Breast augmentation (boob job) is a popular cosmetic surgery that aims to change the patient’s breast size. Breast enhancement may also be performed to change the shape of breasts or restore their previous volume, lost due to dramatic weight loss or medical conditions. Breast augmentation is also called as augmentation mammoplasty. In the surgery, the fat extracted from the other body part of the patient through liposuction may be used as well as artificial implants (silicone, saline implants).

READ: Types of Breast Implants: Silicone, Saline or Gummy bear?

In any case, the results of a “boob job” do not appear immediately and the proper breast augmentation recovery process must be observed in order to achieve the best effects possible. The postoperative recovery period of breast augmentation may vary depending on the scope of the surgery, the patient, and specific factors such as the incision method used (over or under the muscle).

In this short but informative guide, we will try to underline basic breast augmentation recovery tips.

Breast Augmentation Recovery Time

Generally, the patients are permitted to go home when they are stable for discharge, typically a couple of hours after your surgery.

You will get all specific postoperative instructions for your recovery process before leaving, and follow-up appointments with your surgeon. You may also receive a prescription that includes pain medications and an antibiotic to prevent infection if your surgeon sees its necessary.

First few days after breast augmentation is of key importance since in this very period the risk of bleeding and other severe complications is the highest. It is necessary to rest throughout this time after breast enhancement plastic surgery and to reduce any physical activity to the necessary minimum.

You probably will need at least 2 days of rest after the procedure, and a period of several days of reduced activity. Most breast augmentation patients are able to turn back into their daily routines after approximately a week. However, it is important to consider that swelling and soreness may persist for an additional 3 to 4 weeks.

When approximately 20 days passed, it is possible to increase the intensity of these activities as the incisions are mostly healed. After 40 days the final breast augmentation recovery stage begins, when the final shape of breasts after breast enhancement begins to appear.

Back to Work After Breast Augmentation Recovery

Of course, for a vast majority of people the issue of returning to work after having breast implants is a crucial issue. Both people going to a regular job as well as stay-at-home moms can resume their work after a few days. However, it shouldn’t include lifting and other strenuous physical activities. The precise time is up to the scale of breast augmentation plastic surgery as well as the patient’s health and workload – it is the best to ask the specialists who perform our breast enhancement treatment.

Breast Enlargement Plastic Surgery Gone Wrong

Self-tracking is important during breast augmentation recovery time. You should keep track of the breast size and shape as well as bruising and swelling. Bruising and swelling is a natural result of a boob job surgery, no matter whether done by fat transfer or by artificial breast implants. However, apart from the first week both of these phenomena are expected to decrease rather than increase. You should check the shape of the breasts after breast enhancement as well. Significant irregularities and asymmetry should be of your concern. If you think that something goes wrong with your breasts after the surgery, stay calm and do not worry first and then inform your surgeon. The sooner you contact your surgeon, the better. Your surgeon will find the best way to correct anything if exists any.

READ: Which Is Better? Breast Augmentation by Fat Transfer & Breast Implants

Breast Augmentation Recovery Dos and Don’ts

It's important to follow all your surgeon's directions carefully which mostly include wearing your support garment or cleansing the incision sites, applying ointment, keeping tape or a bandage on.

As with many invasive plastic surgeries, breast augmentation and incisions cut in the process may be a source of infection. Therefore, apart from avoiding baths, patients should take prescribed antibiotics regularly. The same rule is applied to painkillers, minimalizing the breast enlargement recovery pain to the level where the patient may function normally even in the first days after their boob job.

The Final Results After Breast Augmentation Recovery

The most important aspect of breast enhancement is, as in the case of any plastic surgery, the look before and after. While a breast augmentation brings you larger breasts right after the surgery, the final results after following all those instructions may take a few weeks depending on the swelling and stretching the skin. It is also important to continue to wear compression garments especially if you have underlying asymmetry or very small breasts. Complete fading of incision lines may last several months, even a couple of years according to the velocity of self-rejuvenation of your skin.

Breast enlargement or enhancement is, after all, a complicated surgery, and the results will take time to appear. After months from this plastic surgery, we will be to see how our breast size changed. Getting ready for this process in advance and staying patient is more important than anything else.