Factors Affecting Breast Augmentation Recovery

Factors Affecting Breast Augmentation Recovery
By Tara Pingle

Generally speaking, most patients have a similar recovery experience after breast augmentation surgery. At first, patients are stiff and sore and experience swelling, minor bruising, redness and discomfort surrounding the incision locations. Patients need to wear a special support bra, limit their movements and get a lot of rest during the first 24 hours to aid in the recovery.

During the first day or two, it is recommended that patients have a friend or loved one assist them with making meals, preparing ice packs and taking their pain medications at the appropriate times. Most patients are usually back to normal activities within the first few days and then back to work within a week of the surgery as long as their jobs do not require strenuous physical activity.

Scars from the breast augmentation surgery will usually begin to fade in about four to six weeks, and the breast shape should settle into its permanent positioning during that time. Most patients are entirely healed and enjoying the final results of their surgery between six months and a year from the time of the procedure.

Although most patients have similar recoveries overall, there are some factors that can influence the ease and length of recovery. The most important factors to consider are your age, medical history, skin characteristics and the surgical methods used by your cosmetic surgeon, including the implant type and implant placement.

Age and Pre-existing Medical Conditions

The younger you are, the easier and faster your recovery time will likely be. This is because your body is more resilient and able to heal at a quicker pace. Healing time can also be affected by other health conditions you may have or medications you must take on a daily basis. You should discuss your medical history and medications thoroughly with your cosmetic surgeon to find out if you will need special post-op care due to these factors.

Skin Type and Characteristics

Your skin type and characteristics can also impact your recovery time and the extent of scarring and bruising you experience. If you tend to bruise and scar easily, you should expect to see more bruising, scarring and a longer overall recovery than the average breast augmentation patient. Make sure to discuss this with your cosmetic surgeon so he or she can plan your follow-up appointments accordingly and ensure that you know the proper exercises for keeping scar tissue and additional post-op complications to a minimum.

Procedure and Implant Type

The exact procedure type and breast implant you select can affect your recovery time. For example, if you have selected an adjustable implant, healing time and scarring is usually decreased. This is because adjustable implants are not fully filled at the time of the initial procedure, keeping tension and pressure on the incisions and surrounding tissue to a minimum. This expedites the recovery process by reducing overall swelling and helping the incisions heal as quickly as possible.

If you choose to have your implants placed under the muscle as opposed to over the muscle, healing time will take longer. This is because there are more incisions needed to insert implants under the muscle, which causes additional swelling and bruising.

If you have additional questions or concerns about the breast augmentation recovery process, you should discuss them candidly with your cosmetic surgeon before the procedure takes place.

This article is provided courtesy of The Cosmetic Surgery Directory. Please visit this site for in depth information about all cosmetic surgery procedures or to find a cosmetic surgeon near you.