Breast augmentation typically is performed on women with small, undeveloped or misshapen breasts or on older women who have lost the shape of their breasts because of age or multiple births. The procedure involves inserting an implant under the breast tissue and often is used to restore women's figures after a mastectomy. While a number of complications can occur after breast augmentation surgery, certain steps should be taken during the healing process to minimize side effects.
After Surgery
Breast augmentation surgery typically is done on an outpatient basis. Immediately after the surgery, the new breast area will feel sore and tender. Most women wear a support bra for a few days to minimize pressure on the area. Tubes are usually placed under the new breast to allow any excess fluid buildup to drain. Patients are encouraged to walk right away and continue walking for a few minutes every hour following surgery to avoid blood clots, reports the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Dressings that have been left on can be removed in two to three days. Sometimes the skin over the breasts feels warm and itchy and might be sensitive to the touch. Swelling that results from the surgery usually dissipates within a month.
Exercise
Many surgeons advise patients to massage the new breasts to prevent air or fluid pockets from forming. Round, smooth implants require this movement to keep the pocket open that holds the implant and to provide a more natural hang to the breast. Light activity and mild exercise routines can be resumed after a couple days of rest, according to doctors at the Reynolds Plastic Surgery Center of El Paso, Texas. Patients should avoid exercises that put pressure on the breast or make it bounce, such as running, for at least a couple weeks. Stretching also should be avoided for at least a week. Most people can return to work after three or four days.
Scars
Proficient plastic surgeons take great pains to hide the incisions made during the procedure. Traces of a scar might be visible when lying down or on the outsides of the breast. Most scars lighten enough so they are barely visible within a few months. Scars made around the areola usually blend in with the changing color that is naturally present. In most cases the original nipple has been removed and reattached to the breast, which can result in hypersensitivity. Doctors at Birmingham Breast Implants recommend rubbing a topical anesthetic cream over the nipples as the nerves regenerate.
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