How Long Do Breast Hurt After a BA?

Thank you for your question. Eight weeks out this should not really be happening. Especially since you have symptoms only on one side, you may have a seroma, a hematoma or an infection. I would go see your surgeon, and ask his advice. 

Great question -   pain is such a subjective experience - most of my patients are back at work 6-7 days post-op.  But it is certainly possible for the pain to be significant for a longer period of time.  Everyone is different.  That being said, it would be very surprising to me that a patient would have any discomfort whatsoever 8 weeks post-op.  In that situation probably best to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.  Best of luck. 

This is a very normal and common question I get from my patients. From my experience, I can tell you that everyone is different in their recovery. It can vary greatly from patient to patient. Some patients state they are pain free the next day following surgery, while others state they continue to have discomfort 3-4 weeks after their surgery. IF you are complaining of certain areas of pain, and it continue to bother you, I would recommend you talk directly eith your surgeon and address teh specific areas of your concern.   

1. pain is variable
2. it takes 2-3 months for implants to settle and muscles to relax
3. celebrex, motrin, and muscle relaxers can help
4. massage and stretching may help
5. everyone heals differently
6. 4-7 days off from work is common

It’s not unusual for patients to
experience pain following breast augmentation surgery.This pain is usually related to elevation of
the muscles during submuscular breast pocket formation.In addition, spasm of these muscles can
contribute to post-operative discomfort as well. The
pain associated with breast augmentation is severe in the first 24 to 48 hours
following surgery, but rapidly diminishes with time.We typically use a synthetic codeine
derivative called hydrocodone which has a decreased incidence of nausea
compared to codeine.We replace narcotic
pain relievers with Tylenol as soon as possible following surgery to avoid the
potential for drug problems.We also use
muscle relaxants in the immediate post-operative period.Pain tolerance varies from patient
to patient following breast augmentation.If you’re considering this procedure, it’s important to discuss pain
management with your surgeon prior to surgery.

It is common for patients to feel pain after their surgery, however it is usually well controlled by prescribed medication. It takes about 3-4 months for the breasts to settle and become more natural in contour, so please wait until then to assess your results. Pain should gradually resolve itself over this time as well, although you should see your surgeon if you are very concerned.

Pain is a very personal thing and everyone experiences it differently. I think the first week should be sore, the second week should be a nuisance and after that certain movements should cause pain

Pain and discomfort after breast augmentation surgery can vary significantly from person to person. However, here's a general timeline for what you might expect in terms of discomfort:
1. Immediate post-surgery: You'll likely experience the most discomfort in the first few days after surgery. This pain is typically managed with prescribed pain medications provided by your plastic surgeon. It's common to feel soreness, tightness, and swelling in the chest area during this time.
2. First week: Pain and discomfort usually peak within the first few days and then gradually decrease over the first week. You may still need pain medication during this time, but the intensity of the pain should lessen as your body begins to heal.
3. 2-4 weeks: By the end of the second week and into the fourth week post-surgery, most patients experience a significant reduction in pain. However, you may still feel some discomfort, especially with certain movements or activities that engage the chest muscles.
4. 4-6 weeks: By this time, many patients find that their pain has decreased significantly, and they can return to their normal daily activities with minimal discomfort. However, it's essential to continue following your plastic surgeon's post-operative care instructions and avoid strenuous activities or heavy lifting until you receive clearance from your plastic surgeon.
5. Beyond 6 weeks: While some minor discomfort or sensitivity may persist for a few months after surgery, significant pain should have subsided by this point. Your breasts will continue to settle and heal over the following months, and any residual discomfort should gradually improve.
It's important to remember that everyone's recovery process is different, and individual factors such as pain tolerance, surgical technique, and the extent of the procedure can influence your experience. If you have concerns about your pain levels or the progression of your recovery, don't hesitate to contact your plastic surgeon for guidance and reassurance. They can provide recommendations and address any issues that may arise during your recovery journey.

Pain after breast augmentation there is considerably depending on whether the muscle was elevated to place the implant below it or whether the implant was placed on top of it. If the implant is placed on top of the muscle, the pain and soreness is typically less, and the knee pain patients have typically is just within the first week. The second week they still may feel some soreness but otherwise feels much much better. If the implant is placed below the muscle, the timing of the pain can last a bit longer and can sometimes be a bit more painful. Nonetheless, this varies significantly from patient patient. I like to give all of my patients local anesthesia at the time of surgery to minimize any discomfort when they wake up from surgery and a lot of them wake up with very minimal pain to at least get them ahead of the pain curve before the local anesthesia wears off. After surgery, I also recommend not trying to overdo anything in the first 2 or 3 weeks as that can worsen pain and soreness during this time.
-David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group

It is important for patients to be prepared for recovery after Breast Augmentation. Patients need a week of recovery--where they aren't driving, working or primarily responsible for children. After that,t hey can slowly get back to their daily living. Driving can resume at 10 days, and light cardio exercise at 2 weeks. I don't recommend gym work outs for at least 3 weeks and not upper body workout for 6 weeks. I recommend speaking to your plastic surgeon about how you will address chest workouts--this will change for women who have implants under their chest muscle. I hope this helps and I wish you well!!