Post Breast Augmentation Tips
Breast augmentation surgery is the most effective way to increase the size of your chest and give you the shapelier, more feminine silhouette that you desire. However, it is an invasive surgery and you will need to give yourself plenty of time to recover and heal after your procedure as failing to do so could compromise the results you will see.
To help ensure that you have a straightforward recovery from Breast Augmentation and achieve the best possible results, here are our top post-breast augmentation tips.
DON'T SHY AWAY FROM PAIN RELIEF
Many people have concerns about taking pain medications in the days after their surgery, worrying that they may become dependent on them. However, breast augmentation is a significantly invasive procedure and you will be guaranteed to be in some discomfort afterwards. As such, your surgeon will give you a prescription for pain relief which will help you manage this. You might be tempted to try and hold off on taking your medication until you can't manage the pain yourself anymore, but we strongly recommend that you take your drugs as directed. Being in too much pain can actually inhibit the healing process. Most women find that they can move on to regular over the counter pain medication within just a few days of their procedure.
WEAR YOUR COMPRESSION GARMENT AND POST-SURGERY BRA
Immediately after your breast augmentation, your new breasts will be bandaged and wrapped in a compression garment. This is used to help promote circulation and reduce swelling so that the healing process gets off to a great start. Once you are allowed to remove this compression garment you should still wear a post-surgery bra for at least 6-12 weeks after your procedure, or as recommended by your Plastic Surgeon. This is because post-surgery bras offer the correct support for your breasts as they settle into their new, permanent position.
ASK FOR HELP AFTER YOUR SURGERY
In the first few days after your breast augmentation you will find it difficult to do certain things. Not only will you feel sore and swollen, and be advised to avoid lifting anything heavy, but you will also be tired and everything will feel like much more effort than normal. If you have children, you will not be able to pick up your child, however small they may be, for at least 6 weeks after your surgery. You may also be unable to drive until you have stopped taking prescription pain medications and until cleared by your insurance company. As such, it is important to make sure that you have a support network in place to help you while you recover – be it a partner, a parent, friend, neighbor, colleague or live-in nanny. Don't try and do more than you should as this will set back your recovery and potentially even cause complications such as ripped stitches or uneven placement of your breasts.
PREPARE FOR YOUR RECOVERY
In addition to making sure you have someone to help you during your recovery, there are also a number of things that you can do to prepare and that will make the recovery process easier. Examples include:
- Scheduling a cleaner to come in and undertake housework etc
- Preparing healthy, nutritious meals and freezing them before you go in for your procedure. This will give you some independence at meal times and ensure you are eating good foods and not living on take-out!
- Sorting out your room with fresh bedding, water and pain relief on hand, and of course plenty of entertainment – puzzles, films, books etc.
START MOVING AROUND AS SOON AS YOU CAN
Although it may feel like the last thing you want to do, and you certainly won't be able to do anything strenuous for at least 12 weeks after surgery, you should still get on your feet and moving around as soon as you can. This will help to prevent blood clots from forming due to inactivity and will also encourage oxygen into the blood cells and around the body – something which is vital for speeding up the healing process. Your surgeon will be able to advise you what level movement is realistic and helpful for healing.
FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF YOUR SURGEON
Your surgeon is just as invested in the outcome of your breast augmentation surgery as you are, and as such, will give you specific guidelines to follow regarding your recovery. These will be given with the purpose of ensuring that you don't do anything which could cause complications or compromise the healing process in any way. You should treat these as instructions rather than optional, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with your surgeon's offices for advice.
If you have any questions about the post-breast augmentation experience, or if you would like to schedule an appointment at The Optimization Centre to discuss your candidacy for this procedure, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our experienced cosmetic surgery team.
