Breast Enlargement Surgery Recovery Time

This will vary with your doctor, type of surgery, whether over or under the muscle, type of incision, body type and size of implant. Many doctors and plenty of women claim that you can be back to work in a week. My own first week was rough but everyone will have a different experience, as you will read in the Breast Augmentation Journals on this website.

After a week of my recovery, I could have worked if I needed to work (but only in a not-so-strenuous job). For most people with an incision in the nipple or above the breast crease line, two weeks is probably more realistic before usual activities can be resumed due to concerns with the incision. It may be three weeks before your doctor recommends any lifting above the head or strenuous activity.

Over the muscle placement usually requires much less recovery time than under the muscle. In fact, women who have implants placed over the muscle have consistently told me that they felt pretty good in a matter of days.

Without the trauma of stretching the muscle or cutting the breast, there is a lot less from which to recover. Despite the pain which can be involved in under the muscle surgery, I selected it for other reasons discussed above.

How much pain and recovery time you have will also depends on your doctor and how well your surgery goes. If your surgeon is skilled and placement of the implant during surgery goes well, this may cause less trauma and a less protracted recovery. In any case, your doctor will prescribe Vicodin or Percocet for at least a week and you will take all of it! Remember that patients of even the most skilled of surgeons can experience pain from minimal to extensive. Each case is different.

Next Stop: Nicole’s breast augmentation