For the initial first four weeks, or five days, move around to maintain circulation and allow your body to heal from the surgery. A leisurely daily walk is fine at this point. But remember that you shouldn't just get breast implants to sit around and not move.
Patients should start light walking immediately after surgery – nothing strenuous, just short walks around the room or home every other hour. This is good for the circulation and helps prevent blood clots. After two weeks, patients can start more intense cardio such as walking on a treadmill or walking uphill.
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.
After day 3, you should see slight improvements in swelling and tightness with each successive day. While some soreness may continue, this, too, should dissipate as the days go on. At 1 week post op breast augmentation patients are usually able to return to work, though this does depend on your job.
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.
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.
Essentially, you'll need to sleep in an elevated position after breast augmentation surgery for at least one to two months (around six weeks for the majority of patients). The reason is that this position helps to reduce swelling, largely by taking the pressure off the incision areas and the implants themselves.
5 to 7 days post-op
At this stage, you may be able to return to normal activities, if directed by your surgeon. However, you should refrain from strenuous activities such as lifting your arms above your head, which can result in irritation and bleeding. At this time, your breast implants will begin to settle in place.
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.
You should aim to sit out of bed twice a day, at first for one hour then gradually increasing the time each day. The best exercise after surgery is walking and this will start on the first day after your operation. The nursing or physiotherapy staff will help you until you can walk safely by yourself.
You will need to spend more time recovering, and the extra swelling can be quite uncomfortable. Hematoma: Exercising before you have healed enough can cause a tear in your breast tissues, which may lead to a pocket of blood called a hematoma.
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.
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.
When an implant is placed in the sub pectoral plane, the implant is only partially covered by muscle as shown in the image below. With fresh implants, I advise no lifting and keeping the arms below the shoulder for two weeks or less. After that, your arms can then be raised.
You should be ready to drive about 1 week after your breast augmentation procedure. You probably consider driving a vehicle a relatively simple task, but you do have to keep your body upright, be able to twist to look over your shoulder, and have a good range of motion for your arms.
Dr. Howland requires patients to wear their compression bra for several weeks at all times except when bathing to aid the healing process.
Flying After Breast Augmentation
Because there is little physical movement during a flight, patients don't have much to fear about flying after surgery. But, to stay on the safe side, it can be useful to wait until a week after surgery so you can avoid any unexpected complications mid-flight.
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.
In general, patients should expect breast implants to settle within 6 weeks to 3 months. And in reality, breasts progressively look more natural over many months. Different factors affect the speed of this drop and fluff process, including: Tight skin before surgery.
When you first wake up from your breast implants surgery, your new breasts will likely be high up on your chest and feel hard to the touch. Don't be alarmed; this is completely normal, and your newly augmented breasts will eventually settle and soften, typically within 6 months.
Good Sleep After Breast Augmentation Is Vital
Your body has to work hard to heal from surgery, whether you've had a breast augmentation, breast lift, or a tummy tuck. This is why you will likely find yourself feeling fatigued in the days following your surgery.
Get plenty of rest and sleep
Some DVDs, books and magazines will help pass the time. You will be walking immediately after surgery, slowly regaining your strength. Just remember to listen to your body, getting plenty of sleep and relaxation, as you heal.
For the first 4 – 6 weeks following a breast augmentation, patients should be wearing a supportive medical bra around the clock, including while sleeping, to promote proper healing and provide added support. After this time, it may be safe and appropriate to begin wearing a soft, supportive bra of your own.
Dr. Ramanadham gets asked, “When can I sleep on my side after breast augmentation?” quite frequently. After all, it can be hard to sleep constantly on your back night after night. For the most part, patients will need to wait at least four to six weeks before they can switch to side sleeping.