Recently had a breast lift with implants. How long after surgery do I have to wait before swimming?

Thanks for your question. In general, I recommend to all my patients to refrain from submerging in water after breast implant surgery for a minimum of 4 weeks.  This includes bathing, hot tubs, swimming pools, as well as ocean and lake swimming.  I believe this helps lessen the risk of breast implant infection.  Should infection occur, it would usually require more surgery starting with the removal of the implant.  When a breast lift is done together at the same time as breast implants (breast augmentation), the incisions usually take a bit longer to heal, usually at least 6 weeks.  So I extend this advisory to my patients that want to swim to at least 6 weeks or until the incisions are completely healed.  I hope this is helpful.  I would definitely return to swimming pool water before ocean or lake in general because of high concentrations of bacteria in the ocean or lake.  Good luck!

Dear Tkbear23,you should wait until you are fully healed. But every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Thanks for your inquiry, each surgeon has different protocols, so ask your surgeon.  I usually let my patients swim after six weeks, good luck.  

Dear Tkbear23
Congratulations on your recent breast augmentation with lift.
Each plastic surgeon has different post-op regimen/instruction.  It would be best to check with your plastic surgeon for his/her recommendation.
For my patients, I examine them to make sure that all incisions have healed prior to giving them a clearance for swimming. Usually, it is 3-4 weeks after surgery.
Best wishes with your recovery.

Thank you for your question. Every plastic surgeon's office has their own post operative protocol and set of instructions and precaustions that they recommend their patients follow. I encourage you to refer back to these instructions. If there is nothing specific related to activities or swimming, please call your surgeon's office and ask. 

If you're swimming in the ocean, especially Galveston, I'd say you need to wait at minimum 8 weeks.  And you need to limit your "soaking" of the incisions.  If it's a pool then probably 4-6 weeks as long as you're not soaking for too long.  Maybe 5-10 minute sessions.  

I often want my patients to waist about 6-8 weeks before going back to vigorous exercise provided that you have healed well.

I usually will let my patients resume a normal exercise cycle after 4 weeks and they are free to go.

In general I recommend patients to avoid serious swimming for at least 6 to 9 weeks depending on healing.  This is not to say you can't get into the pool once your sutures and tapes are removed.  Follow your surgeon's post operative instructions.