Breast Augmentation
Post-Operative Instructions

Post-Operative Instructions 212-421-7123

Follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions for timely healing and achieving more natural, lifted, and well-shaped breasts.

Post-Operative Instructions after Breast Augmentation

After the surgery

• Continue resting for the next 24 hours after getting home. Only get up to use the restroom with assistance. For the first 3 days, sleep with your back and knees elevated with 3 to 4 pillows. After 3 days, you may sleep on your back if your doctor approves.  
• Lying in bed all the time is not good. Get up and move around during the day for normal blood circulation. It reduces the risk of blood clots.
• Do not sleep on your stomach or sides, as it can hurt the incisions and impact the results of your surgery.
• The initial days may be challenging, and you will feel pain and numbness in your breasts. However, it will start getting better after a few days. You can manage your pain with the medications your surgeon has prescribed.
• You may hear a sloshing or squeaking sound in your breasts. This is the air or natural fluid that is trapped in the space around the implant. Your body will absorb it within a few weeks.
• You will come home wearing a surgical bra and a compression band. This bra has to be worn 24/7 for at least 3 weeks. The band will be worn 24/7 for 1 week or longer as recommended by your surgeon. They stabilize the implants, minimize swelling, and protect your surgical results. If compression feels too tight or causes pain, re-adjust it to prevent circulation issues.
• Keep your body and arm movements limited to brushing your teeth, eating, combing, and shampooing your hair. Avoid twisting your body, lifting arms above shoulder height, or stretching them widely. This will prevent strain on the chest muscles, especially if implants are placed under the pectoral muscle, and reduce the risk of bleeding or implant displacement.
• Do not shave your underarms or use deodorant for the first week following surgery.

 
Your chest will feel tight until the chest muscles relax and get used to the augmentation. The exact time varies, depending on your muscle mass, breast elasticity, and activity level after surgery.

Caring for your incisions

• Your surgeon will use dissolvable or non-dissolvable stitches to close your incisions and help your body heal properly. Dissolvable stitches will break down within 1 to 2 weeks and disappear gradually, while non-dissolvable stitches will be removed after 7 to 10 days.
• Your breasts will be covered with a surgical dressing or Steri Strips to protect the incisions and support early healing. A gauze or non-stick dressing may be placed to absorb any blood or fluid discharge.
• Keep your incisions clean and check them daily for any signs of infection.
• Avoid smoking and the use of all nicotine products after your breast augmentation. They can increase the risk of infection and delay recovery.
• Avoid exposing your body to the sun for several weeks after surgery. Wear clothes that fully cover your chest and newly treated areas when going outdoors. Even a mild sunburn can irritate your incisions, worsen swelling, darken scars, and increase the risk of infection.
• Do not apply any lotions, creams, or ointments on the treated area that have not been prescribed by your surgeon. Unapproved products interfere with the normal wound healing process, increase inflammation, and may lead to irritation around the incision site.
• Wear light, comfortable clothing that does not require being pulled over the head to make dressing easier when arm movement is limited. Use shirts with front or back buttons, or zips, so you don’t have to lift your arms or stretch to get dressed.
• Use soft, breathable fabrics and loose-fitting clothes to minimize pressure and prevent them from pulling or rubbing on your incisions.

What to eat?

• It is best to start with a light, low-fat diet after your surgery. You can get back to your routine diet if your stomach tolerates food and you do not feel nauseous.
• Focus on eating a balanced diet to build strength.
• Avoid greasy, heavy, too spicy, or processed foods.
• Drink plenty of water, at least 6 to 8 glasses every day, to prevent dehydration, as it can lead to nausea and dizziness.
• Stay away from alcohol for at least 2 weeks or as directed by your doctor.

Medications

• Take all your medications, including the antibiotics, and pain-relieving medications, as prescribed by your surgeon. They help prevent infections and keep discomfort to a minimum.
• Always take your medications with food to avoid nausea and vomiting.
• Do not take any other medications during your recovery period without consulting your doctor first.
• Only use the scar gels your surgeon has prescribed. Using other medications can delay healing, irritate the incisions, and negatively impact your surgical results.

What to expect?

• Pain – You will feel burning, tingling, or shooting pain as sensory nerves regenerate. It is normal and will gradually improve with time. The nipples may also become hypersensitive, but should return to normal as your breasts heal.
• Bruising – You will see bruising in your breasts. It may spread down to the abdomen due to gravity. It is normal and usually resolves within a few weeks.
• Swelling –  Swelling in your breasts is expected. You may notice that one breast is more swollen than the other, but they even out with time.
• Bleeding – Light bleeding or oozing at the incision site is normal up to 48 hours after surgery.  
• Chest tightness – Your chest area will feel tight for 4 to 8 weeks as your skin and muscles reshape and get used to your new breast size. You may experience more tightness in one breast than the other.

It is very common for your two breasts to heal differently. One may feel more uncomfortable, and you may notice slight differences in shape initially.  However, as the healing progresses, they begin to look more similar and natural.  It may take up to 8 to 12 weeks before your final bra size can be accurately determined.
 

Showing after breast augmentation

• You can shower on the 3rd day after the surgery with your back facing the water.
• Remove the bra, band, and dressing, but keep the Steri Strips on the incisions.
• After a shower, let the Steri Strips air dry or change them as instructed by your doctor, and put the bra and band back on.
• Do not submerge incisions in water till they are completely healed and there are no scabs.
• Stay away from tub baths, Jacuzzis, and swimming until your incisions have healed or you have been cleared by your surgeon.

Physical activity

• Avoid all strenuous physical activities for the next few weeks. Stress on your breasts or vigorous activity could stretch or tear incisions or displace or shift implants.
• You can resume light daily activities after two weeks, but avoid tasks or exercises that put pressure directly on your breasts.
• Do not push, pull, or lift anything greater than 5 pounds for at least 2 weeks or until cleared by your surgeon.  
• When you start exercising again, make sure to wear a snug, supportive sports bra to reduce bouncing and prevent sagging of breasts.
• After six weeks, your surgeon may recommend breast massage to reduce the risk of scar tissue, tightening around the implant, and to maintain natural shape and symmetry. Follow your surgeon’s advice for timing, frequency, and technique. Starting too early or using too much pressure can harm healing.

Returning to normal activities

• Most patients can get back to normal activities and work after 5 to 7 days, depending on their job responsibilities. Start with a light schedule or even part-time to ease back into routine, depending on your recovery and energy levels.
• If your work includes heavy lifting or repetitive arm movements, you may need more time off work to avoid straining your chest and stitches.
• By 4 to 6 weeks, you can increase activity, based on your surgeon’s instructions.
• It is best to avoid sexual activities for at least 2 weeks. You can resume when you feel comfortable.  

Call your doctor’s office if you notice any unusual symptoms, signs of infection, or want to learn more about recovering faster from breast augmentation. They will guide you about continuing with normal routines, depending on your healing progress, implant type, and surgical technique.

Conditions that require emergency care

Call 911 immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Intense pain that does not go away with medication
• Significant swelling in one or both breasts
• Change in nipple color or appearance
• Redness that also feels hard to touch
• Excessive bleeding from one or both breasts
• Pus or foul-smelling drainage
• Signs of allergic reaction, such as itching or rash
• High fever
• Breathing issues
• Shakes and chills

Timely medical care saves you from serious, potentially life-threatening complications and helps you with a smoother, safer recovery.