What is "Rapid Recovery" Breast Augmentation Surgery? Is It Just a Gimmick?

Thank you for your question! The "rapid recovery" breast augmentation is a newer philosophy with many surgeons to expedite activity and expedite recovery following the breast augmentation procedure.  In my practice, utilizing the fast track technique after breast augmentations, women are readily able and doing most things virtually immediately after this procedure. It is the similar techniques as described and is really gaining popularity. She is even recommended to go out for dinner that evening. Pain is minimal and you will likely be on a scheduled antiinflammatory regimen/pain control along with early exercises/range of motion techniques immediately.  However, follow your surgeon's instructions for postoperative care and restrictions, but it is common for most women to resume many of the preoperative activities and duties within a week. I typically restrict heavy lifting and vigorous exercise for approximately 4-6 weeks Swelling and settling of the implant typically occurs over a 6-12 week period along with placement in a compression-type bra for the same time period, while your incisions commonly resolve to its final appearance in up to a year. Hope that this helps! Best wishes for a great result!

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 are 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

Thank you for your question.  Recovery after breast augmentation is limited by the body's ability to heal.  As such, recovery can only be so "rapid", and what is being sold is most likely a bit of a gimmick.  That said, recovery time can indeed be minimized.  An experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who uses meticulous operative technique, and who liberally uses long-acting local anesthetic (such as Exparel) in the OR, will give you a nearly painless post-op experience.  Most of my breast augmentation patients take very few (if any) narcotic pain pills, return to gentle work in a few days after surgery, and can ease back into the gym at around 2 weeks.  Unlimited activity is allowed at 6 weeks.

The term rapid recovery has been used frequently to market breast augmentation.  When done correctly and with proper technique all breast augmentation patients should expect to recover rapidly.  From my perspective, I consider breast augmentation under anesthesia to be a safe but significant procedure.  While my patients could go out to dinner the day of surgery as some surgeons advertise, I advise my patients to rest and recover.  Instead of focusing on a rapid recovery, my practice focuses on achieving the best possible result each and every time.  I would prefer to market my practice with results rather than rapid recovery which is easily achieved.

The overall goal of Rapid Recovery is to minimize the trauma of surgery and the use of strong pain medications and medical devices (like drainage tubes or pain pumps). These allow you to  get on with your life faster. You should also follow your surgeon's post-operative healing regimen. While the term "Rapid Recovery" is just marketing language, the actual techniques applied are have been proven to shorten the recovery and downtime associated with breast augmentation.

Surgeons and patients alike are interested in breast augmentation recovery being as painless as possible.  There is no such thing as "painless" breast augmentation.  However, there are a few tricks that can help make the experience a good one. 

Gentle, meticulous implant pocket creation without tearing of tissues, correct implant sizing, and excellent control of bleeding are routine for any plastic surgeon worth his weight. 

Early arm mobilization and activity can help to relieve some of the "crampy" pain associated with muscle tightness after the surgery.  My own opinion is that this can be taken too far to the point that there is some increased risk of postoperative hematoma and bleeding.  I encourage patients to move their arms, but take it easy.

"Rapid recovery breast augmentation" is a term that is becoming overused.  It is not pure gimmick, as the principles it is based on are sound.  These are principles that most plastic surgeons do routinely without specifically labeling it.

Rapid recover refers to techniques in which minimal manipulation and trauma to surgery with early post-operative mobilization may produce a faster return to activity. See video below for these type of exercises

Hi there-

While I do agree that skilled and knowledgeable plastic surgeons familiar with the principles stressed by Dr. John Tebbetts are able to have their patients achieve comfort much faster than those who do not follow the basic principles of gentle surgical technique, I would be a bit wary of someone who feels they need to use this as a means of attracting patients....

If the surgeon was simply answering a question about their technique- great, these principles are sound. But if they were ADVERTISING that they are somehow a better surgeon for you because they use these principles, I might not be as enthusiastic.

There is so much behavior of a marginally ethical nature going on in the interest of attracting more patients, that it must be quite difficult for the average patient to separate the truth from the hype... Realizing there is so much hyperbole is a good start...

There are many, many characteristics that go into being a good surgeon- someone you would send your mother to. Putting your patients safety, comfort, and happiness above all other concerns is important. As are a sound education, years of ACGME accredited training in the discipline in which you practice, Board Certification in the specialty in which you practice, and a solid experience doing the procedures you offer people.

But it is also extremely important (although more difficult to measure or identify after a brief encounter- making sites like this more valuable) to have a surgeon with integrity.

Any surgical procedure is a series of decisions (sometimes small, sometimes big)... 

I worry that if a doctor has demonstrated their willingness to compromise their basic integrity by advertising in a disingenuous manner (giving cute names to operations all of us do in order to make you think they have captured magic in a bottle, or showing photos of patients not treated in their practice), that they would also be willing to compromise that integrity somehow in during the course of your surgery or postoperative care...

And if this occurs, your outcome, and possibly your safety, will be at risk.

The best surgeons earn their reputations over time- not by advertising cutely named procedures.

Meticulous surgical technique and gentle handling of the tissues can minimize the recovery for patients and in following these priciples patients can recover quickly.  Each patient is unique however, and has different surgical requirements.  In my practice the goal is for every patient to recover rapidly and indeed, patients typically say: "I wish that I had undergone the surgery earlier",  They are surprised at how quickly they are able to return to activitiy.

Remember, the most important part of getting a good result from plastic surgery is the surgeon you choose.  Discuss your desires and concerns with your surgeon for a more accurate idea of what to expect in your particular case.

There is no set time at which any patient recuperates but the gentler and the more careful the breast augmentation is done, the easier the recovery will be. If careful pocket dissection, minimal bleeding, and adherence to instructions all happen, then you should have minimal bruising and swelling.  The key  is not to over extend yourself because you are doing well initially.  Follow all of your doctor's instructions. Best wishes.