You will be awake but unable to feel pain. The surgeon will make 1 to 3 surgical cuts (incision) in your breast. Extra skin, and sometimes some breast tissue, will be removed and your nipple and areola may be moved. Sometimes, women have breast augmentation (enlargement with implants) when they have a breast lift.
Local anesthesia typically results in faster patient recovery with less discomfort (nausea, for example). The patient is awake during her procedure and thus can be a part of the process.
After a breast lift, you'll have some discomfort, swelling and bruising. Your skin may feel tight. These effects get better over time and last about two weeks. If you had drains near the incisions, your healthcare team will remove them a few days after the procedure.
All plastic surgeons have the capability to perform breast augmentation under either local anesthesia or general anesthesia. For most patients, the safest option is general anesthesia, which gives you a protected airway. Heavy sedation can slow your breathing down.
As with any procedure, the details of a breast lift recovery can vary from patient to patient. In general, most women can expect to feel well enough to return to work after 1 – 2 weeks, with the majority of their swelling resolving in about 3 – 6 weeks.
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. The procedure typically lasts one to three hours. After one or two hours in the recovery room, the patient is discharged to home.
Don't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk (including your children), as you could strain your healing breasts and cause swelling. Along the same lines, don't push anything heavy, like a stroller or a large grocery cart. Don't smoke after surgery, as it can interfere with your body's ability to heal.
Complete Rest: 2 Days
You don't require strict bed rest after breast augmentation. In fact, it's important for you to get up and walk around to help blood circulation and expand your lungs.
In most cases, patients continue sleeping on their back for at least 2 – 4 weeks after breast lift surgery to minimize discomfort. Some patients are able to resume side-sleeping comfortably after 1 – 2 weeks, though stomach-sleeping may remain uncomfortable or painful for much longer.
6. You will stay in the recovery area for approximately 1-2 hours. Typically, it takes this amount of time until your pain is well controlled, you are alert, and you can drink without being nauseated. A Foley catheter will be placed prior to surgery (once you are asleep) to monitor your fluid status.
A Breast Lift Surgery Can Reposition Your Nipple and Areola
In addition to surgically lifting the breast tissue to a more youthful and perkier position, this procedure also involves surgically repositioning your nipple and areola.
Answer: Breast lift drains
Not all breast lifts need a drain, but some would definitely benefit from one. I would argue that a drain for 2-5 days could reduce your recovery time if your surgery caused a lot of swelling, some bleeding, etc.
Breast uplift surgery (mastopexy) is an operation to re-shape your breasts to change how they look. It aims to lift them to a higher position. Like all surgery, this major operation has risks. It's important to find out about the procedure and choose your surgeon carefully.
As a general rule of thumb, there is no best age for a breast lift. However, we would like to make a couple of caveats. First, you should understand that it is important for a woman's breasts to be fully developed before she considers this procedure. Some women's breasts develop fully while they are in their teens.
How much can I walk after breast lift surgery? You can start walking almost immediately after the surgery for about 10 to 15 minutes daily. You can gradually increase the duration after week two and take it up to one hour.
You will certainly experience some moderate pain and discomfort after breast lift surgery. This should be the worst during the first one to three days post-op. After this, your discomfort should gradually improve.
After your breast surgery, we recommend using a strong supportive cotton front closure bra without an underwire. This is recommended after breast augmentation, breast reduction surgery, breast revision, and breast lift surgeries.
While recovery is unique for each individual, it is generally recommended that showering be avoided for 48 hours after plastic surgery. This allows your incisions time to begin the healing process and helps prevent premature scab removal.
While the exact amount of time varies based on the rate at which you heal, most women are able to return to work after about one week. It's important that you get plenty of rest during the first week of your recovery. In some instances, you may be feeling better after a few days and want to go right back to work.
After your breast augmentation surgery, your surgeon will recommend wearing your surgical bra every day, including when you sleep. The bra helps your implants settle to give you the best possible results while aiding in healing. Wear the surgical bra for 6-8 weeks.
Generally speaking, you shouldn't consider going braless for at least six weeks after breast augmentation. Your breasts need to be thoroughly supported during this time to ensure optimal healing. After six weeks, you may occasionally go braless, but try to keep this to special occasions, and don't make it a habit.
Typically, a breast lift (medically referred to as mastopexy) reduces bra size by one cup. However, this is usually not the result of volume loss. When excess skin and sagging breast tissue are removed or repositioned, cup sizes are naturally reduced.
The Appearance of Breast Lift Scars
While the incision(s) is thin, the breast lift scars will be very noticeable, with a red, raised appearance. As the wound heals, the scar will fade to pink and eventually turn white, as well as flatten out so it is no longer raised.
Breast lifts are safer than breast implants. There has been increasing awareness among women about the advantages of breast lifts. There has been an increase in the number of combination procedures that involve both breast lifts and breast implants.