Recovery Time For Subglandular Breast Augmentation With Areola Incision?

 

Although guidelines may vary from surgeon to surgeon, I advise my breast augmentation patients not to engage in any exercise for at least 4 weeks after surgery. This timeline includes a strict guideline of no work, school or other activities for one full week.

 

It might seem excessive to stay quiet for so long but it really is an important aspect to the healing process. Within that first week after surgery, we really want to give the body every opportunity to heal itself. Spending energy on activities outside of the healing process is only going to prolong the time required to fully recover and may even negatively impact your results. It is also very important that when you return to regular exercise that you approach the activity as if you had never been to the gym before. Listen to your body and don’t push yourself too hard or too fast.

 

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.  With my 'Schwartz Rapid Recuperation' recovery, most of my patients 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

It really depends on a few factors. Adequate pain control is likely the most important. Individual pain tolerance differs greatly. I find that women who have had children generally have less post-op pain, as they have a much higher pain tolerance. From a surgical point of view, there are several things the surgeon/anaesthesiologist can do to decrease your post-op pain. I generally perform breast blocks prior to making any incisions with a mix of short- and long-acting local anaesthetics. I have found this greatly reduces post-op pain. I also encourage patients to take the prescribed pain killers regularly every 4 hours especially for the first 24-48 hours. If you don't stay on top of the pain in the immediate post-operative period, it is extremely difficult to "catch-up". Most of my patients experience very little post-op pain after breast augmentation.Of course, the type of augmentation you have will also determine your post-operative discomfort. Larger implants, and subpectoral implant placement will also increase post-op discomfort. This doesn't mean you shouldn't get large implants, or place them under the muscle - you simply need to know what to expect. Many women also experience difficulty with sleeping in the first few weeks after augmentation due to the weight of the implants on their chest. This is more significant in back-sleepers.To answer your question about time off work, my experience has been that there is a huge range. I have patients that go back to work the next day (against my advice), and I have had patients take as much as 2 weeks off of work. It really depends on what you do for work, and how you feel. As for taking care of your kids, if your implant is placed under the muscle, it will be a few weeks before you feel comfortable enough to pick them up.As for scars, I tell patients it will take a year to see the absolute final result. Practically, however, by 3-6 months the scar will be very close to the final result. I suggest 3M paper taping, and have a specific scar massage protocol I use to help speed scar resolution.I hope this helps. Good luck!Sincerely,

Hi,

 

Every patient is different when it comes to recovery time but subglandular breast augmentation tend to have a shorter recovery time than the submuscular one.

 

Usually, the recovery process works its way smoothly and through stages reaching the one month mark where several physical activities could be resumed pretty well with the exception of heavy lifting that I do not recommend unless a full recovery is attained.

 

Hope this helps.

Thank you for your inquiry and best of luck.

Dr. Sajjadian

Hi there-

Assuming you understand the drawbacks to placing your implants in this location, know that the recovery from this procedure is usually fairly easy and rapid.

Because it seems we all have our tried and true routines by which our patients achieve the best, most easy recoveries, I would recommend you ask your chosen surgeon what you should expect- only he/she will be able to describe what is the usual recovery for his patients with this operation.

Every patient is different, so it is impossible to give you specific advice.  However, most of our patients have breast implant surgery (IMF or Areolar Incisions) on a Friday and are back to work on Monday.  While you may be able to go back to work, you will not be 100% for several days to weeks.  Breast implant surgery is very common, safe and has minimal recovery.  However, you have to remember that it is real surgery and every patient is different.  It is best to take the time to sit down with your board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your breast rejuvenation options.

 

Good luck.

Subglandular recovery is fairly easy.  Most patients can return to a desk job in a couple of days.  I have my patients refrain from athletic activity where the breast would be subject to significant motion (running) for 4 weeks.

After breast augmentation, regardless of where the incision is made, I generally recommend taking a week off to reuperate. It's certainly possible to get back earlier but you run the risk of doing too much which can result in a little more prolonged discomfort and possibly post operative bleeding /hematoma. I have my patients return to non-impact cardio exercise after 3 weeks, and full exercise after 6. I do not like my patients to do any upper chest or arm weights / stretching for 6 weeks since these activities can push the implant down and outward. Having a subglandular implant could mean that you could get back to these activities a little earlier, around 4 weeks.. Hope this helps. Every Plastic surgeon has their own routine though, so ultimately you should listen to the surgeon you choose to use for your own surgery.

Recovery time for subglandular breast augmentation with areola incision can vary, but generally, patients may expect several days of initial discomfort and limited activity. Full recovery, including the return to normal physical activities, may take a few weeks. It’s crucial to follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions for a smooth recovery process.

Hello and thanks for the question.

 

I recommend you follow-up with your elected surgeon to discuss his or her post-operative recovery routine for breast augmentation surgery. At our institution, we recommend refraining from lifting anything greater than 10 lbs for a period of 4 weeks.  Modest lower body exercise may be ensued at 2 weeks and upper body workout restrictions are placed for 4 weeks. In general, most people return to work at a weeks time, but recovery courses will vary from person to person.

 

Best of luck,

 

Glenn Vallecillos, M.D., F.A.C.S.