Breast Augmentation Recovery Guide

Maintain a healthy diet with an emphasis on high-protein foods to support healing and a low-salt diet to help reduce swelling.

Stay well hydrated by consuming approximately 8 ounces of water every 2 hours. Limit caffeine intake because it may promote dehydration and affect wound healing. You may also consider electrolyte-containing fluids such as Gatorade.

Avoid fried and fatty foods for the first 6 weeks after surgery.

Avoid alcohol for 1 week before surgery and 2 weeks after surgery. Do not drink alcohol while taking the prescribed postoperative medications listed in your instructions.

Avoid nicotine and THC of any kind for 6 weeks before surgery and 6 weeks after surgery. Smoking and second-hand smoke exposure should also be avoided because nicotine can reduce the quality of wound healing and increase the risk of wound infections.

• Celebrex 200 mg: twice daily for 10 days
• Tylenol 500 mg: every 6 hours for 10 days
• Methocarbamol 750 mg: three times daily
• Do not drink alcohol while taking these medications.

No. Do not drive while taking narcotic medications. When your pain decreases, you may stop the narcotic medication and continue Tylenol.

Take doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 5 days.

Keep the scopolamine patch in place until postoperative day 3.

After the scopolamine patch is removed, you may take ondansetron 4 mg every 6 hours as needed for nausea.

• Narcotic medication may cause constipation, and anesthesia may slow bowel movements.
• The supplied instructions recommend Milk of Magnesia or Colace.
• You may take Colace 100 mg once daily for constipation.

Walk 5 times a day after surgery to help reduce swelling and the risk of blood clots.

The activity instructions state: do not drive for 5 days or until you feel comfortable. Do not drive while taking narcotic medications. Clinical review note: another section states “drive at 5 weeks or if not on narcotic medication,” so this discrepancy should be clarified before publication.

• Avoid repetitive motions for 3 weeks after surgery, including:
• Vacuuming
• Laundry
• Cooking
• Bending
• Wiping
• Cleaning

• For 6 weeks after breast augmentation, avoid:
• Heavy lifting
• Pushing
• Pulling
• Straining
• Stretching
• Bouncing
• Exercise

Do not raise your arms above 90 degrees for the first week after surgery.

Begin the prescribed arm exercises the day after surgery. During the first 48 hours, keep arm movements to a minimum. The prescribed exercise involves walking your arm up and down a wall.

The supplied instructions state that patients may return to work at approximately 2-4 weeks after surgery.

The supplied instructions state that sexual activity may resume at approximately 3-6 weeks after surgery.

Plane travel or a long car ride may resume at approximately 3 weeks after surgery.

Begin implant massage 5 days after surgery and perform the massage twice daily.

• Cross your arms and push the implants inward.
• Push the implants upward and allow them to drop down.
• Perform these implant massages twice a day beginning 5 days after surgery.

Wear your surgical bra for 6 weeks after surgery. After 6 weeks, the instructions state that you may begin wearing an underwire bra.

Wear a camisole in addition to your bra for the first 6 months after surgery.

Your bra size may fluctuate during the first year after breast augmentation. The supplied instructions recommend not committing to a final bra size until approximately 6-12 months after surgery.

You may apply Aquaphor to the skin surrounding the surgical area after surgery, but keep the surgical incision dry. Aquaphor may be applied directly to the incisions at approximately 2-3 weeks after surgery following a wound-check evaluation by Dr. Landford.

The supplied instructions state that the scar-management protocol begins at 3 weeks after surgery. The specific scar-management protocol is not included in the supplied document and should be added or linked separately once confirmed.

Surgical dressings should remain in place until they are removed in the clinic at the first postoperative appointment, which the supplied instructions indicate begins on day 1 after surgery. Some fluid or blood drainage on the dressings may occur.

No. The supplied instructions state that the sutures are absorbable and do not need to be removed.

Moderate drainage on the initial dressing may occur. The instructions state to apply gauze as needed.

• The wound-care instructions state that showering may begin 1 day after surgery. Another section lists showering at 24-48 hours.
• When showering: bathe daily in a shower; use a mild soap without deodorant; do not rub or scrub the incisions; use a fresh white towel because dyes may irritate the skin; remove the surgical bra while showering.

• Avoid swimming or soaking in the following for 6 weeks after surgery:
• Pools
• The ocean
• Lakes
• Ponds
• Bathtubs
• Whirlpools

Bruising is expected to resolve within approximately 1-2 weeks.

Swelling is expected and reaches its maximum at approximately 72 hours after surgery. The supplied instructions state that approximately 60% of swelling will have resolved after 2 months.

Yes. The surgical area may feel firm or tight to the touch and should soften over time.

The supplied instructions state that maximum discomfort typically occurs during the first few days after surgery.

A mild burning sensation around the lower incision is expected and should improve.

Yes. You may temporarily have decreased or absent sensation in the surrounding skin or along the incisions. The supplied instructions state that sensation should return with time but may take approximately 12-18 months.

Random shooting pains or itching throughout the breast may occur during recovery.

The incisions may remain red for approximately 6 months. Over time, the supplied instructions state that they will soften and fade.

The supplied postoperative instructions state that patients may sleep on their side at 6 weeks after surgery. No additional sleeping-position instructions for the first 6 weeks were provided in this document.

Avoid sun exposure for at least 3 months after surgery.

If sun exposure is unavoidable, the supplied instructions recommend using SPF 30 or greater sunscreen containing zinc oxide.

The supplied instructions state that patients may take Motrin or aspirin at 2 weeks after surgery.

If applicable, the supplied instructions state that tamoxifen or anastrozole may be resumed at 1 week after surgery.

If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar daily. The supplied instructions note that poor blood-sugar control may lead to delayed wound healing.

• Call Landford Plastic Surgery immediately if you experience:
• Unusual yellowish-green discharge or a foul odor from the incision or drain site
• Temperature over 101°F
• A dramatic increase in pain that is not relieved by medication
• Persistent nausea or vomiting lasting more than 24 hours
• Changes at the surgical site, including swelling or tissue breakdown
• Problems with surgical drains
• Continuous bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control
• Significantly more swelling on one side than the other

• Call 911 and go to your local emergency room for an emergency such as:
• Severe abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness or fainting
• Mental-status changes
• Other acute issues
• Once you are stable, the emergency department should contact the Landford Plastic Surgery team.

• Day 1: First postoperative appointment begins; showering and arm exercises may begin.
• First 48 hours: Keep arm movement to a minimum.
• Day 3: Remove the scopolamine patch.
• Day 5: Begin implant massage twice daily.
• 1 week: Do not raise arms above 90 degrees during this period; resume tamoxifen/anastrozole at 1 week if applicable.
• 2 weeks: Alcohol may resume; Motrin or aspirin may resume.
• 2-3 weeks: Aquaphor may be applied to incisions following Dr. Landford’s wound-check evaluation.
• 3 weeks: Scar-management protocol begins; repetitive-motion restrictions end; plane or long-distance car travel may resume.
• 2-4 weeks: Return to work according to the supplied instructions.
• 3-6 weeks: Sexual activity may resume.
• 6 weeks: Exercise, heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, straining, stretching, bouncing, swimming, baths/soaking, and other listed restrictions may resume/end as instructed; surgical bra requirement ends and an underwire bra may be worn.
• 6 weeks: Side sleeping may begin.
• 6 months: Continue wearing a camisole in addition to a bra for the first 6 months.
• 6-12 months: Avoid committing to a final bra size until this period.
• 12-18 months: Altered sensation may take this long to return.