You may return to low-impact exercises after surgery once your pain is controlled and you feel comfortable. If you have breast reconstruction: You should not lift your arm above shoulder level until cleared by your plastic surgeon. You may return to low-impact exercises four weeks after surgery.
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.
Why can't I lift my arms after breast augmentation? Dr Doyle advises his patients to avoid lifting their arms above their head immediately after the surgery. It helps heal incisions faster and stops stretching of the internal structures. You can lift your arms above the head 4 weeks after the surgery.
Putting too much pressure on your upper body during recovery can damage your implants, increasing the risk of flipping and rippling. Working your upper body too much also heightens the risk of lateral displacement or `bottoming out`, which is where the implant slips down and the top portion of the breast flattens out.
This typically includes refraining from exercise and strenuous activity until you have healed completely. Typically, the wait time is four to six weeks before resuming any strenuous activities like weight lifting. Your doctor will be able to provide more individualized guidance based on your specific circumstances.
With fresh implants, you will not be allowed to lift your arms. Your surgeon will advise you to keep your arms below the shoulder for about 2 weeks. This allows the capsule to form around the implant to secure it in place. Lifting your arms above shoulder level can cause the implant to move out of the pocket.
Lifting, straining, or exercising too soon after getting implants can be devastating for your recovery and results. Possible complications that can occur when you resume an exercise routine prematurely include: Severe or prolonged pain. Delayed healing.
On average, patients take about six to eight weeks to fully recover from their breast augmentation procedure. Many women feel back to normal after the first week of recovery, but everyone's experience is different based on their age, body, health history, and lifestyle.
For the first 6 weeks, you will need to wear either a post-surgical bra or other non-underwire bras at all times. Avoid bending over, reaching up or across your body, and do not lift anything that weighs more than 5 pounds.
Generally speaking, patients can resume sleeping on their side or front once they feel comfortable doing so, which typically takes about 6 – 12 weeks. After this time, the breast augmentation incisions should be fully closed, and the majority of swelling, bruising, and pain will be resolved.
After two to five to six weeks, your plastic surgeon will clear you for light activity and light exercise. You want to avoid elevating the heart rate too high, and with breast implants, you also want to avoid lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds.
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.
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.
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.
Once you have clearance from your surgeon, we recommend massaging your breasts two to three times a day for the first couple of months. Complete this practice for about five minutes each time. After the first two months, massage your breasts five minutes once a day, or as often as recommended by Dr. Smart.
Therefore, during the initial four weeks after surgery, breast augmentation patients should avoid overusing their pectoral muscles. Typically, this means lifting nothing heavier than 10 pounds. No heavy pulling or pushing of objects such as car doors or even heavy purses, and no weight training.
How to correctly wear your surgical bra after your breast surgery. Surgical bras should have no seam and fasten in the front with a zipper or clasps. Your surgical bra should be snug but not too tight. You should be able to insert two fingers underneath.
Absolutely no strenuous lifting or exercise until you're fully healed. Intense exercise can cause the implants to shift before they're fully set. After 6-8 weeks, your body should be fully healed and recovered, and you can resume your daily activities.
While your breasts may appear to sit abnormally high on your chest wall and feel “tight” during the first few months following your breast augmentation, they will settle into a lower, more natural-looking position and become softer and rounder over time—a process known colloquially as “drop and fluff.”
In as few as a few days, patients may begin to notice their implants begin to settle. By several weeks, the implants will be near their final resting position. The three-month mark is typically the latest that movement will be noticed. Athletes with strong chest muscles may require more time to notice breast settling.
Many factors affect how quickly breast tissues soften after augmentation. This “dropping and fluffing” process can last anywhere from eight weeks to six months. Schedule an appointment with your plastic surgeon if your breasts still feel hard after the six-month mark.
Morning stiffness is common.
During your recovery from breast augmentation surgery, morning stiffness is expected. However, once you begin to move around, the stiffness usually dissipates. This stiffness generally persists for 1 to 2 weeks after your breast augmentation procedure.
It's important you get the rest you need after surgery as this is when your body recovers. Simply put, sleeping on your back keeps your breasts in an optimal position for healing. We therefore recommend you keep this position for eight to 12 weeks post-surgery.
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.
That, of course, means no heavy lifting. One way doctors help those with surgical wounds heal quickly — and avoid added physical stress that could raise blood pressure and, in turn, cause a cut to break open and bleed — is to recommend steering clear of picking up anything that weighs more than 10 pounds.