Every patient heals at a different rate, which means that the breast augmentation recovery process will not be exactly the same for everyone. However, once you’ve arrived home from surgery, you can expect:

  • Mild discomfort – Any soreness should be easy to manage with pain medication. Most of our patients are able to stop taking medication after the first 2 to 3 days of recovery.
  • Swelling – Swelling is a normal side effect of breast augmentation that will gradually resolve on its own over the course of 4 to 6 weeks. However, it usually takes a few months before your breasts are completely settled in their final position.
  • Bruising – Like swelling, bruising is a temporary side effect that will fade over time.
  • Chest pressure – If your breast implants were placed under the muscle, you may notice a tight or strained feeling in your chest. This is normal, as your pectoral muscles slowly stretch out over your new implants. 

For the fastest recovery, you should plan on getting plenty of downtime during the first few days after breast augmentation surgery. Taking gentle walks will help ensure your blood circulation remains healthy, and can also speed up healing. Most patients can return to work after the first week of recovery, but you will still need to avoid strenuous exercise until we inform you it is safe (usually after about a month). Your Marietta breast surgeons will closely follow up with you to ensure you are healing properly.

If you are considering breast augmentation and have more questions about what to expect from the process, please contact Marietta Plastic Surgery today to schedule an initial consultation with one of our board-certified Atlanta plastic surgeons. Call (770) 425-0118 for our Marietta office, or (678) 494-2380 for our Woodstock office.