How Long is Recovery from Breast Augmentation?

    TAMPA, FL, December 31, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- One of the important things to consider in getting your breast augmentation is the recovery period after surgery. This article will help you understand the different phases of recovery and how best to get through them.

Immediate Recovery: 3-7 Days

The day of your breast augmentation, you will need someone to drive you home. It is recommended that this person or another responsible adult stay with you the first day of recovery. During this initial recovery period, it is recommended that you focus your energy on getting better. Many people feel well enough to do things like going out for dinner the day of their procedure and may want to engage in normal, vigorous activities within the first few days of recovery, but this is not advised. You may feel well, but your body is recovering, and too much stress on the body now can mean more complications later. Stretching and low-impact exercise like short, gentle walks are encouraged, according to your doctor's instructions.

You also need to be on the lookout for signs of complications. The most serious complication that may occur after breast augmentation is infection. Notify your plastic surgeon if you experience a fever, have foul-smelling discharge from the incisions, or find localized areas of warmth, as all these can be signs of a potentially life-threatening infection.

Full Recovery: 2-3 Months

Most surgeons will schedule a follow-up visit with you about a week after your surgery. At this appointment, you will likely be cleared to return to nonstrenuous work. If your incisions are adequately healed, you may be allowed to take baths or otherwise immerse your incisions. You will also be given instructions for gradually returning to your normal routine.

One of the concerns in this period is that the delicate blood vessels in the breast may still be healing. If you do any activity that may lead to flushed breasts (such as vigorous exercise or sexual activity), it can lead to a hematoma, or significant bleeding in the breast. Although a hematoma is easily treatable, it can increase your risk of capsular contracture later on, which may require the removal and replacement of your breast implants.

Final Results: 6 Months-1 Year

Once you are fully recovered, you may start looking at your breast augmentation results critically. Are they too high? Are they too big? Is the contour unnatural or not what you desired? This may be the case, but it is not a cause for worry yet. Breast implants are initially placed high on the chest. This allows them to settle naturally into the breast tissue, creating a pleasing, natural appearance. However, this process can take a long time, six months or more. In addition, sometimes your swelling may take this long to resolve as well, making your breasts look larger than their final size.

At any rate, you should not be concerned about the appearance of your breast augmentation results until at least six months after your surgery.

If you are considering breast augmentation in the Tampa, Florida area, please visit the website of Dr. Antonio J. Gayoso for more information about the procedure at http://gayosoplasticsurgery.com.

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