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.
After Breast Augmentation Surgery
There are numerous and dangerous risks for women who undergo breast enlargement surgery. Complications such as infection, rippling or rupturing of implants, scar tissue that causes capsular contracture, bruising, and bleeding are just some of the risks associated with breast enlargement surgery. You should discuss the benefits and side effects of breast implants with your doctor, so you will be well informed and, therefore, make a knowledgeable decision for yourself and decide what is best for you. One of the biggest fears for women getting breast implants is capsular contracture. It is one of the most common complaints from patients who have undergone breast enhancement surgery. As your breasts heal after the operation, scar tissue (which can include calcium deposits) forms around the incision and breast implant. Sometimes mammograms may be more difficult to interpret when women have scar tissue and calcium deposits around their breast implants. Usually the natural scar tissue, which is part of the healing process, is minimal. But, the scar tissue may shrink and harden causing a hardening of the breast. It can occur in one or both breasts. It also may desensitize the nerves in the breast. Many women who experience this excessive formation of scar tissue complain of pain in the breast and asymmetry of the breasts.
Sometimes, depending on the severity of capsular contracture, an operation must be performed in order to correct the problem. The surgeon will remove as much excess scar tissue as possible, or even replace the breast implant if needed. In a small percentage of women, capsular contracture recurs even after breast enlargement surgery to correct the problem. These women must have their breast implants removed permanently. It may take years before problems start to arise after an initial successful breast enhancement surgery. No one can tell what future problems a woman may experience with breast implants. The longer you have breast implants, the greater your risk of complications. Other complications such as asymmetry, is a common problem after breast enlargement surgery. Most women naturally have slight asymmetry of their breasts. surgery can correct an uneven appearance of breast size and shape. But, an unsuccessful surgery can increase or cause size and shape differences in the breasts. Then, these women often undergo surgery to correct the problems caused from the first surgery. Infection near the incisions is another scary complication of surgery. Sometimes the incisions do not completely heal. Necrosis, which is the breakdown of tissue often accompanies a skin infection.
The breast implant may start to protrude through the muscle and tissue if infection and necrosis occurs. The chances that necrosis will occur increase due to a variety of factors such as: undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation of the breasts; the use of steroid drugs; cigarette smoking; among other reasons. If enough tissue breakdowns occur, the breast implant may become exposed and the breast implants must be removed to prevent further risks to your health. Breast implants may cause the undesirable rippling appearance of the breasts. This sometimes happens with silicone implants and if the breast tissue is very thin. We have stated just some of the most common problems with breast implants and breast enlargement surgery. There are even more risks and complications that you may discuss with your surgeon. Some women have to live with scars and abnormalities caused from breast implants for the rest of their lives.
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