While breast augmentation is both an exciting and thrilling experience, many people are still unsure about it — especially when it comes to recovery. Patients often express worry and reticence about how they’ll feel after surgery and how long they’ll have to take off from work while refraining from doing the things they love.

In the following post, we’ll go over the most important things you need to know about recovery from breast augmentation, including breast augmentation recovery process tips, a timeline for healing process, picking your breast augmentation surgeon and frequently asked questions.

WHAT IS BREAST AUGMENTATION?

Let’s start with the basics. Breast augmentation (also known as mammoplasty) is a plastic surgery procedure that changes the shape and volume of your breasts. Unlike a simple breast lift, which only lifts and changes the position of the breasts using your own breast tissue, breast augmentation surgery places implants beneath the chest muscle or in back of the breast tissue on the breast. This adds overall volume and will ultimately increase your bra size.

How the procedure is performed will largely depend on your current breasts, overall physique, and what you hope to achieve. One of the most important elements of planning for breast augmentation is selecting the most natural looking option

There are many implant options to choose from, including different materials, shapes, and sizes. This is something your plastic surgeon can help you decide before your surgery.

HOW LONG IS BREAST IMPLANTS RECOVERY?

The majority of women take three to five days off work in order to recover from breast surgery. During this time, it’s important to take it easy and relax, especially at the beginning. Everyone heals at a different rate.

After a few days, many patients can return to driving and the majority of their routine activities. After approximately two weeks, you should be able to return to exercise. Ultimately, it may take up to one year or longer for all swelling to disappear, at which time you will be able to see the full results from your surgery.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT AFTER BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGERY?

After surgery, it’s simply time to rest, recover, and look forward to your new results. Be patient. With each day that passes, your breasts will drop into their intended positions and become less sore. This will also help you see more of the results you’ve longed for.

Again, make sure that directly after your surgery you have someone to take you home. This person should stay with you and help you get around the house, get dressed, make meals, etc. — especially for the first few days when you experience the most pain.

Naturally, you will need to take time off from work and/or school. If you have children, it’s best to have them looked after by a trusted friend or relative while you recover for the first few days. This is because you’ll be very tired, but also because you won’t be able to lift anything over 10 lbs. during the initial stage of your recovery process.

BREAST AUGMENTATION RECOVERY TIMELINE WEEK BY WEEK

In the first 24 hours recovery is where your breasts will look very different during the first few weeks of your recovery than they will after several months. At first, they may appear high, squarish, and tight. This is normal.

To see, for yourself, the various breast augmentation procedure recovery stages pictures are indispensable. Do a quick search of “swelling day by day breast augmentation recovery” or “pictures of breast augmentation recovery week by week,” and this will help give you an idea of what to expect.

Briefly, here is a breakdown of the weekly progress you can expect from this surgery.

Week 1

The first week will be the hardest. Because of Dr. Sieber’s Rapid Recovery Technique, however, it should not be too difficult.

Some patients are even able to return to activities of daily living within 24 hours. You’ll feel some soreness, hypersensitivity, and numbness over the first few days. Swelling, bruising, and tightness are also expected symptoms.

Weeks 2-3

Throughout weeks two and three, you should see daily improvements. Random shooting pains and possible itchiness are quite normal. Although you should not exercise yet, you may start to notice more range of motion in your arms and torso.

Weeks 3-4

You should be feeling relatively normal at weeks three and four. Throughout your recovery, you will meet with Dr. Sieber for followup appointments. He will check your scars and help you with scar management to ideally improve their appearance with silicone. Continue wearing your compression garments as directed, and look into a supportive transitional bra and you can return to strenuous physical activity.

WHEN WILL I SEE MY RESULTS?

All swelling should be gone after six months to a year. But some patients may need to wait longer (up to two years at most) for scars to optimally fade and flatten.

WHAT TO BUY FOR RECOVERY OF BREAST AUGMENTATION

When undergoing breast augmentation surgery (also known as getting a boob job), planning ahead is critical. This means assessing the time period you expect to be recuperating, buying groceries and planning meals ahead of time, preparing an area in your home for your recovery, and purchasing some items that will make your recovery more helpful.

Below is a list of breast augmentation procedure recovery essentials:

• Comfortable clothes: 

  Make sure you have comfortable, loose-fitting clothing available. Your outfits should be easy to put on and take off.

• Special recovery garments: 

  We will send you home with a recovery garment that you’ll need to wear consistently. However, some patients like to purchase additional garments as well.

• A comfortable place to sleep: 

  You will be required to sleep on your back with your upper body slightly elevated during the initial period of your recovery. Some patients decide to purchase wedge pillows to help accommodate this position.

• Meals and snacks: 

  Spend time before your surgery doing meal prep of healthy foods and assembling healthy snacks. Other than avoiding alcohol and too much caffeine and sodium during your recovery, you should not have any diet restrictions. Still, consuming healthy meals is always a good idea.

• Pain Medication: 

  If possible, talk to your surgeon about picking up any necessary prescriptions for pain medication ahead of time.

• Entertainment: 

  Plan to watch some movies or TV, read books or magazines, or perhaps do some easy crafts while in recovery. You’ll need to avoid strenuous activity, so now is the time to prepare some simple and fun entertainment.

• Recovery essentials: 

  Lastly, don’t forget to prepare a recovery area that is complete with tissues, wet wipes, hair ties, lip balm, phone and/or computer chargers, bottled water, recovery bras, surgical tape and other essentials.

FAQS: RECOVERY FROM BREAST AUGMENTATION

HOW PAINFUL IS AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE RECOVERY?

The procedure itself is not painful as you will have anesthesia. After the surgery and when the numbness wears off, you will experience some slight tightness and soreness. This should be most intense over the first few days.

HOW LONG IS RECOVERY FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION?

You should be able to perform light daily activities after a few days to a week post-surgery. Light exercise can begin around two weeks after surgery.

Many patients want to know how to speed up breast augmentation procedure recovery. In reality, every patient is different, and everyone recovers from surgery at a different pace.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM BREAST IMPLANTS RECOVERY DAY BY DAY?

Swelling, soreness, tightness, and bruising are to be expected over the first few days of your recovery. Day by day breast augmentation recovery should become easier and easier.

After the first few days of soreness, you should see your swelling, bruising, and soreness decrease with each passing week.

HOW LONG IS RECOVERY FROM TUMMY TUCK AND BREAST AUGMENTATION?

This depends on the patient’s age and fitness level, the extent of surgery, and whether other procedures were performed. Most patients can return to light physical activity around two to three weeks after surgery.

HOW LONG IS RECOVERY FROM BREAST LIFT AND BREAST AUGMENTATION?

The majority of patients will have a breast lift and augmentation recovery period of around two or more weeks. After two to three weeks, many patients can return to light physical activity, and this activity can be increased around week four.

Can I return to work 3 days after breast augmentation?

It is generally recommended that you take at least one week off from work after breast augmentation surgery to allow your body to rest and recover before you resume normal activities . However, the exact amount of time needed may vary depending on several factors such as the type of work you do, your overall health, and the specific surgical technique used.

If your work is physically demanding or involves heavy lifting, you may need to take more time off before returning to work. On the other hand, if your job is primarily sedentary, you may be able to return to work sooner.

It is important to follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions carefully and to listen to your body. If you experience significant pain, discomfort, or swelling, you may need to take additional time off before returning to work.

In summary, it is best to discuss your specific situation with your surgeon and follow their recommendations for when to return to work after breast augmentation surgery.

Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Consultation Today

Dr. David Sieber is a board certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco. Dr. Sieber’s reputation speaks for itself. With a long list of happy cosmetic surgery clients, he is one of the best and most sought-after plastic surgeon working in San Francisco today.

If you have been considering breast augmentation to fix asymmetry, change shape, increase breast size, or alter something else about your chest, Dr. Sieber can help you achieve the results you desire. The first step is to book a consultation to learn about breast implant recovery . Simply contact us today, and we’ll be happy to set up your appointment!

 

Top surgery procedures for men: In recent years, men have taken to the stage, the blogosphere, the medical journals and indeed, to the clinics, to proclaim their right to look and feel their best. For decades, plastic surgery has been the purview of women (and those who identify as women), but no longer.

Top San Francisco plastic surgeons such as Sieber Plastic Surgery are making the effort to serve men more effectively. Surgeries for the aging male body are now common enough that we have statistics about what surgeries men favor and how many men elect to undergo them every year.

If you’re a man considering surgery, you’re far from alone. Plastic surgery for men is growing year after year. Here are seven of the top male surgery procedures for men according to male plastic surgeons, as well as descriptions of what they are.

Table of Contents

COMMON PLASTIC SURGERY PROCEDURES

1. NOSE RESHAPING (RHINOPLASTY)

Perhaps surprisingly, men most frequently undergo plastic surgery to treat their noses. “Rhinoplasty, sometimes referred to as nose surgery, a ‘nose job’ or ‘nose reshaping’ by patients, enhances facial harmony and the proportions of your nose,” explains the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

“It can also correct impaired breathing caused by structural defects in the nose.” In a different report, they add that 52,660 men underwent nose surgery in 2018, more than a quarter of the number of women who did it. (All figures following are also from this report.) This makes rhinoplasty the most common plastic surgery for men

2. EYELID SURGERY (BLEPHAROPLASTY)

Also surprisingly, upper eyelid surgery is next on the list. 31,494 men opted for surgery, the goal of which is “Removing excess tissue from your upper eyelids,” which “can improve your vision.” Plus, “Upper and lower lid blepharoplasty can make your eyes appear younger and more alert.”

Blepharoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgery for males. Whether you want eyelid surgery because you are having trouble seeing, aging or it will give you more confidence from family holidays to the boardroom, this could be a good choice.

3. LIPOSUCTION

In 2021, 30,806 liposuction for men were performed. This is more than 10 percent of the number performed on women, demonstrating the rising popularity of this procedure among the male set. The removal of unwanted excess fat is a key benefit of liposuction.

Many men are unhappy with unwanted excess fatty deposits they can’t help but notice and seek liposuction to remove excess fat. This procedure involves general anesthesia, during which the physician inserts a thin tube called a cannula through an incision in the body.

The cannula sucks out the excess fat. After this comes the removal of any loose skin (or excess skin) that may be present. Plastic surgeons remove excess skin and muscle as well for an overall body tightening effect known as an abdominoplasty.

4. GYNECOMASTIA SURGERY (MALE BREAST REDUCTION)

The Mayo Clinic defines gynecomastia as “swelling of the breast tissue in boys or men, caused by an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone. Gynecomastia can affect one or both breasts, sometimes unevenly.” Male breast reduction surgery is a cosmetic surgical procedure, aimed at reducing man boobs (enlarged breasts) by removing tissue.

The surgeon may also tighten the skin and reposition the nipples, or combine the surgery with pec implants meant to define the contours of the chest better. The removal of enlarged breast tissue makes men feel more confident, and may also address the pain that sometimes accompanies the condition. 24,753 opted for this in 2018.

5. HAIR TRANSPLANTATION

It’s probably no surprise that hair transplantation is a popular surgery, given how common it is. Many men are unhappy with the state of their hair and a hair transplant is very appealing. It should be no surprise that hair is one of the most common concerns among men. Hair loss is incredibly common among men.

As the American Hair Loss Association explains, “By the age of thirty-five two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss, and by the age of fifty approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair.”

16,840 men had hair replacement surgery performed in 2018, inserting new hair into follicles to replace missing hair and rejuvenate those dead skin follicles.

6. FACELIFT (RHYTIDECTOMY)

Another surgery typically associated with women, facelift is becoming more common among men, with 12,017 men getting it done in 2018. Men are becoming equally unhappy with unwanted sagging skin on their face.

This surgical procedure involves making incisions in hard-to-see areas around the entire face itself, such as under the chin, behind the ear and in the hairline. Physicians then pull the skin to tighten it, sometimes removing excess, before suturing it back in place for a firmer effect.

As the ASPS points out, “By removing excess, sagging skin, smoothing deep folds, and lifting and tightening the deep facial tissues, a facelift surgery can help a patient look not just younger, but simply ‘better.’”

7. DERMABRASION

“Dermabrasion is an exfoliating technique that uses a rotating instrument to remove the outer layers of skin, usually on the face,” explains Healthline. “This treatment is popular with people who wish to improve the appearance of their skin. Some of the conditions it can treat include fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, and uneven texture.” 10,486 elected this surgery in 2018.

8. NECK LIFT SURGERY

A neck lift, medically referred to as lower rhytidectomy or platysmaplasty, is a surgical intervention designed to eliminate surplus skin and fat from the neck area. This procedure addresses the effects of aging, such as wrinkles and lines in the neck and jawline region.

The surgical process entails an incision typically beginning in the hairline at the sideburn level, extending downward and around the ear, and concluding in the back of the head. During the procedure, excess fat might be sculpted or relocated from the neck and jowls, while the underlying tissue of the neck skin is repositioned. Additionally, it’s common to tighten the platysma muscle.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What plastic surgery do most men get?

The surgery most men get is commonly referred to as a nose job, medically known as rhinoplasty. This procedure serves both functional and cosmetic purposes, encompassing the reconstruction of the nose. Frequently, the process entails carefully reconfiguring the nasal structure, sometimes even requiring the controlled fracturing of bones to achieve the desired reshaping.

What surgery can men have?

The prevalence of cosmetic procedures among men has grown significantly, encompassing a diverse range of ages and backgrounds. Among the sought-after enhancements are facial fillers, neck lifts, rhinoplasty, and mentoplasty.

The objectives often revolve around achieving facial harmony, a revitalized appearance, and a more defined waistline. Additionally, procedures like liposuction, facelifts, hair transplants, and microdermabrasion have also gained popularity among men.

What plastic surgery makes men look better?

A recent research report shared through the JAMA Network suggests that men undergoing plastic surgery are commonly viewed as more amiable, dependable, and masculine among their associates. The study examined the impacts of various cosmetic facial interventions such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhinoplasty (nasal enhancement), face-lifts, brow-lifts, neck-lifts, and chin implants.

What is male masculine face surgery?

Facial masculinization surgery, alternatively known as masculinizing facial surgery, aims to shift the feminine attributes of the face toward a more masculine appearance. This type of surgery can be carried out as a singular comprehensive procedure or as a series of staged interventions.

Why are more men getting cosmetic procedures?

Some have suggested that due to the increase in availably and affordability, these surgeries for men are becoming more common. There is also a greater amount of acceptance, which helps encourage some to pursue surgery for men in order to their appearance.

What about loose skin?

Certain procedures offer a solution for eliminating sagging skin, enhancing the texture and firmness of tissues in multiple regions including the arms, thighs, breasts, buttocks, face, and abdomen. An example is the panniculectomy, a surgical technique aimed at removing hanging skin and excess fat.

This procedure is often categorized as reconstructive surgery due to its focus on functional improvement, rather than being solely cosmetic in nature.

TOP PLASTIC SURGERY FOR MEN: OTHER SURGERIES

Men also choose to receive many minimally invasive cosmetic procedures each year. These include Botox injections, cellulite treatment, chemical peels, laser hair removal, skin resurfacing, sclerotherapy, tissue fillers and more.

Overall, these procedures account for 1,092,103 of the 1,306,844 procedures that men undergo each year. The more invasive surgical procedures, listed above, account for 214,741 – but that number is growing all the time.

CONTACT US

Do you think you might be a good candidate for male plastic surgery? If so, it’s time to get a consultation with an expert. We invite you to get in touch with our team today to learn more and create the body you dream. Don’t hesitate to get in touch!