The Breast Augmentation Recovery

As the most popular elective cosmetic surgery available in North America and around the world, the purpose of a breast augmentation procedure is no secret. Exactly as it sounds, this type of surgery is designed to enhance and improve the shape of a woman’s breasts and chest wall. It may be combined with other surgical procedures, but ultimately, the focus is on enhancement and enlargement of female breasts.

Your plastic surgeon will give you very specific pre- and post-operative instructions in order to get the most out of your surgery. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind during the recovery period that will help minimize pain, swelling, and adverse side effects.

The most common side effect after breast augmentation surgery is swelling. This side effect is common with any plastic surgery procedure and can cause discomfort or obscure immediate results right after the surgery. Swelling within the breast tissue and chest wall can make the augmentation look much bigger than it actually is. As such, it is important not to panic and to let the swelling go down before worrying that the cup size you chose is far too big for your frame (or your back) to comfortably and gracefully accommodate.

There are a few things you can do during the post-operative recovery period to avoid swelling and minimize the discomfort that swollen tissues can cause. While it may seem counterintuitive, it is very important to stay hydrated. Fluids circulating through your body are less likely to swell than if you are dehydrated. Healthy diet choices are always important, but especially during the recovery period after breast augmentation. Be sure to avoid salt and other forms of sodium as this can lead to further fluid retention in undesired areas. You will want to be sure that you schedule plenty of downtime as you recover from the procedure and give yourself the opportunity to ease back into your regular routine gradually.

Gentle massage and other exercises to help improve circulation can reduce the amount of fluid build-up after breast augmentation. By ensuring the area is getting good blood flow, your body can remove excess fluid through the blood system and reduce overall swelling. There are also a number of medications – both prescription and over-the-counter – that inhibit the body’s ability to eliminate excess fluid and result in swelling. Your plastic surgeon will be able to consult you on which medications you should avoid during the recovery period. Ensure that your doctor has a full health history and knows all of the medications you are taking.

As you can see, there are a number of things you can do to improve the recovery period after breast augmentation surgery. Minimizing swelling is easy to do and can have other beneficial results as it reduces pain and speeds the overall healing time. Ask your doctor if you have any further questions or anything seems unclear.