How long does pain last after breast augmentation?

Hi, firstly let me reassure you that most young women who have not previously breast fed and get sub pectoral implants experience a significant amount of pain post operatively. This pain is mostly related to the sudden stretching of your muscle and breast skin over the implant. It will take a few weeks to subside, but it should improve just a little bit day by day. I would suggest taking regular pain relief that includes an anti-inflammatory as well as an opiod. I usually also prescribe something to relax your chest muscles (in Australia, we use diazepam which is a mild sleeping tablet). It is also important to take something to keep your bowels going, as most opioids constipate. Let your doctor know that you are struggling to stay on top of your pain. It is important to get on top of your pain early so that it does not turn into a chronic problem and also so you can sleep, move and feel normal. Pain is painful, but it also makes us grumpy and anxious.

Most of the discomfort after breast augmentation is improved after the first week. Various factors play a role in this. Subglandular/subfacial placement has less discomfort than submuscular placement. Intraoperative use of certain local anesthetic can also mitigate the amount of pain you experience as soon as you wake up. In my practice Exparel is used routinely for submuscular augmentation. It helps with discomfort for 3 days after surgery. Scheduling your pain medication after surgery also helps with this.
Regards,
Dr. Ravi Somayazula
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Member of ASAPS, ASPS

Everyone has different pain thresholds, some lower and some higher.  Generally, with an atraumatic dissection/procedure, most patients do well with muscle relaxants and possibly extra strength tylenol.  Although I do prescribe narcotic pain medication, it is unusual for my patients to need them.There is tightness and feeling of pressure which will resolve over time and will improve with the breast massages.  Some patients describe the sensation of sharp and tingling discomfort through one breast or both and sometimes neither.  That is typically described as nerve pain, and most medications out there will not completely remove that feeling.  Breast implant massaging will help with that.  Before you start implant massages, I would always make certain that your surgeon wants you to massage and that they have instructed you the way he/she wants it done.Hope that helps.