Recovery from Breast Implants
Recovery time from surgery involving breast implants can be dependent on your overall health before and after the operation. For those in good health the recovery time could be proportionately quicker. With only one night in hospital in most cases some women will be able to return to work within two to three days (depending on the job at hand though, as more physical jobs may require a longer time to recover first). This could also depend on the stitching you have used (between dissolvable and those that will need to be removed). The time period to allow before returning to your everyday routine will be something you should discuss with your surgeon.
When you wake after the surgery your breasts will be bandaged up and you will be required to wear a sports bra for up to three months after the operation, twenty four hours a day. About a week after the procedure you will be required to return for the stitches to be removed, if the stitches you have in place are non-dissolvable.
Eventually your breasts will ‘drop’, this is because the implants are higher just after the surgery before they drop down into their normal position. How long it is before this happens is dependent upon the implant with issues such as the size, shape, your breast size prior to surgery, the placement of the implant, muscle tone and the texture of the implant. Some surgeons will advise you to perform massages on your breasts to manoeuvre the implants down. Some women will also wear a strap to help push them into their normal position. Do not be alarmed if one implant drops before the other – this is normal and some women may find that the right breasts drops last if they are right handed, though this is not always the case and some doctors would dispute it.
The implants stretch the skin around the breasts and will affect the appearance of the breasts in the weeks after the surgery. This will mean that they appear reddened as well as shiny – this will disappear over time and in some cases your surgeon can recommend things to rub onto the breasts to make this quicker, though you should not rub anything on the areas of the incision until you are told it is safe to do so.
The scars themselves where the incision was initially made will be pink and noticeable at first, feeling quite firm and can stay like this for around six weeks. After some months go by the scars will decrease in size, however you should be prepared for the scarring to remain for around two years before fading.
If there are any discrepancies at all during your recovery period such as bleeding, pains in your chest or any issues with your heart beat you should contact your doctor straight away. |
