What to Expect After Breast Augmentation

What to Expect After Breast Augmentation

Those who wish to increase the size of their breasts may choose breast augmentation to do so. Breast augmentation typically employs the use of silicone or saline implants to add volume and enhance breast shape and size. In some cases, breast fat transfer (or fat grafting) may be used to increase volume as well.

Many breast augmentation patients have questions about the procedure and recovery. This is wonderful. The more questions you ask now, the more prepared you’ll be when your appointment date arrives.

One common question patients often have revolves around what to expect after surgery.

What to Expect After Breast Augmentation

Let’s take a look at the recovery period for breast augmentation, including what you should expect for the weeks and months that follow your procedure.

Leaving Your Procedure

From the perspective of a patient, the actual breast augmentation procedure itself is likely the easiest part of the experience. Of course, your Philadelphia plastic surgeon and their staff will be handling the nuts and bolts of the procedure, ensuring that everything is done properly and your implants are placed exactly where you want them to go.

What you, the patient, will likely remember will start with kissing your loved one goodbye and telling them you’ll see them in a few hours. From there, you’ll be led back to the operating room where you will receive anesthesia to be put under prior to your operation.

Most patients say that this is the last thing they remember. They awaken after their procedure ready to be driven home by their loved one. Because breast augmentation is generally an outpatient procedure, you should be able to go home on the same day as your surgery. Some patients may choose to stay overnight, but this is a choice that is made on a case-by-case basis.

Returning to Normal Activity

At StarkMD Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Center, Dr. Stark has perfected his breast augmentation techniques, allowing for minimal trauma and a quick and relatively painless recovery for his patients.

We understand that life gets busy, and you want to mitigate the time you have to spend in bed, not doing the things you love. At StarkMD Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Center Stark, it is our goal to limit your downtime after surgery as much as possible. Fortunately, the cutting edge technology that Dr. Stark uses — along with his extensive experience and expertise — makes a short and efficient recovery possible.

In most breast augmentation procedure experiences, you will be able to return to your normal life almost immediately. Within just two or three days, you should be able to go back to your regular activities and even back to work, depending on your occupation. If you want to get up and go out to eat or to the store the following day after surgery, this should be entirely possible.

Of course, every body is different. It is essential that you follow the recovery guidelines presented to you by Dr. Stark and his staff. They will provide you with instructions for your optimal care. You must give your body time to heal and ensure that your incisions mend properly. In some cases, if you do not follow your recovery directions carefully, you may not achieve the exact results you desire.

For the most part, your instructions for recovery will include guidelines such as:

• Avoiding lifting extremely heavy objects
• Avoiding certain medications or supplements
• Caring for your incision sites
• Avoiding vigorous physical activity (at least right away)
• Icing the affected areas
• Returning for postoperative appointments as needed

Symptoms of Recovery

All breast augmentation surgeries are different. Each individual will respond differently to the anesthesia, the incisions, and the possible pain and swelling that may result during your recovery period. Here are a few of the symptoms that you may experience:

• Soreness and pain. Some soreness and discomfort is to be expected after surgery. Your body has recently undergone a serious procedure, and it makes sense that it needs time to heal. The chest area may feel heavy and/or tender. Your doctor should be able to provide you with pain medication to help mitigate the discomfort. Likewise, you can ice the area (according to your surgeon’s guidelines) in order to reduce some of the tenderness.
• Muscle cramping or spasms. Some patients may experience shooting pains or spasms, particularly in the nipple areas. These are normal sensations, but they can feel a bit odd. Generally, these feelings are the result of nerve endings that are healing post-surgery.
• Swelling. If you’ve looked at before and after photos of patients who have undergone breast augmentation surgery, keep in mind that those “after” pictures were taken at least three or four months after the patient’s procedure. At this time, the results of the surgery will have become fully apparent, and all of the swelling will have gone down. Swelling after breast augmentation surgery is completely common. You may even notice that one breast is more swollen than the other, and your breasts may take on a “torpedo”-like shape as well. Again, these are normal effects that will go away over time. Ice can help reduce some of the swelling.

Bring Out the Best in You!

Contact us today to book your breast augmentation consultation appointment.

Considering breast augmentation in Philadelphia? Within the framework of a breast augmentation, you’ll have a multitude of options to tailor your procedure just for you. It all starts with booking your consultation appointment and speaking with Dr. Stark directly about what you hope to achieve with your procedure.

Dr. Stark will be happy to answer all of your questions and concerns at this appointment. He will also perform a routine assessment of your anatomy to get a comprehensive idea of how best to achieve your desired results.

To get started, contact StarkMD Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Center today!