Is breast augmentation recovery worse in the colder months?

Question

I'm worried that if I choose to have a breast augmentation in the winter the cold weather will cause me to tense my chest muscles and cause more pain/spasms along with even more erect/sensitive nipples than if recovering during warmer weather. Is this true?

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

I appreciate your question.  Time of year will not change your post op recovery.
Typically, my guideline is, the first week is the hardest. By the second week you feel better, at four weeks you feel 100% and at six weeks you can go back to complete normal routines and exercising.  
Four days after surgery, I would be careful as you are still at risk for bleeding. If you are taking any pain medication, I would not drink alcohol.  With my 'Schwartz Rapid Recuperation' recovery, most of my patients are out to dinner the following evening.
The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.  Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery. 
  
Best of luck! 
    
Dr. Schwartz 
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon 
#RealSelf100Surgeon 
#RealSelfCORESurgeon

Naveen Setty, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question.  In my experience with a practice in North Texas, I have not found that my patients have a more difficult recovery in the colder months.  The number of patients having breast augmentations performed is actually generally high during the winter.  Make sure you have an in person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon and have all of your questions answered.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Hello,This has never been a problem in my practice. Recovery involves reducing physical activity for a time- including swimming, which can be more of a hindrance in the summer. Talk with your Plastic Surgeon about your expectations.All the best

Vishnu Rumalla, MD · Answer

Thanks for your inquiry and very interesting question.  I do not think your recovery is harder in the winter, especially a North Texas winter which is not so bad!  In the summer patients need to be worried about sweating and their incisions and in the winter patients need to be concerned about ice and falling.  Good Luck.

Keith Hodge, MD · Answer

I don't think that there will be any difference in recovery in warm vs. colder months. I'm from Texas, and it doesn't get very cold for very long anyway! Good luck!

Brian K. Reedy, MD · Answer

Hi and thank you for your question,The answer is no. Recovery will be the same whether it is warm or cold. Best of luck!

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Thank you for
your question.

The cold fronts
of winter can really be tough on the skin, and chilly conditions with high
winds can cause dryness when the skin in exposed to it. It is true that wounds
heal best under warm and moist conditions. In the winter, you will be expected
to be properly clothed and covered to make sure your breasts heal well.

In the winter, colds and flus are more common too, and can
be unfavorable for wound healing as your immune system will focus on fighting viruses
and bacteria partially neglecting the area under surgery.

Blood circulation is also crucial for healing and during the
winter people tend to become less active while staying indoors to avoid the
cold. This minimizes circulation to the area under surgery as the body will
distribute warm blood to other areas of the body to maintain a consistent body
temperature.

All this
being said, healing and recovery will not be worse if you take proper
precautions to stay warm and bundled up for at least the first few months.

Other women
do report their breasts getting firm and tight when exposed to colder
temperatures and this happens because the skin, breast tissue, and muscle
shrink and contract in response to the cold. Sometimes there may be muscle spasm
that could be intensified by the cold. As your skin and surrounding tissue
stretch and adapt to the implant, blood circulation will improve, and your
breasts will feel less tight and firm even in colder temperatures.

I recommend
you to seek board-certified plastic surgeon for an in-person consultation. Please
share your concerns and questions and they will be able to address them.

Hope this
helps and Best of Luck.

Robert D. Wilcox, MD · Answer

Dear LiveLaughlLove08,

There should be no difference in your result or recovery any month of the year. Most of my patients return to work in three days and work place temperatures are likely to be the same year round.

I hope this has been helpful to you.

Robert D. Wilcox, MD

Nicholas Tarola, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Your recovery should be unaffected by the time of year during which your surgery is performed.  In fact, the winter months are often the busiest time of year for plastic surgeons.  None of my patients have ever described cold temperatures causing any specific problem related to recovery.

Scott E. Kasden, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi neighborYou asked a great question.  From my experience (nothing scientific), I find that cold air flowing over the breast skin can cause spasm which is the main source of pain in submuscular BAM.  I have not found it to affect nipple sensitivity.  I have seen that this sensitivity to cold can last up to two winters, and gets better over time.  Note that you may experience the same thing sitting under an A/C.  Also note that not all patients experience this.All the best.sek

Is breast augmentation recovery worse in the colder months?

Answers (19)

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