Some plastic surgeons perform several specialized maneuvers to minimize your post-operative pain. In fact, some patients can go shopping or travel 1 or 2 days after surgery without any complications. Your surgery can be done on an outpatient basis and you can go home the same day. At home, you will need someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours.

A surgical bra with a small piece of gauze on the incisions will be used for the first 2-3 days. Some surgeons allow you to shower the night of the procedure.

You will be seen for follow-up in 3-4 days, to learn and demonstrate how to massage and exercise your breasts and to have post-op care reinforced.

You may return to work in 2-5 days with some limitations on physical activity.

No lifting over 10 pounds for 3 weeks. No aerobic workouts and increase your heart rate above 100 beats per minute for 3 weeks. Walking may begin after 1 day. Chest/ weight exercises may be resumed 6 wks after surgery.

Some plastic surgeons use absorbable sutures that do not require removal. Surgeons will be able to provide you with more specific details about the recovery process, and he or she may have other recommendations based on your individual needs. Should any problems occur after your surgery, contact your doctor immediately. This is especially important if you have a high temperature, or if one or both of your breasts are excessively swollen, tender to the touch, painful, red or inflamed.

How many visits after surgery? You usually return in 3-5 days following surgery, then at 2 weeks. This routine can be modified for out of town patients. During your post-op visits, the doctor will review exercises you will do to manipulate the implants within the pocket, discuss further postoperative activity and concerns you may have. Following this visit, you will return in approximately 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and one year and then every year thereafter. It is essential to maintain consistent follow-up care.

A rapid recovery is one of the important goals and benefits that we offer our patients undergoing breast augmentation. In general, recovery after breast augmentation has been characterized by a lot of intense pain, immobility, drains, straps, lying in bed for 1-2 weeks with what could be summed up with a fairly negative overall early experience.