How long until I can return to work as a flight attendant after breast augmentation?

Hi!It is not advisable to do any kind of work involving force after a breast augmentation. The time must be without work will depend on what type of work you realize, the waiting time after the breast augmentation should be of 4-6 weeks.

I  instruct my patient that they should do no heavy lifting for 6 weeks. However, now that I have been using textured implants, I am not afraid of them moving as much as the smooth ones.  If you do some extra pushing or pulling at 3 weeks, I don't think you will hurt your  implants.  I just think your swelling may take longer to go down fully.Sheila Nazarian

Great question.  Generally speaking, patients are moving and getting around after a couple days, and should be back to normal daily activities within a week.  Light exercise can be resumed at about 2 weeks with full activities at about 4-6 weeks.  But everyone heals and feels differently.  With your job of lifting and pushing heavy objects, 2-3 weeks maybe pushing it, however it could be possible to return at that time if everything goes well and you feel good. The best recommendation is to have a consultation with a plastic surgeon and together come up with a game plan for you.  You may just need to be seen every week and then determine how you are healing and progressing.  The issue is that by going under the muscle, the bottom attachment is released and the muscle needs time to heal.  Pushing and pulling heavy objects fires the muscle and creates more inflammation and thus takes longer to heal.  There is a fine line of giving the muscle time to heal before it is put to work.  Good luck and hope this helps!  - Dr. Roger Tsai 

Thank you for your question.  This is a time frame that can vary depending upon the type of work one does and your general health and type of augmentation planned.  As a general number I expect my patients to be back to "normal" low impact work in 1-2 days.  I have my patients refrain from cardiovascular workouts for three weeks to decrease the risk of bleeding.  Usually by three weeks they can resume almost all activity without restriction.  I would expect my patients to return to the activity you describe by three weeks. You should get clearance from your physician however.  Good luck!

Thank you for your question.  Each patient heals at different speeds after surgery with return to work dictated based on their job responsibilities.  At 2-3 weeks after surgery you would be able to fly, but you will not be along very far in the healing process and I would be concerned about your need to push and pull the heavy bar, and especially having to lift luggage over your head.  If you were to have to do this repeatedly it could lead to your implants shifting into an undesirable position.  I would recommend closer to 6-8 full weeks to be safe.  Certainly speak to your plastic surgeon about your job concerns, they will be able to work with you on an acceptable timeframe.  

Thank you for your question. Speak to your plastic surgeon as he/she may have a protocol for your recovery. However, in my practice, I typically advise my patients to avoid lifting anything more than 5-10 pounds for the first 6 weeks.

Hi Liz, thanks for sharing your question. I tell my patients to avoid heavy lifting for the first six weeks after surgery. This would be a great question to ask your surgeon directly, as many surgeons follow different post oeprative protocol. Best to you. -Dr. Coan

Your plastic surgeon will be your best resource when it comes to returning to your specific line of work. He/she will know how you are progressing and whether or not you have experienced any complications. Generally, most patients are able to return to the “desk job” within 5 to 7 days. More strenuous work (such as yours), for example involving lifting or extensive upper body movement, will require more time off (I would recommend three).Best wishes.

This is a very common question and is always best discussed with your board-certified plastic surgeon. In general patients are told to limit physical activity for 6 weeks as you are healing to decrease the risks of complications or harming your result. I ask my patients to not lift, push, or pull more than 10 pounds during that time. I realize this is difficult to do and taking 6 weeks off work is taxing at best. I have cared for a number of flight attendants and they have all done fine trying as best they can to follow those instructions. Please discuss this with the plastic surgeon you choose to care for you to get their specific instructions.I hope this helps.Dr. Edwards

If you were the passenger I would say you'd be good in a few days. As the flight attendant, I have concerns about the amount of lifting that would be required and would suggest at least 2-3 weeks unless there's some equivalent of "light-duty" available. Everyone heals differently and I always suggest a conservative plan for returning to jobs such as yours. Good Luck