5 Tips for Your Breast Lift Recovery Time

After breast lift surgery, patients are so eager to see their results that it can be difficult to endure the breast lift recovery time. Still, the recovery period after mastopexy (breast lift surgery) is critical for achieving optimal results.

Below are some tips to keep in your back pocket as you approach your surgery date and plan for your breast lift recovery. But first, let’s take a look at what you can expect during the days and weeks following your mastopexy.

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What to Expect During Breast Lift Recovery

Any breast surgery will require some downtime after the procedure — whether it’s a breast lift, breast augmentation with breast implants, breast augmentation fat transfer, breast reduction, or breast reconstruction. This is why it’s important to take an appropriate amount of time off from work or school. That way, you can get plenty of rest, give your body time to relax, and focus fully on your recovery.

Moderate pain is to be expected after your breast lift procedure. We can provide you with a pain medication prescription to ease the discomfort. The areolae and breast skin may be sensitive to the touch, and you may also experience some numbness. Most patients can stop their medications a few days after their breast lift procedure.

Other symptoms after breast lift surgery include swelling and bruising. You will be put into a surgical bra directly following your procedure, which you should wear as directed to optimize your breast lift results, encourage the drainage of fluid, and minimize swelling.

Sometimes, drainage tubes are initially used to reduce fluid buildup. Ultimately, swelling may linger for about six weeks or longer.

It is important to refrain from exerting yourself physically for about two weeks after breast lift surgery. Do not lift anything heavy, run, or perform any type of rigorous activity. Do try to reduce your stress load, and get extra sleep. Cosmetic surgery, like any other surgery, requires your immune system to be in good shape during the recovery period — and that means more sleep and less stress.

Top Tips During Recovery Time for Breast Lift Surgery

During your breast lift, your surgeon will remove excess skin and breast tissue and move your sagging breasts higher up on your chest wall. The nipples and areolae are often repositioned as well, and fat from elsewhere on your body may be transferred to the breasts for a modest augmentation.

Breast lift surgery is typically a very safe and highly effective surgical procedure. If your breasts sag after multiple pregnancies, significant weight loss, or for genetic reasons, this procedure may be for you.

Throughout your breast lift recovery timeline, the following tips can help make you more comfortable and will also aid in optimizing your results.

1 – Prepare for recovery ahead of time.

The best breast lift patients take steps to improve their recovery time before they have surgery.

This means setting up a meal delivery service or freezing meals at home, stocking up on bottles or cans of water and healthy snacks, and arranging for help with children and pets. Waiting until the last minute to do these things can add undue stress to your recovery experience.

2 – Wear your surgical bra.

The surgical bra that you are put in after your surgery will need to be worn to protect your incision areas and reduce swelling and fluid buildup. It will also help your breast tissue adhere in the new position during the healing process. After wearing a surgical bra for a while, most patients can transition to a snug, non underwire bra, ideally with a front closure.

3 – Keep your incision sites clean and dry.

Keeping your incisions clean and dry and not straining or putting tension on them will help you recover faster and better. At first, you will not be able to get your incisions wet at all. Once you are cleared to shower, you should be sure to gently get them wet, then pat them dry and protect them with the appropriate coverings for optimal healing.

4 – Know the signs of complications.

It is very rare to experience complications after breast lift surgery. However, it’s also good to know what to look for should you experience any of the telltale symptoms.

Basically, you should be on the lookout for incisions opening up or becoming extremely red and irritated. You should also watch yourself for signs of fever, uncontrolled bleeding, ongoing pain that does not subside, shortness of breath, or any other signs of infection or blood clot.

Again, these signs are very rare, but being prepared is wise.

5 – Be patient.

At the end of the day, full recovery from breast lift is a long game. While much of your results will be seen in just a few weeks, it can take up to a year to completely heal and see scars fade.

For this reason, it’s important to be able to wait and have faith that your full results will come with time. Every day, you’ll get a little stronger, and your new breasts will look and feel more and more comfortable and attractive.

Contact Us Today to Set Up a Consultation

Have more questions about breast lift surgery? We’re here to help — whether it’s related to recovery or surgery prep, or perhaps deciding between a breast lift vs breast augmentation or a breast lift vs breast reduction.

We’ll be with you every step of the way. It all starts with your consultation visit.

At your visit, you’ll get a chance to outline your goals for surgery, go over your medical history and candidacy for the procedure, and learn more about your options. We’ll also discuss more about how to prepare for surgery and what to expect during your breast lift surgery recovery time.

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/recovery