Can I Return to Work 2 Days After a Breast Augmentation and Lift, I Work As a Cashier?

Concerns about the recovery period are very common amongst patients considering breast augmentation surgery. It's important to realize that every patient's situation is unique.Some patients have jobs that involve heavy lifting, while others sit at a desk. Some patients have children, while others have a significant support system available to them. Some patients have more extensive procedures, while some patients have a low pain tolerance. All of these factors can impact the recovery period.I generally recommend that patients take a week off from work. Patients who have desk jobs may return sooner. Light exercise can usually be undertaken at about two weeks, and strenuous physical activity can be resumed at six weeks. At that time, I tell patients that they may return to full activity, without restrictions.Two situations deserve special mention, these include childcare and driving. I tell patients that they should not drive a motor vehicle until they are no longer taking narcotic pain relievers. Also, I believe that if you have small children at home, some type of childcare assistance should be available for at least one week following surgery.When all of these factors are considered, most patients feel that the recovery was less difficult than expected.

Thank you for your question. Please follow the advice of your plastic surgeon, as they know the particular details of your case. I generally recommend that my patients may return to work within a few days, as soon as they are off narcotic pain medication. However, I recommend that you do not do any intensive lifting until 6 weeks after surgery. You risk implant displacement, wound breakdown, and the development of a hematoma or seroma.

Thank you for your question. I understand wanting to return to a regular day routine after surgery. However, consult with your plastic surgeon and get his opinion. Being able to evaluate you physically will give you a better answer. Usually with Breast Augmentation, people are back to work in about a week. Hope this helped, best of luck! Dhaval M. Patel Double board certified Plastic surgeonHoffman Estates BarringtonOakbrookChicago

Thank you for your question.I recommend checking with your surgeon for his/her instructions/ restriction post surgery. You can return to work when  you  feel well enough, with lifting restrictions for 3 to 6 weeks. Best of luck.

Thank you for your question. Given that you are a cashier and not performing heavy lifting, you will most likely be able to resume work after 5-7 days. It is important to remember that everyone heals differently, and it is best to listen to your body during your healing process.

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!

That's a popular question many of my patients ask as well. At 21 years old, you're still quite young, so you may be able to recover more quickly from your surgery than older patients. Having said that, however, you'll still need to limit your activity so that your body can recover properly from the trauma of surgery. I usually recommend my patients take about 5-7 days off of work, during which time they should relax and restrict their arm movements and avoid any lifting or strenuous exercise. You may need less, or more, than this recommended time frame, depending on how you feel and how you're recovering. 

Here are some things that you'll need to consider:

 

- if you feel pain or discomfort: while this can be controlled by prescribed medication, you may not feel up to dealing with work stress, too.

- if the swelling/bruising is too visible: this might affect your appearance and you may not want to go to work, particularly since you're a cashier and need to interact with customers.

- if your job requires any lifting, you won't be able to without negatively affecting your recovery. If your job requires you to stand/sit in one spot for long periods of time, this can also negatively affect your recovery.

- if your recovery is compromised, not only is it dangerous to your health, you can also jeopardize the results of your procedure.

It's advisable to take as many days off of work as recommended by your surgeon. However, I honestly think that 2 days off is not enough.

 

Oh, and by the way, make sure you get your surgeon to write a note for your absence, so you don't get penalized for taking the days off.

There are many factors that affect recovery following breast augmentation - Patient factors, Surgeon factors and Implant factors.  I offer patients a Fast-Trak recovery with the majority of patients recovering with return to normal activities of daily living immediately, and over 80% back to work within 24-48 hours with no to minimal pain medication such as Vicodin.   In order to achieve this, patients need to be educated properly and informed on what to expect postoperatively, implants chosen to match their breast dimensions such as width of the breast and elasticity or stretch-meaning not over-augmented, the implant pocket is approached through a fold incision with absolutely no bleeding or trauma to the ribs or breast tissues, stretching of your arms above your head starting in recovery, taking a 2-3 hour nap and then getting up, taking a shower and going out for a walk, out to the mall or movie or out to dinner.  The more quickly you return to normal activity the quicker your recovery will be.  All my Best!  Dr B

Congratulations on your decision! Breast Augmentation is one of the surgeries with the shortest recovery period. I have performed this surgery on many women on a Thurs or Fri and had them return to work on a Mon. But be careful. I advise patients to wait a full 6 weeks before heavy lifting, in order to allow full healing of the implant pocket and incision. This is so the implant does not displace out of position.  While this is what I advise, many woman simply can't avoid lifting (because of young children or their job). So I advise to do so cautiously. I would recommend you follow your board certified plastic surgeons advice. Good Luck!

Each surgeon has his or her own guidelines for recovery. Typically, patients can return to light activity after 5 to 7 days. More strenuous activity may take 3 to 6 weeks. Consult with your board certified surgeon as he or she will understand the scope of the surgery and the specifics of you.