About Breast Augmentation Recovery & Aftercare

Hi, my name is Dr. Effie Politis with Politis Plastic Surgery.

Breast augmentation on table I get the best view before swelling sets in. That’s probably the most accurate, that’s why we set the patient up, making sure things are overall even and symmetric.

You can expect some swelling. Generally for about two to three (2-3) weeks, sometimes the patients are suprised by the swelling and think it’s too much. Other times, when three weeks roll by, they’re like “Oh, we like the swelling!”

The swelling will last for two to three (2-3) weeks. It all depends on where the implants are placed. Most of them are placed in what’s called a “dual plane“, so partially under the muscle. If they have not undergone a mastopexy, they usually just have a very small incision in their inframammary fold. They can swim after four (4) weeks after they’re cleared by me. I do look at all the incisions and the breast tissues.

I always remind the patients that wounds, in general or incisions start to epithelialize in 24 hours, so they can take a shower after a day. They cannot soak themselves in bathwater or anything. They can swim when we release them, around four to six (4-6) weeks but in general the tensile strength of their wound reaches about eighty percent (80%) in six (6) weeks. So, at that time they can kind of continue their more aggressive activities, if they’re into fitness, lifting weights, things of that nature.