Breast augmentation recovery, like most surgeries, begins before the procedure. Prospective patients should be in good health and will undergo a thorough history and physical with the surgeon prior to the procedure. Further, if you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight, it is desirable to lose the weight prior to a breast augmentation procedure. These, among others, are considerations discussed during a typical consultation with a Plastic Surgeon.

The typical breast augmentation procedure is performed within a 1-2 hour period, commonly under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. Once you are fully recovered from the effects of the anesthesia, which can take up to a few hours, you will be able to go home. Your breasts will be wrapped in sterile dressing and you will have stitches, normally fully absorbable and hidden from view, where the plastic surgeon made the incisions. You will be given a surgical bra to wear while your breasts recover from the surgery. A surgical bra is a specific bra that aids in comfort and provides the appropriate support and compression during the healing process. You may be asked to where the bra when you sleep and during other times you are not used to wearing a bra. It is important to follow these instructions to ensure your breasts recover appropriately.

Your breasts will be tender to the touch for the first week and you will be asked to refrain from strenuous activity for 2 weeks. Swelling can be present for up to 4 weeks. The implants normally sit at higher position on the chest immediately after the surgery, and are monitored over 4-6 weeks as they “descend” into a more anatomic position, filling out the bottom portion of the breast and along the cleavage lines. Typically, we see most patients fully recover within 4 weeks of their procedure.