Recovery is an important part of your breast lift procedure. Taking proper care of yourself during recovery will help you to heal more quickly and feel more comfortable while healing. Naples breast surgeon Dr. Manuel Peña will provide you with specific post-operative instructions to follow to ensure your best recovery.
The First Week
Following your breast lift surgery, you will need to wear a surgical bra to support your breasts and help reduce swelling. This will also help to encourage your breasts to heal in the proper shape. A drain may be inserted for the first couple of days to remove excess fluids. At your first follow-up appointment with breast surgeon Dr. Peña, the drain may be removed.
You must arrange someone to drive you home and stay with you over night. Remember to rest on your back with your torso propped up. Get plenty to eat and drink. Staying hydrated and keeping a healthy diet will help your body recover well.
You should arrange for someone to drive you home after your breast surgery and to take care of you for a few days. Taking at least four days off from work is essential to getting the rest you need during this crucial recovery time.*
This is also the time to begin light exercise. Taking short walks as soon as you feel up to moving around will help stimulate healing within your body. Strenuous activity should be avoided though. Avoid heavy lifting and don't do anything to put unnecessary stress on your body.
Additional Recovery Time
Going into your second week of recovery, you should begin to feel much better. You can return to work, as long as it is not strenuous, and you can resume most of your normal activities. You should still ease your way into exercising, especially if you've had breast augmentation also.* After breast augmentation, specific exercises that move implants around are instructed to prevent hardening around the implant. However, the exercise "pectoral flies" should be avoided indefinitely.Exercising with breast implants will feel much different than your pre-surgery routine. Never push yourself to do more than your body is capable of. Remember that although you are feeling much better, you are still in the recovery process.
Any swelling, bruising, or tenderness you've been experiencing should start disappearing. Your incisions will turn pink and bump out, but as they heal, they will become less and less noticeable.
As you recover, check in with Dr. Peña about when you can engage in more strenuous activities. After about a month, you should be able to resume running and aerobics and will likely be ready for swimming and spending time back in a hot tub.*
If you are ready for a breast lift, please contact Dr. Manuel Peña today to schedule your consultation with an experienced Naples breast surgeon.
*Individual results may vary. Consult with Dr. Peña to see if you are a candidate.surgeon.