Directly following breast lift surgery, you’ll undoubtedly be excited and anxious to see what your new chest will be like. Unfortunately, it’s at this point that you must be most patient.
That’s because your breast lift recovery time is a critical period in ultimately achieving the results you desire. You’ll need to take it easy, get plenty of sleep and rest, eat a well-balanced diet, and avoid strenuous activities. Here’s a short guide of what you should expect during this time.
What to Expect During the Breast Lift Recovery Time Period
For the first one to three days after surgery, you will experience some discomfort. This is normal and to be expected. Bruising and swelling will also be present.
You will also have gone home from surgery with a compression garment on and a list of detailed aftercare instructions. Keep your compression garment on for as long as Dr. Lahar recommends. It will help to reduce the swelling and will keep your breasts in place during this critical period. Follow your aftercare instructions closely.
You will generally have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Lahar during the first three days after surgery as well. At your appointment, Dr. Lahar will remove the compression garment and look at your incisions and the overall appearance of your breasts to ensure they are healing properly.
Moving forward, you will be able to switch to a regular bra, but always make sure to wait for the “okay” from Dr. Lahar before doing this. It’s best to find one with lots of support, which is why sports bras are usually the first choice. It should be a bra without an underwire or molded cups. Be sure to choose a larger size than you usually get to account for additional swelling.
At about two to three weeks post-surgery, you should see significant healing, and your comfort will improve as well. You will have your stitches removed (unless they are self-dissolving), and you should be able to return to some normal daily activities, like light exercise (non-upper body and non-strenuous), showering, and going to work.
Finally, after approximately six weeks, your incisions should be fully healed, and you should be back to a mostly normal routine. There may be some residual swelling after this point, which will go down with time. Most patients should be able to see their full results by the 12-month mark.
Expected Recovery Time for Breast Lift
When compared with a similar surgery like fat transfer breast augmentation, the recovery time for a breast lift tends to be a bit longer — about six weeks. That is, after six weeks, you should be able to be back at work, back to your regular daily activities, and back to exercising.
Keep in mind that there may still be some residual swelling after the 6-week mark as well, as mentioned above. For some patients, it can take several months for all of the swelling to go down and for you to achieve your full breast lift results.
Breast Lift Recovery Tips
Obtain your prescriptions beforehand.
When possible, pick up your prescriptions before your surgery. This will allow you to check this off your to-do list right away, and you won’t have to deal with going to the pharmacy after your procedure.
Shop around for a comfortable, non-underwire bra.
After wearing a compression garment for several weeks following surgery, you’ll need to wear a non-underwire bra that fits relatively snugly. Shop around before your surgery to find a few bras you feel comfortable in. They should also be as easy as possible to get on and off.
Prepare to sleep differently during the recovery period.
During recovery, you’ll need to sleep on your back with your head and chest slightly elevated. Get a wedge pillow to more easily position yourself. Then, give sleeping like this a try once or twice before your surgery so that it’s not totally foreign to you when you get home.
Request the help you need.
Ask for help when you need it. Most patients will enlist assistance from a friend or relative. Not only will someone need to drive you home from surgery, but it’s also a good idea to request a loved one’s help for at least a few days following your procedure.
Monitor your incisions.
Keep a close eye on your incisions. Complications from breast lift surgery are rare, but it’s important to spot any problems right away. Watch your incisions and the entire treatment area for blood leakage (sometimes visible below the skin) and excessive bruising or swelling. Also talk to your surgeon immediately if you experience pain that worsens, chills, or a fever.
Rest and take care of your body.
During your breast lift recovery time, it’s crucial to reduce your stress as much as possible. Not only will keeping your stress levels down help you stay more comfortable, but elevated cortisol (a stress hormone) hinders cell repair and makes it harder for your body to recover.
Is a Breast Lift Right for Me?
One good way to know if a breast lift could benefit you is to perform a simple mirror test at home.
Do this: Stand in profile with a mirror, and take a look at where your nipple line is. This is an invisible line that aligns with the nipples. Now, see where this line is in relation to your inframammary fold (IMF). The IMF is the same as your breast crease — the point at which the lower part of your breast meets your chest.
Which is lower? If the nipple is lower than the inframammary fold, a breast lift may benefit you. For some women, if part of the breast tissue itself is lower than the IMF as well (but the nipple is at the IMF or higher), a breast lift may also be beneficial.
Ultimately, the best way to know if a breast lift is right for you is to schedule a breast lift consultation in with Dr. Nicholas Lahar in Beverly Hills.
Call to Book Your Breast Lift Consultation
Think a breast lift may benefit you? When you’re ready to schedule a consultation, give Lahar Plastic Surgery a call and book your appointment with Dr. Lahar. At this appointment, you’ll discuss things such as breast lift recovery time, surgical options, your candidacy for surgery, what results you desire, and more.
We look forward to meeting you!
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/recovery
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/mastopexy-breast-lifting-procedures
