How Long is Breast Augmentation Recovery?
Published on July 18, 2020 by Andrew Barnett
Are you interested in breast augmentation surgery, but you’re nervous about how long it might take to get back on your feet again?
As it turns out, recovery from Breast Augmentation is much quicker than most people think. Dr. Barnett has performed thousands of breast augmentations and has developed specific plans for each patient drawing on his many years of experience. Recovery should be considered based on different intermediate and long term goals – we refer to this as the Recovery Timeline.
Breast Augmentation Recovery Timeline
- Immediately After Surgery: You’ll need someone to drive you back to your home after your breast augmentation surgery, as you’ll be groggy from general anesthesia.
- Day 1-4: During the first few days after your surgery, you’ll need to rest and relax. You may be taking stronger pain medication, but many patients are able to switch to Tylenol ® by the second or third day (no Aspirin, Advil®, Motrin®,etc). You may take slow walks, do gentle stretching but no cardiac exercises or heavy lifting. You’ll be prohibited from lifting anything heavier than five pounds.
- Day 4-7: Most patients in non-physical jobs are back to work by day 4 (think of it as a long weekend) and in more physical jobs, by 7 days.
- Day 10-14: You can engage in light exercise and intimate activity, but no high impact or high level cardiac exercises.
- Week 3: You can return to your normal exercise routine without restriction.
- Week 6: Most swelling is gone (about 90%) but implants may need a few weeks more to drop into place.
- Week 12: Your final result! (No restrictions, no special care – and time to buy some great new lingerie!!!
Breast Augmentation Consultations Available
Is Breast Augmentation Recovery Painful?
Breast augmentation recovery itself isn’t necessarily painful; however, there is a fair amount of discomfort you may experience, especially during the first few days after your surgical procedure.
Here’s what you can expect in terms of pain during your recovery process:
- During your first week after surgery, you’ll likely feel uncomfortable; you may even feel disoriented by the new weight on your chest.
- Sleeping may feel slightly uncomfortable, especially if you sleep on your side (we don’t recommend sleeping on your chest, as this may be very painful).
- You’ll start to feel more like your normal self again after about a week. At this point, any lingering discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter ibuprofen or pain medication.
While these are general guidelines, every patient is different and we treat every patient as an individual. At each step along the way, we provide you with custom instructions to assist you in your recovery with specific do and don’ts. We are big believers in lots of hand-holding!
“I’ve known Dr.Barnett as a child and now as a woman, I made the decision to get a breast augmentation. He was the first person I thought of to do the job. I can’t thank him enough for the awesome job he has done. It has built my confidence through the roof. He as well as the receptionist were very attentive and called to check up on me. From the beginning of my consultations to the end result I have felt so relaxed and happy with him and his performance. I recommend him to all and was truly blessed with an amazing recovery! The compliments I have received on how good they look and how great of a job he’s done is overwhelming..happy is all I can say after having them for 8 months now !!! Please get in touch with him if you’re thinking of getting one done!!” *
Take the Next Step – Schedule a Consultation
To learn if you’re a good candidate for a breast augmentation, or to schedule your consultation with Dr. Barnett at either his San Francisco or Walnut Creek office, click here or call (415) 879-8735.