How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Breast Augmentation Procedure?

Woman Breast
Photo by Gabriel Sanchez

Just like any other major operation, patients should plan on spending a little bit of time recovering at home following a breast augmentation procedure. Even though this operation is safer than ever, quite a bit of the soft tissue must be altered, and that means patients are going to experience swelling, bruising, sensitivity, and other side effects. The total length of your recovery depends on a variety of factors, and you will need to speak with your surgeon to learn more about the side effects of the procedure. That being said, there are a few basic stages of recovery that most patients will progress through following breast augmentation surgery.

Understanding the Operation

Before you take a closer look at the recovery process, you might want to learn more about the operation itself. The breast augmentation procedure is currently one of the most popular cosmetic operations in the world, and it is now being carried out hundreds of thousands of times every year. The primary purpose of this procedure is to enhance the size of the breasts so that a patient is more comfortable with their overall appearance. That is accomplished by adding a silicone or saline implant into a small cavity in each breast.

Once the implants have been put in the proper position and the nearby tissue has been adjusted, the surgeon is going to close the incisions with sutures. The placement of the incisions and the size of the implants will have a very big impact on a patient’s recovery. In most cases, the incisions are made along the natural lower curve of each breast, but they can also be made around the areolas or even within a patient’s armpits. As you can see from the breast augmentation before and after photos, most of the scars are very subtle or completely invisible once the patient has fully recovered.

Your Recovery Period

When it comes to your recovery period, your overall health is going to be one of the biggest factors. Healthier patients who get plenty of rest tend to have relatively quick and comfortable recoveries. Your age is another variable that must be considered, and older patients should expect to spend a little more time in bed. As a general rule, patients can begin walking around within a few days of breast augmentation surgery. During that time, you must be very careful because the soft tissue and incisions are still going to be tender. You should also try to spend as much time as possible relaxing in bed. By the third week, the average patient can return back to work as long as they don’t have a very strenuous job. 

After a few weeks, you will need to meet with your surgeon so that they can inspect the results and ask you a few follow-up questions. At the conclusion of your follow-up meeting, your surgeon will be able to give you additional instructions and suggestions. In the vast majority of cases, patients can resume all activities after five or six weeks. 

Your Beautiful New Body

The breast augmentation before and after images should show you just how amazing this procedure can be, and it has changed the lives of countless patients. If you think that you might be a good candidate for this operation, then it is time to contact a surgeon to learn more about it. Within weeks of your operation, you could be back on your feet with enhanced breasts and more confidence.