Butt implant and workouts - could recovery be faster and less painful?

Dear Lilli,   Your  ease of recovery depends on your surgeon's  technique. The 2 most common techniques are intra muscular  and sub fascia. The first technique, since it is intra muscular , it is more painful than the sub fascia technique. Also, it's plane of dissection is not natural and the muscle fibers are ripped, which consequently  is associated more with hematoma (bleeding) unlike the natural plane of sub fascia pocket.    In my practice of sub fascia technique, patients are allowed to sit, since we sit on the thighs. They are instructed to lean forward while sitting for one month ,  to avoid pressure on the inter gluteal incision, which might break the wound. Additionally, they are instructed to lie on the abdomen and sides for one month and avoid lying on the back , again, to protect the wound.   As far as return to light duty work , my patients are allowed to do it after 3-4 days, once they are off the narcotics pain medication. Gym, heavy lifting and sex are permitted after 6 weeks, to avoid wound break down and hematoma.   You have to realize that not all results are the same because there are different techniques and different implants. Also, experience, technical skills  and aesthetic eye are critical for good outcome. So, do your due diligence carefully and choose your surgeon wisely.   Always, consult with experienced board certified plastic surgeons who operate in accredited surgery center for your safety. Most importantly, check the before and after pictures in the photo gallery, to make sure that they are numerous, consistent and attractive with nice 'S' curve, nice projection, round hips, single inter gluteal, not visible,  low incision and natural look.  Check also the reviews on RealSelf for positive experience reports.                  Best of luck,                               Dr Widder

Here is what every patient should know about recovering from buttock implants.  Regardless of your level of fitness, the first 2 weeks is the most challenging with swelling, tightness, and discomfort. Also sitting is prohibited for these 2 weeks. Patients may return to work after 2 - 3 weeks as sitting and basic daily activities become easier.  For those whom work from home, return to work resumes much sooner if they can work standing, kneeling, and/or lying down reclined in the "dentist chair" position. After 2 weeks patients may sit for up to 30 minutes at a time then stand up or take a short walk for 15 - 30 seconds before sitting back down, 3 weeks for up to an hour, and at 4 weeks unlimited.  At 3 weeks patients can resume upper body exercises while standing only, at 4 weeks upper body exercises while seated may be added.  By 6 weeks, all restrictions are lifted as life nears normal again, all exercise (including squats and lunges) and sports may be resumed again but at low intensity. Like breast implants, around 5-6 months postop the body has adapted to the implant as a foreign object so it recognizes it as  self.

Having toned or more developed gluteal muscles will not really make the recovery any quicker or easier. The degree of muscle trauma is the same regardless of the preoperative condition of the muscles. In theory it would seem that better muscle development would make for a faster recovery with quicker muscle healing but there is no clinical evidence that is really true.