You’re interested in breast augmentation surgery, but there’s one thing holding you back: thoughts of an extensive recovery.

After all, you don’t exactly have a ton of free time on your hands. Between work, family, and sneaking some time in the gym, you’d be surprised if you have enough time at the end of the day to watch your favorite TV show. So how will you manage to recover from a surgery if you need to dedicate weeks to downtime?

Woman in White Bikini

Actually, recovery time for breast augmentation isn’t as long as you might think it is. Look at what you can expect during your recovery from a breast enhancement procedure:

  • During the first 24 to 72 hours, you’ll need a lot of downtime recovering from your procedure. Your plastic surgeon will place a compression dressing to help reduce swelling and maintain the new breast shape; it’s important to keep the dressings on until your surgeon removes them. You will then be placed in a wireless supportive post-operative bra for the duration of your recovery.
  • Pain and discomfort will start to subside within the first week of recovery (usually around the Day 5 mark). For that reason, many patients choose to go back to work after taking a week off. You may need a bit longer to recover if you have a manual job, as you’ll be prevented from lifting things from the ground or holding heavy weights.
  • You may be able to resume light exercise – like walking or gentle biking – within four weeks after your procedure. Keep in mind that you’ll still need to wear your wireless supportive bra.
  • By week 6, you’ll be able to resume a normal lifestyle, complete with your usual exercise routine.
Breast Augmentation Recovery Infographic

As you can see, the entire recovery process takes about six weeks – but you’ll only really need to take one or two weeks off from work or your normal lifestyle routine.

To learn more about what to expect from your breast augmentation recovery, schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Aycock in Walnut Creek, CA (925)-937-8377 or Greenbrae, CA (415) 925-1700.

Dr. Aycock serves the greater San Francisco Bay area.