What Can You Expect After Breast Augmentation?

What Can You Expect After Breast Augmentation? : Many women who choose to undergo breast augmentation have wanted the surgery for years. Because of this, they are eager to show off their new bustline as soon as possible.

While results start to become noticeable immediately after surgery, it takes time for them to settle and become final.

What Is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation increases the volume and shape of the breasts using saline or silicone implants. These implants are placed within a created breast pocket either above or below the pectoral muscles.

Implants are placed through incisions made in one of the following locations:

Inframammary – along the breast crease beneath the breast
Periareolar – around the bottom half of the areola
Transaxillary – in the armpit

How Long Is Breast Implant Recovery?

While different for every woman, breast augmentation recovery time is one of the shorter plastic surgery recoveries. Most women can return to work after a few days to one week; however, they should avoid lifting anything of weight for at least six weeks.

During this time, it is important to follow all post-operative instructions provided by your plastic surgeon. In addition to that, you should follow a healthy lifestyle. This means eating a nutritious diet, staying hydrated, and not smoking.

Other things to remember about recovery include:

The Drop and Fluff Phase

The drop and fluff phase is part of the breast augmentation recovery. Immediately after your breast augmentation, your implants will sit high on the breast and they will feel hard. This is normal. It takes time for the implants to settle into the right place in the breast pocket (drop) and soften (fluff).

Choosing the Right Bra

Once again, it is understandable to want to show off your new bustline immediately. But while you may want to jump right back into sexy lace bras, you need to wait.

While you are healing, the most important thing is support. You will be given a compression garment to wear immediately after the surgery. This will be worn for the first few weeks. Once you have been cleared to remove the compression garment, you should switch to a supportive sports bra.

Avoid underwire bras or any lace that can irritate the incisions for at least six weeks. Your incisions must be fully healed.

When you do start to buy new bras, you should invest in them slowly. It is common for your breasts to slightly shift sizes for up to a year after your surgery.

Breast Implant Massages

Once your incisions have healed, you should consider performing breast implant massages to keep them soft and help prevent capsular contracture from occurring. Your plastic surgeon will explain the right techniques for performing this massage; however, the most important thing to remember is to rub around the implant a few times a day for a few minutes while supporting the breast.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation

What types of implants are available?

Implants are available in saline and silicone materials. Saline implants consist of a sterile saline encased in a silicone shell. Silicone implants consist of a cohesive silicone gel encased in a silicone shell. These implants are available in a wide variety of sizes.

Are all silicone implants the same?

No. Silicone implants are available in a wide variety of shapes, surface textures (smooth and rough), and levels of cohesiveness. There is a silicone implant perfect for every woman.

Are implants permanent?

Breast implants are long lasting; however, they are not necessarily permanent. Modern breast implants are expected to last between 10 and 15 years. That being said, some implants last much longer than that, by a decade or more, whereas others experience complications and require replacement sooner. Breast revision is the name of the technique that removes old implants and replaces them with new, healthy implants.

Are breast implants safe?

Yes, modern breast implants are very safe. While silicone implants were temporarily removed from the market in the early 90s for safety concerns, newer studies have shown that these implants are very safe for use.

Will breast implants lift sagging breasts?

While breast implants can slightly lift breasts, it cannot raise significantly sagging breasts. To do that, you need to combine your breast augmentation with a breast lift. Breast lift surgery tightens glandular tissue and removes excess skin. In the process, this surgery can reposition the nipple-areola complex and resize large areolas.