complication in a post op submuscular implant that is related to the muscle. A patient 1 week out reached for something behind her and pulled the pectorals muscle resulting in a hematoma.

Breast augmentation recovery is typically about 4 weeks.  The last thing you want would be to strain the muscle with vigorous activity.

Dr. ES

Back to work guidelines do vary from surgeon to surgeon, but I usually recommend taking at least one full week off of work after breast augmentation surgery.   Due to your strenuous job requirements you may want to take 2 weeks off or return to light duties.  It is important that you discuss your back to work plans with your surgeon so that he or she is able to tailor a plan of care for you accordingly.

A sub muscular prosthesis requires a longer convalescence and sub glandular. After two weeks most patients with sub muscular prostheses are doing well. I would request that for an additional two weeks vigorous use of the arms is avoided. When

This is a good question and I think that you will get a lot of different opinions. I believe that the less flexion of the muscle after surgery, the less chance there is to cause downward malposition. As the muscle is lexed it pushes the implant down and out. If there is any way that you could get two weeks off I would take it. But this is extremely hard to do for obvious reasons. i would certainly take a week off (ten days with both weekends). If you can confide in one of your fellow nurses, hopefully you can get some help with the heavy lifting. Everything else is ok. Other conditions that can affect a nurses ability to lift patients can include back strain, muscle injury from exercise and shoulder injuries. Good luck.

Thank you for the question. Your plastic surgeon will always be your best resource when it comes to returning to specific occupation/activities. He/she knows exactly what was done, how you are progressing (every patient has a different experience after breast surgery), whether or not you have experienced any complications or setbacks, and exactly what type of activities you wish to return to.On average, I ask patients to take off  5 days to 1 week after breast augmentation surgery (desk job).  For some professions (such as yours), I may suggest a going back to work with a lighter workload (or in your case, having someone else do the lifting etc.. that would involve the pectoralis muscle).  Ideally, I ask patients not to lift anything heavy or do things ( like pulling/pushing) that contract the pectoralis musle for at least 3 weeks.  Ultimately, it will be important for you to “listen to your body”,  applied common sense, and return to activities/exercises in a  gradual fashion. Best wishes.

The overall recovery is dependent upon the individual.  On averiage, I like to recommend patients take off 5-7 days. Due to your occuoation, I would recommend you take a full 2 weeks off and not lift anything over 10 lbs.  Additionally, you will need to avoid strenous activities.  It may take 4-6 weeks before you will be administering CPR and assisting patients' out of bed. You may choose to wear larger scrubs to conceal your surgery. I invite you to schedule a free consultation to better address your concerns.

Dr. Grasseschi

The infra-mammary incision can open with lifting. The axillary incision is less of a problem but the axillary is difficult for larger and gel implants. Patients return to a desk job in 3 to 5 days depending on pain tolerance. I limit vigorous exercise and lifting for 3 weeks to protect the incision from opening, as a microscopic opening in theory increases the infection rate, and resulting implant loss. So much depends on pain tolerance and job duties.

Nurse can certainly do heavy activity during the course of a day. Based on what you describe, one week is a minimum, two weeks may be better. 

 

 

I advise patients to take 3-4 weeks off from this type of physical work.

All the best,

James