How long will I be in pain after the Breast lift with implants?

Hi Bx,A breast lift with implants is a much more extensive surgery than just breast implants alone.  So no, in your case, you will need more time to recover.  But you are certainly asking the right questions. You will have some pain for a week or so.  I suppose you will get many different answers, but for a teacher, on your feet, probably wait like 10 days - 14 days depending on how you are healing.  The only answer that really counts is from your personal surgeon.  We let our breast lift with implant patients exercise fully at three weeks.  Be sure to see only a board certified plastic
surgeon (by ABPS - The American Board of Plastic Surgery) who is a member of
ASAPS (The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) and or a member of
ASPS (The American Society of Plastic Surgeons). All the best,  "Dr. Joe"

Hi and thanks for your question. I bet there are plenty of patients who are wondering the same. Pain thresholds will vary patient to patient. However, in most of my cases, patients retun to work ( office/adminstrative) within the first week after this surgery. This is also the time required to drive again. The worst of it is in the first 24-48 hours. This pain is well controlled with pain medications. As the muscle relaxes and the implants begin to settle the patient fels better andengages in more activity. In our institute we recommend 4 weeks for cardio and legs and 8 weeks for upper body strength training.Always seek out the opinion of a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery with years of experience in cosmetic breast surgery. Furthermore request to see before and after photos of previous patients by that doctor....not a clinic or surgery center. Do your homework......research and verify the doctor's credentials. Have they had problems with the Board of Medicine, disciplinary or otherwise. Any law suits? How about the center, clinic or facility? Are they accredited by a national organization or do they just have State approval. Understand that at the current time, there are three nationally recognized organizations responsible for the highest levels of patient safety, AAAASF, AAACH and JCHO. You owe it to yourself to position yourself for the best possible results but under the most stringent safety regulations, If you have kids, even more so.How about anesthesia? Will you have a medical doctor certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology or a certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA)? Understand that there is no substitute for research. Cosmetic surgery, no matter how simple it may be to the patients, are invasive procedures and as such carry certain risks and complications.In our office we use TouchMD which is a web based program in which patients have the ability to load their picture unto the program. I then evaluate them and can actually draw on the picture to show a potential patient where the incisions would be located and how the procedure is to be realized. It's all done to comply with HIPPA which is the federal law that protects the patient's medical information. Look them up.I wish you well on your journey. Good luck

Thanks for your question,There is usually not a great deal of pain after implant placement unless a large implant in relation to the breast tissue and anatomical features are used. Also, usually the patients can go back to work in 5-7 days after surgery.

    The procedure is not particularly painful unless larger implants are chosen in relation to the size of the patient.  Patients can usually return to work in 1 week or so in most cases.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Pain tolerance will vary from individual to individual.  I recommend my patients take 1 full week off
of work with limited activities and plenty of bed rest.  Some patients require 2 weeks.  You can return to normal activities following
the first week with the exception of heavy lifting and work outs for 1 month. You will feel like your old self and be back
to normal life at 4 to 6 weeks.

Most patients who have both procedures experience pain for about two weeks.  Some up to three weeks.  If the implants are placed below the chest muscle (pectoralis), expect a bit more pain and muscle tightness.  I usually prescribe a combination of a pain pill and muscle relaxer.  After the first two weeks, patients are also allowed to use anti-inflammatory medicines such as Advil or Motrin.  Restrictions in activity for the first few weeks also seems to help with pain control. 

Great questions! If you find that "special" surgeon who specializes in overnight recoveries, you can be dining and dancing the next day! Sound bogus? You bet!But actually, carefully-performed surgery with precise hemostasis (control of bleeding capillaries), gentle tissue handling, and skillful use of long-acting local anesthetics, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medications, and avoidance of strenuous activities until healed will allow everyday activities in a day or so (in most cases) and if healing is progressing normally, return to work in a few days to a week. This, of course, assumes you don't have to run a phys-ed class, lift heavy objects in the classroom, or subdue large teenagers who are being unruly! (My daughter teaches high-school English!)I see all of my breast lift plus implant patients the morning after surgery, and 97% have no nausea or vomiting (we utilize TIVA general anesthesia in our nationally-accredited office surgical facility administered by certified CRNAs), and most patients describe their pain level as 3 or 4 on a 10 scale. I do get a few zeros, which always surprises me, but they tell me that discomfort and feeling like your milk is coming in is a far cry from real pain (childbirth being the usual benchmark). And a few 7s or 8s, who have usually not yet had children! (sentence fragment intentionally used for emphasis)At one week you are still avoiding raising your blood pressure or pulse, but are showering (gently) daily, driving a car (no off-roading or manual transmissions) if you are no longer taking narcotic pain pills (most stop at day 1 or 2, but some require longer--see pain comments above), and going about daily activities. You should be doing nothing strenuous, nor lifting, stretching your arms (saddlebag purse off the back seat), or exercising. No sutures need be removed (I only use dissolving ones, and the incisions are usually sealed and not draining in 2-3 days, after which a soft cotton non-underwire bra may be advised), and the next recheck after day 1 is day 7. By 3 weeks post-op your breast swelling is diminishing and your implants are settling, giving you a less "high and tight" look and a softer feel. Activities can be gently increased, and by 6 weeks there are no restrictions other than avoidance of ultraviolet exposure to your scars (no tanning beds or nude beaches). By 3 months you have reached most of your final breast appearance, though there will be additional subtle softening and settling, as well as scar fading and softening as well. "Final" results are achieved at 6-12 months.Obviously, if you have any wound healing issues, increased bruising or bleeding, or any of many but rare complications, this timetable is altered. If you are a smoker, stop, and you must also avoid nicotine gum, patch, spray, or even exposure to second-hand smoke (to minimize circulation concerns leading to the aforementioned wound healing issues). If you are healthy, have good surgery, and follow post-op instructions, you have an excellent likelihood of having a wonderful result and uncomplicated recovery with little impact on your everyday teaching responsibilities. Thank you for being a good teacher--I would not be doing what I do today without having had many wonderful ones along the way, and in spite of a few bad ones! Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

You can return to work in one week. You can return to light workouts in 3 weeks without bouncing up and down. Full Workouts in 2 months.Pain should be resolving within 5 -7 days.Submuscular implants hurt more than subglandular i,plants but yield a better result.

I think that most patients can go back to a desk job with 7-10 days.  Most discomfort will be from the implant stretching the muscle if they are in a submuscular pocket.

The "average" recovery of lifting + implants is 3 weeks. But exceptions can come into play... Best you seek in person opinions. Pain is subjective some have for few days while other 3 weeks...