How soon can I get back into contact sports?

After
breast implant surgery, I advise the patients to take one week off from work.
At that point we take out their stitches and teach them the implant
massage technique. We suggest 5 times per day with the massage and no bra
for one month. The patients may return to work, but may not engage in any
strenuous activity. At one month, the patients start to wear a soft cup
bra with no underwire and can start low impact cardio. At two months they
can wear an underwire bra and engage in more strenuous physical activity.
Breast massage continues forever, although only once per day.

I tell my patients to wait 3 weeks before resuming normal activities such as running at the gym or lifting weights over 10 pounds.  I prefer my patients to wait 3 months before returning to any activities that are especially strenuous on the chest - ie: bench press, push-ups, etc.  Roller derby is a pretty intense sport.  I think that you would be best waiting 3 months for that.  The longer you wait, the further you are into your recovery and the better chance that you are completely healed.  However, each plastic surgeon is different so I would ask your specific PS what he recommends.  Good luck!

Hi 62 PeachesThe scar around your implants (capsule) should be stable within 6-8 weeks. I would recommend leaving your return to a physically challenging sport, such as your roller derby, until at least 8 weeks post op. I would not suggest giving up your sport, but just accepting that there is some risk involved in it. Current implants (at least the FDA approved trio - Allergan, Mentor & Sientra/Silimed) are all quite difficult to break, and your hardened cups should protect them if the cups are large enough to fully cover your breasts. You are probably more likely to have a knee or ankle injury than to rupture your implants.Dr Gavin Sandercoe

At this stage, you should be able to begin doing whatever you want.  Start slow and increase the intensity and severity of the workouts and weights.  You should be able to resume contact sports as well.  With padding and protection you mention, I would think your implants would be fine.  They are pretty tough.  See for yourself. Ask your surgeon to squeeze a sample implant as hard as you can.  Likely, you will not be able to "pop it".

Thanks for your post!Most surgeons or their nurses can answer this question for you, but for our clinic l advise all patients to leave sports and exercising for 6 weeks. Roller derby is a little specific and ofcourse very rough. If you were my patient l would say wait atleast 10 weeks and if you return to the sport to understand the risks. Possibly even find another sport!Good Luck with healing.

Congratulations on having undergone the breast augmentation procedure. Patients who undergo breast augmentation surgery are able to return to contact sports eventually.  Exactly when they should return back to specific activities will depend on how they are progressing and what the likelihood of trauma is. Always best to check with your plastic surgeon about resuming specific activities after surgery. He/she knows your situation best and is ultimately responsible for your care.   For example, in my practice, assuming you are wearing protective "cups"  you would likely be able to return to (careful) roller derby activities approximately 2 months after the procedure was performed. Best wishes.