When recovering from your breast augmentation surgery, you should always pay close attention to the post-operative instructions you received from your doctor at Renaissance Plastic Surgery. During your consultation for a breast augmentation procedure, our doctors focus on you to listen to your needs and goals, but we also strive to ensure that all your questions are answered about not only the outcome of a medical procedure, but also about the process for your procedure and for your recovery.
While you may be going back to work and resuming your daily life relatively quickly, it’s important to understand that your exercise will be limited at first after breast augmentation surgery. You will soon be able to do all the exercise and activities you enjoyed before your surgery, but you will want to make sure that you slowly introduce activity into your life to avoid complications.
The First Few Days
Like any other surgery, for the first few days you will feel some levels of discomfort doing many of your daily activities. Plan on taking it easy and resting. Curling up on the couch and binge watching some Netflix is nothing to be ashamed of here. At this point, any exercise outside of basic personal care is out of the picture. You will likely be on pain medication, and your chest will be very sore.
The First Few Weeks
While your personal post-operative instructions will be tailored to you, you should expect that for the first month, you will not be lifting anything more than 10 pounds, or doing any strenuous upper-body activities (especially cross fit!). Low impact exercises such as Yoga or walking are great for this time period.
You will want to ensure that as you begin restarting your exercise routines, you begin slowly. If you begin high impact exercises, such as running or high intensity aerobics, you risk the possibility of displacing or shifting your implant.
The First Few Months
After four or five weeks, you can begin cardio exercises as you did previously to your surgery, but our doctors recommend continuing to avoid heavy lifting over 30 pounds until you have passed the two month mark. The goal at this point is to minimize the possibility of tearing or pulling any muscles in your chest or the surrounding systems in your shoulders or abdomen.
At this stage you should feel comfortable doing most exercises. In a controlled environment you can do arm exercises with lower weights to maintain your current musculature. It is important to add your previous routines back into your exercise plan slowly, and remember that if things are feeling uncomfortable, to stop and consult with your doctor immediately.
Our surgeons at Renaissance Plastic Surgery are always available to discuss your post-surgery care and how you can get back to your normal exercise plans in a safe way. In your follow up appointments, feel free to ask about specific routines, and our doctors can recommend specific stretches and exercise options that are appropriate for each stage of your recovery.
If you are interested in a consultation to discuss breast augmentation with one of our plastic surgeons in St. Peters, MO, please give us a call at (636) 896-0600.