When is pain at its worst? Most patients report pain in the first 24 – 48 hours after breast augmentation.
You may feel sore for 2 to 3 weeks, and you'll likely have a lot of swelling. You may have a pulling or stretching feeling in your breast area. You can expect to feel better and stronger each day, although you may need pain medicine for a week or two. You may get tired easily or have less energy than usual.
At 3 days post op breast augmentation patients won't see many changes from day two. However, some swelling may have dissipated. Your breasts will still be squarish in shape, and the nipples will still be pointed downward. Tightness and a compressed feeling will persist.
Bajaj, it should only take between three to five days to get past this first stage of recovery. "Typically, with breast augmentation, most people should be able to glide within three to five days. And if you have a desk job, you should be able to go back to work within three to five days," she says.
Normal postoperative swelling, which peaks about 3 to 5 days after surgery, will amplify feelings of chest pressure. Some women also report that their breasts feel engorged (tender, heavy and inflamed).
Your breast implants may appear to be bigger or fuller once they've dropped to a lower, more natural-looking position on your chest and "fluffed" into a rounder and softer shape. Changes in the size or shape of your new breasts after augmentation can also occur as swelling and tightness subside.
Some of the anesthetics used during surgery and your post-operative medications can cause disturbances to the gastrointestinal system and can contribute to bloating and discomfort. Drinking adequate water is essential for overall good health and it can decrease swelling.
You can expect to feel the most pain in the first one to three days after surgery. Your breasts and chest are likely to feel sore but you may also feel some stabbing or shooting pains. Your surgeon will prescribe you with pain medication to manage this.
Getting enough sleep is vital in the process of recovery after breast augmentation, or any surgery for that matter. As you close your eyes and slip into bed, you may feel that your body is shutting down, while in fact, sleep is the time when your body is at its busiest repairing and rejuvenating.
After surgery, the implants tend to ride hide and appear small due to the patient's skin tightness in the area. There is tightness because the implants increase dimension to breast tissue causing the skin to compress the implant's shape and size.
In addition, your breasts will look swollen and feel tight. This typically worsens over the first 2-3 days, stabilizes and then starts to go down between the 1st and 2nd week after surgery. Most of the swelling will be gone by 2 months.
Exercise in the First Few Days After Breast Augmentation
The good news is that you'll be able to start light walking immediately after your augmentation. This helps with circulation, but be sure you don't overdo it. For the first five days you should spend your time resting and treating any swelling or discomfort.
Complete Rest: 2 Days
In fact, it's important for you to get up and walk around to help blood circulation and expand your lungs. Our patients generally feel better than they'd expected in the first few days: still, it's important to not overdo your activities, even if you are feeling like you could.
Temporary bloating is a common occurrence and typically does not last for more than a few days. It is usually not a cause for concern. Bloating is a side effect of a surgical procedure that can sometimes happen due to anesthesia, extra fluid retention, or damage to the lymphatic system.
In the first 1 to 2 weeks, you can use your arm normally up to shoulder height for light activities, such as face washing, hair brushing and eating. But avoid lifting your arm above the height of your shoulder. Don't lift anything heavy, but you can use your arm to lift a cup of tea.
Swelling: Overexerting yourself causes your blood pressure to rise, which exacerbates and prolongs swelling. You will need to spend more time recovering, and the extra swelling can be quite uncomfortable.
Sleep on Your Back
Particularly in the first few weeks after surgery, sleeping on your back, while usually wearing a surgical bra, allows the breasts to heal in a more comfortable and desirable position.
Dr. Howland requires patients to wear their compression bra for several weeks at all times except when bathing to aid the healing process.
We recommend sleeping on your back and a little elevated (like in a recliner chair) for the first 3 weeks after surgery. Gravity in this situation pulls the swelling downward and away from the implants. If you sleep flat then the excess fluid does not drain and the swelling will persist.
Day of surgery
(Breast augmentation is an outpatient procedure and you'll need someone to stay with you for the first night.) You will meet the anesthetist, who will ask you questions about your general health and previous experiences with anesthesia so that he or she can give you just the right treatment.
Post-operative bloating and swelling usually peaks 2-3 days after surgery and most subsides by about 3 months. Bloating and swelling occur after plastic surgery for a number of reasons: You aren't as active as you usually are.
One of the most common questions we get from patients is when breast implants start to look/feel normal and when the natural drop of the breasts occurs after breast implant surgery. Breast implants generally take six weeks to three months to adjust and look natural.
You may be wondering, does walking reduce swelling after surgery? Walking can help improve your circulation and help fluids drain from the site of the swelling.
Tips to Reduce Swelling
Applying an ice pack or cold compress to the treatment area. Keeping the area that was operated elevated. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Give your body proper healing energy
Foods like fish and eggs, which contain iron and B12 help the body form needed new blood cells. Fiber and probiotics boost the immune system so it can fight off infection. A simple method for getting both fiber and probiotics is eating yogurt and granola.