Can using my arms too much right after a Breast Augmentation cause serious problems? (Photo)

Slamming a car door is one of the specific maneuvers we caution our breast augmentation patients about. The other one is doing laundry. You are indeed describing too much activity after your breast augmentation. If you are independent, control your urges and respect that fact that you had a significant operation with surgical release of muscle fibers that can hurt, bleed or swell if too much activity begins too early after surgery. Bottom line, check in with your plastic surgeon to check that everything is ok, and slow down. You probably "hurt" but you probably did not cause yourself any damage per se. You can do normal things like get up, walk around, make a sandwich, but driving too soon, doing laundry, going grocery or clothe shopping, vacuuming, these are all highly ill advised early after your surgery. In my own practice I recommend staying away from these activities for at least ten to fourteen days. Driving is ok within a week if you are not taking narcotic pain medicine or muscle relaxants, since that is the equivalent of driving under the influence. Again, check in with your plastic surgeon, and good luck with your ongoing recovery. 

I advise my patients to limit their arm use for the first week, also to avoid stretching or hyper extending the arms for two weeks. Basic activities of daily living should not compromise your results. Regards, 

Thanks for your inquiry.  I suggest you see your plastic surgeon and be examined to make sure there is no problem.  It is important to follow your surgeon's activity restrictions. Good Luck.  

Each individual surgeon differs with their post operative care and protocol but I normally don't like patients being too aggressive for the first few weeks with their arms and upper body especially if it's a sub muscular augmentation. 

Hello,It is common to tell women not to use their arms or raise their arms for weeks after breast augmentation surgery. There is no evidence to suggest this is useful or prevents complications. Return to normal daily activities can be as short as 24 hours when rapid recovery techniques are employed.Although you feel discomfort after slamming the car door (take it easy!), you unlikely did any damage. Best of luck!

I tell my patients to limit the use of their upper extremities for the first week post sub muscular breast aug and then to increase use slowly afterward for the next 3 weeks to give the muscle time to heal. I have seen bleeding in the pocket 2 weeks after a breast aug when the patient got too active too soon. A feeling limited to temporary burning and tenderness with no swelling or black and blue is typically nothing to worry about. You may want to  take it easier in the following weeks. Be sure to follow your doctors advice.Best of LuckDr. J

Thank you for your question and providing a photo. The answer is yes can certainly be doing to much activity. I would contact your PS to let them examine you to evaluate if any harm has been done. Best of luck

its unlikely that you did anything bad.. but you could have certainly pulled something.  Bleeding is the only real concern most of us worry about during the recovery process from an augmentation.  Your symptoms should get better with time but you should also make yourself back down from unrestricted activities as it could lead to bleeding and result in more costs and risks to you.

Congratulations on
having undergone the breast augmentation procedure.You definitely may be pushing your self and doing to much. It is very important that you follow your surgeon's instructions for after surgery. 
I would suggest continued patience and
continued close follow-up with your plastic surgeon.
Best wishes or an outcome that you
will be pleased with long-term.

Thank you for your question and the photo, and I wish you a speedy recovery! It is best
to discuss with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon his/her specific
recommendations as far as return to activity. The recovery after BA surgery
varies widely from patient to patient as well as their level of discomfort
during this time. Generally, the first 4-7 days are reserved for rest and
overall recovery, and after that patients can slowly work their way back with
gradual low risk activities. I prefer to wait at least 4-6, sometimes even 8 weeks for
repetitive upper body lifting/movements and arm use so that the muscles,
skin incisions and breast tissues have had adequate time to heal and
settle before being stressed. If there are sudden, immediate noticeable changes, you should contact your PS immediately.The recovery routine will best be determined
by your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon so be sure to touch base with him/her
on their specific recommendations.
Benjamin J. Cousins MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon