Year after year, breast augmentation maintains its popularity among women throughout the country. Most women planning for breast augmentation surgery have many questions regarding their recovery time. That’s certainly true of the breast augmentation patients from the Ark-La-Tex area and beyond who visit the highly regarded plastic surgeons at The Wall Center. In this post, Dr. Simeon Wall, Jr. explains why rapid recovery is important, what it involves, and what patients can expect from recovery.
Our patients are busy; some work full-time, others are college students, and many have young children at home. While they want to look their best, they simply can’t take a lot of time away from their obligations. How can they fit surgery and recovery into their schedule?
We understand their concerns. To address this need, we chose to incorporate the rapid-recovery breast augmentation technique into our practice. Holly and I have performed this version of the surgery for nearly 2 decades.
Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation
Patients are drawn to the rapid recovery option because, in many cases, they can return to light activities the night of surgery, often feeling well enough to go out to dinner or their child’s soccer game! I can’t tell you how many times I have called my patients on the night after their surgeries to find that they are shopping, eating at a restaurant, or cheering on their son or daughter.
How Does Rapid Recovery Work?
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, I recognize that rapid recovery begins in the operating room. During this form of the procedure, we use a meticulous technique to minimize trauma to the surrounding tissues, accelerating the healing process and making recuperation more comfortable.
After surgery, we give each patient instructions for a thorough post-op recovery program that includes specific stretching and massage techniques. Much like with exercise, stretching your muscles will not hurt and can relax you. These exercises improve muscle condition, encourage the muscle to soften, and allow the implant to drop into more natural-looking positions.
Most rapid recovery patients find they don’t require narcotic pain medication, which is a major plus for patients who are wary of using opiates. Instead, a combination of cold compresses, stretching, and Ibuprofen are sufficient to maintain comfort.
Breast Augmentation Recovery Timeline FAQs
What can I expect during the first week of recovery?
Some discomfort, swelling, and bruising are typical during the first week. Rest is important, and you should begin the stretching and massage techniques described by your surgeon. Our rapid recovery patients are typically back to nonstrenuous jobs within a couple of days of surgery.
Is the second week of recovery much different than the first?
By the second week, you’ll feel pretty much back to normal. That doesn’t mean your incisions have completely healed, and you still need to avoid strenuous activities for at least 2 weeks. You may still notice some swelling, but most of it will resolve by the end of the second week.
What changes should I expect during the third and fourth weeks of recovery?
If you’ve been closely following our post-op instructions, you should feel comfortable with your new breasts and doing almost everything you would normally do. You should still refrain from doing any upper body workouts or sports, such as tennis, golf, and swimming. Most patients can resume those activities after 4 weeks.
How long does it take for breast implants to settle?
Your breasts will sit a little high on your chest for at least a couple of months after your surgery. Continuing the exercises and massage techniques as part of your post-op recovery will help the implants settle into place so you can see the procedure’s results. The “drop-and-fluff” process is gradual, but your patience will be rewarded when you see the final outcome.
Advice From Other Breast Augmentation Patients
In a previous blog post, we asked some of our breast augmentation patients to offer advice and guidance to patients just beginning their own journeys. These women said our detailed post-op instructions and thorough follow-up appointments helped them recuperate by eliminating guesswork and giving them peace of mind. They each stressed the importance and benefit of following the instructions closely. Many women had their surgeries on a Friday and were back at work the following Monday!
Why Choose Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation?
Rapid recovery techniques make breast augmentation a breeze. You don’t need to worry about taking a lot of time off of work. Gone are the old days of telling women that they can’t raise their arms, wash their hair, or dress themselves. Our patients are always amazed at how easy the recovery was and wish they had done it sooner!
Your Next Steps
If you’ve been considering getting breast implants but were worried about the recovery process or that you’d need to take a bunch of time off from work, that’s not the case with rapid recovery breast augmentation. You can learn more about the procedure itself and the recovery by requesting a consultation using the online form or by calling our practice at (318) 795-0801 to schedule an appointment.
Leave a Reply