Recovering From A Breast Augmentation Is Much Different Than Preparing For It

Recovering from an augmentation is different from preparing for it. During preparation, there were many things that you could actively do to change the course of events. During recovery, your body does most of the work automatically, provided you don't expect everything to happen quickly and provided you don't tamper with the autopilot! If you understand what's normal, what to expect, and some of the reasons behind the dos and don'ts, the recovery process will be smoother.

Recovery is a team effort and depends on two key factors: what the surgeon does during the operation and how well you follow the surgeon's instructions post-operatively. The better your surgeon performs, the less the trauma to your tissues, and the less bleeding during surgery. Also, the better you follow instructions following your augmentation, the more rapidly you should recover.

You may ask, is recovery similar from patient to patient? The answer varies from patient to patient and from surgeon to surgeon. If you understand some of the reasons for variations in recovery, the whole process should be easier.
Patient Variations

Your body and your breast tissues are different from other women's. The tighter your breast skin envelope and the more surgical manipulation required, the more tightness and tenderness you can expect following surgery. Everyone has some tightness and tenderness, but the amount varies according to what's required of your tissues. Generally, if you've had children prior to your augmentation, your tissues have been previously stretched, and you'll feel less tightness for a shorter time. If your skin is very tight and has never been stretched by pregnancy, you'll feel tighter longer.

Some patients are more tolerant of discomfort than others. Some patients are better able to get moving after surgery despite discomfort. Some patients follow instructions better than others. Your individual pain tolerance, motivation, and ability to follow instructions will affect your recovery. Adopt a positive attitude, follow instructions, get moving early and get well sooner!

A surgeon can't change what you bring the surgeon to work with. But how the surgeon works with what you bring can significantly affect your recovery. The less surgical trauma the surgeon causes to your tissues, the easier and shorter your recovery. The less bleeding the surgeon causes while creating the pocket for your implant, the easier and shorter your recovery. Hopefully, you already have been informed on how to ask the right questions about recovery before surgery to help select a surgeon who minimizes surgical trauma.