Breast Augmentation Frequently Asked Questions

After Breast Enlargement Surgery

When Can I Do What After Breast Enlargement Surgery?

WHEN (Approximately)	WHAT
One Day	Shower or bathe
Two Days	First post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia
Five Days	Remove bandages Back to work
Seven Days	Driving
Ten Days	Second post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia
Two Weeks	Bruising fades
Three Weeks	Strenuous activity
Four Weeks	Physical contact with breasts Increase strenuous exercise level Third post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia
Six Weeks	Fourth post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia
Six Months	Fifth post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia
Several Months to One Year	Fading of scars

See the When Can I page and the information below for more post–surgery details.

What happens right after my breast augmentation surgery?

Immediately after surgery: In almost all cases, you can go home right after the surgery. Someone will need to drive you, because you will still be groggy from the anesthesia and you may experience some soreness around your incisions. Dr. Virginia will call you in the evening to see how you are doing.

The first 24–48 hours: It is very important that someone stays with you for the first 48 hours. During that time, you will feel tired from the anesthesia, sore from the incisions, and you will need help taking your medication on time and getting food. The doctor will prescribe pain medication for you so that the soreness will not be excessive, but there will be some. You can take a shower or bath the day after surgery, but don't let the bandages get wet. Eventually, you can remove your elastic band and support bra for the shower, but be sure to replace them right away and keep them on at all times—even while sleeping.

Dr. Pittman–Waller will want to see you in her office on the second or third day, so she can check your progress and help you change out of the bandages into a supportive bra.

What can I expect during the recovery period from breast augmentation surgery?

Third day: Your discomfort level will begin to improve.

Fifth day: You will be wearing a supportive bra and may return to work.

Seventh day: You can start driving as soon as the pain has gone away and you no longer need to take pain medication. This generally happens about a week after surgery.

Tenth day: The doctor will want to see you again on approximately the tenth day to check your progress.

Two weeks: Your discomfort will decrease markedly during the first few weeks. Whatever bruising has occurred will disappear by the second week. Some patients experience a burning sensation or extreme sensitivity in their nipples at first, which should disappear by 7 to 14 days after surgery. The doctor uses dissolvable stitches and they should be absorbed by the body after 2 to 3 weeks.

Be sure to wear the elastic band provided to you to keep the breasts in place and help the breast implants drop more quickly into place. Wearing the band will help prevent post–surgical problems that might otherwise develop. You may remove the band to shower or bathe, but replace it immediately afterwards. If the band is too tight, call the office and we'll get you one that fits better. You will probably feel more comfortable wearing a bra that does not have underwire support until your breasts have healed.

Three weeks: Be sure to avoid heavy lifting or straining for the first three weeks. Strenuous exercise can normally start slowly after the third week.

Four weeks: Physical contact with the breasts can normally be resumed after the fourth week and you can increase your level of strenuous exercise. Dr. Virginia will want to see you again to check your progress.

Six weeks: Dr. Virginia will want to see you again to check your progress.

Six months: Dr. Virginia will want to see you again to check your progress and take post–operative photos.

Can I drive myself home after breast augmentation surgery even if I do not have general anesthesia?

No. You will need to have someone drive you home, a relative or friend, and take care of you for the first 24 to 48 hours. After either anesthesia or sedation, you will sleep a lot. You also have to take medications regularly and may not wake up at the right times.

I have a ride home from the surgery center but my friend can't stay over that night. Can I do that?

You need to have someone stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours. You will likely be sleepy and groggy and will need help to accomplish simple things like going to the bathroom and eating. It is very important to take your medicine on time and follow any other instructions Dr. Pittman–Waller may have given you. There is a danger that you will fall asleep and not take your medicine or do other things on time. Someone needs to be with you.

I am coming from out of town for my surgery and will stay at a hotel. Can I take care of myself?

If you are coming from out of town and do not have family or friends in the area, then please let the doctor know so that arrangements can be made for a homecare nurse to be with you. It is very important that you not be alone during the first 24 to 48 hours.

What if I get sick and can't keep my medicine down?

Taking your medication with some food and water may help you keep it down. Salt also helps with nausea, either licking some straight salt or eating salty food. If you simply cannot keep your medications down, alert Dr. Pittman–Waller so she can either change your medication or prescribe an anti–nausea medication.

Why do I need to wear an elastic band?

The band is a device that many women dislike. It is a strap-like device that is worn above the breasts. It is very important to wear it as it assists in pushing down the breast implants and helps them drop down into place.

How fast will my breasts heal?

Your breasts should be healed by the third month, but they may heal at different rates, one a little faster than the other. One breast may swell more than the other or the shapes may look different at first. This is normal. When they have fully recovered, however, they will look very similar and natural. See the questions below for more detailed information. The scars normally take six months to a year to fully mature.

Will I have swelling?

Swelling is very common, so it's not something to be concerned about. Sometimes, one breast swells more than the other. Sometimes the swelling migrates downward toward the abdomen and even the groin. The swelling will subside within a few days to a few weeks.

Will I have bruising?

You may or may not have bruising. Like the swelling, bruising may also migrate downward. Bruising can work its way down to your ribs, abdomen, groin area, and even as far as your upper thighs, though this doesn't seem to be really common. However, it does happen, but is not a complication.

A bruise that looks really bad and feels firm, should be reported to your plastic surgeon. This could be a hematoma, a collection of blood in the tissue.

Will my areolas stretch out after I get breast implants?

This varies from woman to woman. If you get really large breast implants, then you may very well notice a difference in nipple/areola size.

How long will it take my breast implants to drop into place?

Different patients respond differently, but your breast implants should begin to drop into place by the second or third month. Some slight additional settling might occur for as long as a year. The exact rate of settling can be affected by several factors, like the size of the breast implants, what size you were before the surgery, the breast implant surface, the placement, how often you massage, your muscle tone, and other factors as well. It is generally thought that smooth breast implants drop faster than textured ones.

One breast implant seems to be dropping quicker than the other. Is this normal?

Yes. This is normal. It doesn't always happen, but it's not unusual. Your breast implants should be in the same position after about three months.

How can I care for the incision after the breast augmentation surgery, so that it heals as nicely as possible?

After the wound has closed, Dr. Pittman–Waller recommends using Mederma or Scarguard to help minimize scars. Applying one or the other to the wound twice daily for a couple of weeks appears to improve the final appearance of scars.

Physical Reactions to New Breast Implants

Why are my breasts red and feel like they are sunburned?

This is not a common occurrence, but it can happen. The breast implants have stretched your skin and some patients respond with a reddening of the skin, in light skinned people, and a feeling of sunburn. In darker skinned people, there is simply a feeling of heat and discomfort. Be patient, you are healing.

Why are my breasts shiny? When will it go away?

Shininess also results from the skin being stretched. Be patient, this too will go away.

My breasts look like cones or torpedoes, is this permanent?

Once again, the skin of your breasts may be stretched by the breast implants giving them an odd shape. Some patients feel at first that they are too big, too small, too round, not round enough, too square, too itchy, too high, too low, too ugly, or too sensitive. Give it some time. You need to get used to your new breast implants and they need to get used to your body. If there is a major problem that doesn't go away after a few months, the doctor can perform corrective surgery.

Will I have to sleep on my back or side forever?

No, of course not. You should sleep on your back for the first week or two to help prevent fluid pooling, to avoid throbbing pain, and to reduce swelling. As you begin to get used to your new breasts, you can start to sleep more on your side.

Can I sleep on my stomach after my surgery? Will this be comfortable?

Yes, but give it some time. Your breasts will be sore after surgery and they need time to heal.

How long before they soften up?

In the beginning you will have swelling and your breasts will most likely be firmer than they were before. Several factors play a role, like breast implant type, texture, fill, and placement. Saline breast implants tend to be firmer than silicone. Over-filled and subpectoral placement also give firmer results. Massage will help loosen up your pectoral muscles. Your breasts will soften by about three months.

Am I too firm? How firm is too firm?

The answer to this question is very personal. Some women prefer firmer breasts and some prefer softer, but your breasts will likely be firmer than they were before.

My new breasts are squeaking and gurgling! Is this permanent? When will it stop?

Some patients experience sloshing, gurgling, buzzing, or popping noises coming from their new breast implants. This is not a cause for concern and will soon go away. The cause can be postsurgical fluid buildup, or air bubbles in the implant pocket, or the b breast implant has not yet dropped into place. Be patient and give it a few weeks. This problem should correct itself.

My breasts are numb. Will I ever have sensation again?

The nerves in your breasts are being pressed by the breast implants and by the skin stretched tightly. In some cases, patients have a temporary numbing of the breasts, while in others, they feel increased sensations in some areas, like the nipples or areolae. As the skin stretches and relaxes, the sensation will return. But the process is gradual and could take several months to a year.

It should be noted that a known rare but permanent complication of breast surgery is a permanent loss of sensation in the breasts. But this happens in a very small percentage of patients.

Why are my nipples so sensitive and constantly erect? Can I do anything about it?

Some women complain of erect and sensitive nipples. It is not an unusual occurrence. Remember, the skin is stretched and sensitive and the breast implants are riding high at first. This condition will improve as the skin relaxes and the breast implants drop into place. If you are having this problem, try using round Band-Aids, corn pads, or nursing pads on your nipples to protect them from clothes rubbing against them. It will also help if you are feeling self-conscious.

My nipples are pointing at the floor. Will they always be like this?

We often see this at first while your breast implants are still high. As they drop, the geometry of your breasts will change and the breast implants will settle in behind your nipples. Be patient and allow time to heal.

Psychological Reactions to New Breast Implants

Will I regret my decision to get breast implants?

Getting breast implants is a big change in most women's lives. Recovering from surgery can be a difficult process for some. Along the way, many patients have second thoughts and begin to wonder whether they did the right thing. It is a normal reaction and generally passes as your body heals and you recover from the surgery. You also need to give your breasts time to settle into place before you judge how they look. Give yourself time to heal and to get used to your new breasts. A recent study of breast implant recipients found a 94% satisfaction rate four years after breast augmentation surgery.

I hate my new breasts; they are ugly and bruised and aren't big enough! Am I going crazy?

Patience, patience, patience. You may have had someone else's breasts in mind as the goal you wanted, but what you will get is your own breasts with a new look. As we have discussed above, you have just had breast augmentation surgery. There may be bruising, your skin may feel stretched, your muscles may have been traumatized, and the breast implants may be riding high and not yet settled into place. Some people are hypercritical of their new breasts shortly after breast augmentation surgery thinking they are too big, too small, too round, not round enough, too jellybean shaped, too square, too itchy, too sensitive, too this, too that. Your breasts will look different six months after surgery than they do six days after.

My breasts are too big! I hate them! When can I have a redo?

Patience is a virtue. Your breasts will be swollen right after surgery. Wait and see what they look like after the swelling subsides. The breast implants will ride high at first. Let them drop into place. Also, let yourself get used to your new breasts before you decide whether or not you like them. Wait at least a year before you decide. In the end, most women who want their breast implants replaced think they didn't go large enough rather than think they are too large.

I feel so depressed. Is this normal?

Surgery and anesthesia can be difficult on a person's body. Different people react differently. Some people have more depression after surgery of any kind than others. During the postsurgery recovery period there are things we want to do, but we're not yet ready to do—and it can be frustrating. This is normally a passing phase that shouldn't last long. Remember, you're not alone. Other patients experience these feelings too.

More Breast Enlargement FAQs

• Understanding Breast Implants
• Breast Implant Placement Questions
• Breast Implant Incision Questions
• Health & Pregnancy Questions
• Breast Implant Surgery Questions
• When Can I... Questions

Breast Cosmetic Surgery Information

• Read an excerpt from Dr. Pittman–Waller's book The New Breast Book: New Breasts for a New Look and a New Outlook

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