When ideally sized, breasts can enhance the overall aesthetic harmony of a woman’s body. But factors such as aging, genetics and breastfeeding can disrupt this balance. For these and other reasons, many women choose breast augmentation to attain a more balanced figure.
Making the decision to enhance your breasts is an exciting first step toward achieving an ideally proportioned shape. Your recovery period will also be an important part of the overall process to achieve the look you want. Plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Pugash is sharing the following tips to help you maximize your recovery for optimal results.
Arrange for a Ride to and From Your Surgeon’s Office
Breast augmentation is performed under general anesthesia, so you will still be under the effects of anesthesia when you wake up from surgery. You’ll need to arrange for a responsible adult to drive you to and from the surgical clinic on the day of surgery. Be sure to arrange this in advance to help you transition to your recovery period more smoothly.
Hire Caregivers for Help Around the House
Most breast augmentation patients will need to avoid strenuous activity for about two weeks following surgery. It’s also important to avoid any heavy lifting during this time, which can make caring for pets or children difficult. If you have small children or pets, you should consider hiring a babysitter or petsitter to assist with daily tasks. While childcare and petcare aren’t always an absolute necessity, many patients find that they’re able to maximize their recovery with the extra help at home.
Patients will also need personal assistance during the first 24 hours of their recovery. Be sure to have a close friend or family member stay with you for the first day, or hire a caregiver to assist with your daily necessities.
Allow Yourself to Rest
While you might be anxious to resume your regularly daily routine, it’s necessary to rest and allow your body to heal. Patients can expect to return to work and other obligations about seven to 10 days after surgery, but feel free to give yourself extra time to recover if you need it.
Sleeping Positions
Patients are sometimes instructed to sleep in one position or another. Dr. Pugash generally advises his patients to sleep in whatever position they find most comfortable. It is unlikely that sleeping on your side, for example, will result in healing problems. It’s more important to sleep well than to be up all night trying to maintain a certain position.
Be Patient
Swelling, bruising and soreness are all a normal part of the healing process. Many patients are eager to see the final results of their breast augmentation, but it’s important to understand that swelling may persist for longer than you’ve anticipated. Most of the swelling should subside after the first few weeks, but slight swelling may persist after this point. Everyone heals at their own pace, and swelling is the body’s natural response to surgery. Your breasts will eventually settle into their new shape and size when fully healed. Also, it is useful to think of the right and left breasts as two different operations. One side nearly always swells more, one side bruises more, one side is more sore, and so on.
Follow Your Aftercare Instructions
You will be provided with detailed aftercare instructions following your breast augmentation. These instructions may include dietary restrictions, guidelines regarding bathing, wearing a surgical compression garment and activity recommendations. Follow these instructions closely to ensure you have a successful outcome after breast surgery.
Dr. Pugash also provides his patients with a topical scar treatment to help minimize the appearance of the scars.
Dr. Pugash will provide a surgical bra, which generally is worn for the first month after surgery. He will discuss with you the importance of wearing good support after the surgical bra is retired. Patients need to wear quality, professionally-fitted bras to ensure that their implants stay in good position over the long term.
His goal is for you to be as comfortable as possible during your recovery. Feel free to contact his office if any questions or concerns arise after your breast augmentation.
Stay Positive
Having a positive attitude can help you take full advantage of your recovery after breast augmentation. It’s normal for patients to feel a bit anxious during their recovery, but having optimistic expectations will help you get through this temporary discomfort. Keep in mind that your body is hard at work healing, and you’ll soon be able to resume your regular routine.
While all patients heal at different rates, following these tips can help you facilitate your recovery after breast augmentation. If you’ve considered enhancing your breasts, plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Pugash would be happy to discuss your surgical options. Contact him today to schedule your personal consultation for a breast augmentation.