Are you wondering what you will and won’t be able to do after you’ve had Breast Augmentation surgery? We’ve put together a timeline for you, so that you can see at a glance when you’ll be able to resume your favourite activities after your surgery.
Breast Augmentation Recovery Timeline:
Immediately After Your Surgery
The very last step of surgery is the insertion of a special numbing solution that allows you to wake up comfortable and without pain.
Spend 2 hours in recovery, where we’ll keep an eye on you as you come out of anaesthesia.
General Initial Restrictions
There are some activity and clothing restrictions until your implanted breasts heal:
- No underwire bras – they can indent the incision and also irritate the healing incision.
- Backpack straps are a definite no-no for the breasts: if you’re travelling after surgery, a light-wheeled suitcase would be a better option.
- Your dressings must not get wet – half-body or sponge washing only until stitches are removed 10 days later. No showers, full-body baths, spas, or swimming during this period.
- Minimal exercise at first.
- Avoid any activity that puts direct pressure on your breasts: sleeping on your front, having your breasts squeezed or some lovemaking positions will need to be avoided until you are fully healed. Gentle touching of the breasts, however, is okay.
- No mouth-to-nipple contact for the first 6 months as this could send your partner’s normally harmless mouth bacteria down your nipple ducts and infect the implant.
8 Hours After Surgery
8-10 hours later, the numbing solution will start to wear off, so use the prescribed pain relievers to use for the next 4-5 days.
1 Day After Surgery
Air travel is permitted with limitations and precautions as your doctor will explain.
5 Days After Surgery
Hopefully, no more pain-relievers! While you might still feel twinges in the area for the next couple of months, you shouldn’t need medications for pain from here on.
11 Days After Surgery
If your incisions have been closed with non-dissolving stitches, they’ll now be removed. Then, you’ll be able to have full-body showers and baths, and gentle swimming is permitted too. You can return to work, as long as your duties are light and don’t require any lifting, running or lots of walking.
3 Weeks After Surgery
You can start back at the gym, but can only do lower body work such as exercise bike and leg exercises, but no treadmill yet!
8 -12 Weeks After Surgery
Once you get the all-clear from your doctor, you can gradually resume upper-body gym work. However, if it proves uncomfortable at the time, or causes you chest soreness the next day, stop it, wait 2 weeks, and then try it again. More intense walking and limited running regimes (wearing a very supportive sports bra) can be re-introduced from now providing they don’t cause you discomfort.
3 Months After Surgery
Your incisions will have firmly healed by now, so you can resume wearing underwire bras.
4 Months After Surgery
Your breasts are largely healed now, and pressure on the breasts – lying on your front whilst sleeping or making love, is no longer a no-no.
6 Months After Surgery
Full healing! You don’t have to worry about mouth-to-nipple contact causing an infection anymore, so mouth-to-nipple contact is now permitted!
