As a woman, you may find yourself self-conscious about the appearance of your breasts. That’s because breasts have been a symbol of femininity for a long time. Therefore, it’s normal to think about enhancing your breast area through plastic surgery, particularly breast augmentation. But before anything else, do you really need the surgery? And what are breast augmentation recovery times?
There’s a lot to think about before making up your mind.
Table of Contents
Breast Augmentation Defined
Breast augmentation, or augmentation mammoplasty, is a popular plastic surgery to increase breast size. Some women may choose breast augmentation to boost their self-esteem and confidence, while others may want to rebuild the breasts following various conditions.
You’d be better off consulting with a plastic surgeon to understand the procedure, possible risks, and follow-up care, no matter your reasons for the surgery.
There are two types of surgeries:
Cosmetic Breast Augmentation
Here, a doctor inserts a saline or silicone implant behind the breast tissue or under the chest muscles to improve the breasts’ shape, size, and symmetry.
Reconstructive Surgery
You could also get reconstructive breast augmentation surgery to rebuild your breasts if removed in a previous surgery, such as a mastectomy.
Why Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation can help with:
- Enhancing the appearance of your breasts if they are asymmetrical or you feel like your breasts are small
- Improving the volume of breasts after substantial weight loss or pregnancy
- Correcting unevenness after undergoing breast surgery to treat other conditions
- Restoring your confidence and enabling you to feel right in your skin
- Depending on the results you want to achieve, your plastic surgeon can customize the procedure according to the material (saline or silicone,) incision, shape, and implant placement.
What About Breast Augmentation Recovery?
When it comes to breast augmentation recovery times, there’s no standard time limit since every woman is unique. Many things could affect your recovery, including the implant material and size, the placement, and the surgeon’s prowess.
In general, though, full recovery after breast augmentation typically takes between four and eight weeks. It’s crucial to avoid overexerting your body to hasten your recovery. That means no exercise or overworking in the next couple of weeks post-op.
Looking at the timeline:
Immediately After the Procedure
You’re likely to feel sore and weak, especially after waking up from general anesthesia. The medical staff will monitor you for a few hours.
A Few Hours Later
You may feel better. Your doctor will wrap the breasts and explain how to care for the incision sites before allowing you to leave. Have someone drive you home.
After 3 to 5 Days
You may feel the most discomfort, and the doctor’s prescription will come in handy. Also, there may be minor bleeding at the incision point, which is normal at this point. You could always speak to a doctor if you have any concerns.
Next Few Weeks
There may be some swelling, but it should get better by the day. Avoid going to work for at least three weeks if your job is physically demanding.
After 2 Months
It’s about time to resume your daily activities since you should have a full recovery by now. However, consult with your surgeon first.
