How Soon Can I Swim After BA? Is 3 Wks Enough Time?

It is wise to wait at least three weeks after your surgery before you go swimming. At that time, the incision will be healed enough so that water won’t penetrate it and possibly cause an infection.

Thank you for your question.You can go swimming after your incisions are completely healed from your surgery and the healing procedure will take 3-4 weeks.
You should also make sure that your incisions should be protected from sun exposure, otherwise, the scars will become more noticeable. 

However, as long as you are protected from sunshine, you can go scuba diving, or spearfishing, etc...

Thank you for your question. I would recommend that you ask your plastic surgeon as they know the specifics of your case. I generally tell patients that they can go in the water, but in terms of swimming for exercise or doing vigorous activity with the arms and upper body, I generally recommend that my breast augmentation patients wait 6 weeks.

Thank you for your question. I would say anywhere from 3-5 weeks depending on your healing process. Just make sure it is not aggressive swimming. If that is the case wait 6 weeks. You should be okay to soak in a pool about 3-5 weeks. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Hoffman Estates Barrington Oakbrook Chicago 

Patients are eager to return to normal activity as soon as possible following breast augmentation surgery. Unfortunately, returning to normal activity too soon can result in an increased potential for complications. Swimming can potentially have negative consequences if resumed too soon.Theoretically, once the skin edges have sealed in about 48 hours following surgery, these activities can be resumed. In reality, small absorbable sutures may break through the skin and become exposed. In this situation, infection could occur in a patient who is submerged in a Jacuzzi, pool, pond or ocean. Each of these environments may have unique and in many cases, antibiotic resistant bacteria that could lead to a significant infection.In addition, plastic surgeons generally don't recommend resumption of strenuous activity for at least six weeks following breast augmentation surgery. Swimming can create significant strain on the core muscles and should, therefore, be avoided in the immediate post-operative period.It's important to realize that every patient's procedure and post-operative course is unique. For these reasons, make sure you consult your plastic surgeon before getting into the water.

I advise all my patients that they can be submerged in water 3 weeks after surgery. The reasons for this is all my patients wounds have dressings for the first 3 weeks. After this time, the wounds are generally dry and healing nicely so they don't require any bandage support/protection. So they can go for a "light" swim. However, as far as undergoing normal physical activity I advise all my patients to return to attempting normal physical activity from four weeks after surgery. So enjoy your vacation and feel free to take a dip, but try to refrain from any attempts at serious swimming until four weeks post-op.

It is always best to follow the recommendation of your board certified plastic surgeon as to your exercise tolerance. Your surgeon will know about your tissues, how much he had to do with the pocket, etc. When you do get the OK, make sure to wear very good sports bras. Also ease into it. Don't run a marathon the first day. We see patients post op and let them know their limitations at their appointment. Running is usually about 8 weeks out. Swimming will depend on many variables, including how strenuous your swim is going to be. Are we talking long competitive swims in the ocean, or cooling off in the pool?  Please talk to your plastic surgeon and make a plan about your exercise tolerance.

At 3 weeks after your surgery, you should be okay to go underwater, but don't go overboard (no pun intended). You should not strain yourself while swimming, as this can compromise your recovery. However, this is only if your surgeon says it's okay and your recovery has been going well. Please ask your surgeon for their advice. Regardles, however, please make sure you cover up your incisions from sun exposure, as not doing so can make your scars much more noticeable.  

Hello! Thank you for your question! On average, a period of approximately 3-4 weeks on average is typical. Submerging in stagnant water, be it bathtubs, jacuzzis, pools, lakes, oceans, etc. can certainly increase your chance for infections. I usually await the incisions to be fully healed prior to allowing for this type of activity. If you do have any wound issues or delayed healing, expect that you will be restricted from doing such things. However, I allow my patients to shower and clean incisions at 3 days postoperative. Regardless, the answer will vary amongst plastic surgeons and you should discuss this with your surgeon and follow his/her instructions. Best wishes!

Although surgeons’ guidelines differ, I recommend that my breast augmentation patients avoid exercising for 4 weeks after surgery (including swimming) and also avoid submerging their incisions until they are fully healed. It can take 4-8 weeks for incisions to heal over (lose the scabs) and during this time the area may be more susceptible to infections. It is important to keep the incision areas as clean as possible during the healing process to ensure no adverse conditions from developing. I usually ask my patients to hold off on swimming or spa use until I can assess the incision area(s) to be sure that they have healed appropriately. Be sure to check with your surgeon for his or her guidelines on swimming after your procedure.