Breast Augmentation – When Can You Start Exercising Again?

Once you have made the decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery using breast implants, you will likely be curious about certain aspects of the recovery process. One of the biggest questions from people who enjoy an active lifestyle is, “When can I start exercising again?” Keep in mind that the recovery period is a crucial part of gaining the desired final results. You will need to give your body enough time to rest and heal.

In order to help you get a better idea about when you can resume your exercise routine, we have information you need about the recovery process, when you can start to exercise again, and how to ease back into an exercise routine.

Breast Augmentation – The Recovery Process

At the start of the breast augmentation recovery period, you might find that the breasts are actually quote swollen and high on the chest. Do not worry about this appearance of the breasts as the swelling will usually start to go down in about two weeks.

You will also need to wear some medical tape or a strap across the chest so the breasts will be held securely in place. You also need to wear a support bra for a week to ten days to keep the breasts comfortable and secure. It is important to keep the breasts protected and secure during the initial recovery period as this is the time when the breasts will feel most uncomfortable after the surgery. In addition to pain in the area where the incision was made, many women will feel pressure on their chest if the breast implants were placed underneath the muscle. The pain from placing the breast implant under the muscle is due to the muscle being stretched to properly accommodate the breast implant.

The day after the surgery, you will be able to get up and walk around as well as perform tasks and activities that are not strenuous. After seven to ten days, many patients are able to comfortably drive so they often return to work. However, the performance of strenuous activities should still be avoided for a period of at least six weeks.

While it is not necessary to follow an active lifestyle before the surgery, you might find it to be beneficial when it comes to your recovery. You might also reduce the chance of complications since your body will be better equipped to cope with any level of psychological stress from the procedure.

Breast Augmentation – How to Resume Your Exercise Routine

If you have been leading an active lifestyle, you are more than likely already thinking about when you can resume your exercise routine. This is a serious consideration as jumping right back into exercise on a regular basis might prolong your recovery period.

There are some surgeons who recommend starting your exercise plan with nothing more strenuous than walking for a few weeks. It is advised for patients to start walking as soon as possible after the procedure to avoid the formation of blood clots.

After two or three weeks, you can start thinking about walking at a faster pace and even incorporating some type of light exercise into your workout.

Once four to six weeks have passed, more strenuous exercise can be added into the plan as long as it is approved by the surgeon. You should also listen to your body to make sure it is ready for more strenuous exercise. In other words, you might want to wait if your body is still swollen or in pain. Your body will let you know when you can ease back into an exercise routine.

Do not be discouraged if it seems like it is taking too long to resume exercising or if your body does not respond as desired. This is a routine part of your body returning to normal and telling you it is not ready (yet) for your old exercise routine.

As part of your return to exercise, you need to listen to the advice of your surgeon and follow any post-op instructions. The surgeon should be board-certified and experienced, which also means the doctor is an expert in their field. Listening to your surgeon also means wearing the necessary post-op bra or supportive bra that will keep your breasts safe, secure, and comfortable.

Finally, you might want to consider scheduling a massage during your recovery period. A lymphatic massage is able to improve your circulation as well as relax your nervous system and relieve pain and stress, encourage the healing process, and even reduce the amount of swelling and scarring that can occur after the surgery.

While there is no way to avoid the recovery process after breast augmentation surgery, you need to give yourself time to enjoy a full recovery. If you give yourself enough time to heal and not rush into a new exercise routine, you will have a better chance of enjoying a successful recovery process and gaining the desired results.

- MA