How long should I wait to do a lower body workout after a "Rapid Recovery" breast augmentation?

Question

I'm very fit and enjoy lifting heavy weights several times per week. I'm wondering if getting the 'rapid recovery' procedure decreases the amount of time I should wait before doing a lower body workout (squats, for example). Or perhaps there's a weight limit after X number of weeks? I will also speak to my surgeon of course, but I'd like to hear from several doctors. If it helps, I plan to get about 415 cc silicone under the muscle, I'm 31 years old, 5'10 and about 160 lbs. Thank you!

Stefan Mark Szczerba, MD · Answer

So after doing hundreds (if not thousands) of breast implant cases, I think it is best to wait two weeks for start any heavy lifting or sweaty exercise other than walking.  If you follow those instructions, you will actually recover more safely than any other regimen.  There are natural healing time periods that you should follow as internally you really did have an operation. Best Wishes!!

Janet Turkle, MD · Answer

We recommend that our breast augmentation patients get up and about immediately following surgery. We ask that you hold off on cardio activity for about two weeks to avoid bleeding and that you avoid heavy lifting, pushing/pulling, or other strenuous upper body activities for the first six weeks.

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

I appreciate your question.
  
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.   Please discuss with your surgeon.
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

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS, FAACS · Answer

I advise my patients that it is safe to return to the gym for running, aerobics and lower body weights by the 21st day after breast augmentation surgery. Upper body workouts could start around the sixth week. I have a couple of triple crown body builders who start light weights at six weeks and are back to full capacity by the 8th week in order to prepare for their next competition. Hope this information is helpful and reassuring. For more information on this and similar topics, I recommend a plastic surgery Q&A book like "The Scoop On Breasts: A Plastic Surgeon Busts the Myths." Good luck.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

My typical protocol after breast augmentation surgery is that there are no physical restrictions other than what your body tells you to do without significant pain. You return to a lower body workout when it feels comfortable to do so.

Michelle Bonness, MD · Answer

You will probably get a wide variation on this.  We all have our own return to activity schedules.  As you stated the most important will be the instrctions from your surgeon.  This is what I do and why.  The first two weeks no heavy lifting>10-15 lbs and no areobic activity.  The risk of bleeding is highest during that time so I do not want you to do anything that gets your blood pressure up. After that, I let patients start very light excercise:  Walking on a treadmill, very light weights, sittups etc.  If you notice more swelling, fatigue or pain back off.  My longer restrictons, 4 months, are the bench press, planks, pushups or anything that is going to use primarily the pectoralis muscle. I limit this until I have a feel for how your implants are "dropping". In patients with looser tissue the implants may come down fast and I do not want this to aggravated by early pectoralis work.  Good Luck.

Paul Loewenstein (retired) · Answer

Keep in mind that every plastic surgeon handles post-op care a little differently, based on their experience and what problems they have seen. I personally keep my patients from doing any kind of aerobic exercise for two weeks.  For strictly lower body workouts, 2 weeks should be enough.

Marc J. Salzman, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

I tell my patients to keep their heart rate and blood pressure normal for two weeks after surgery. After that I will allow them to work out leaving the pectoralis muscle out of the equation as well as avoiding contact sports. Certainly you should check with your surgeon. Best of luck.

How long should I wait to do a lower body workout after a "Rapid Recovery" breast augmentation?

Answers (8)

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