What Is the Average Breast Lift Recovery Time?

Many women who have sagging and drooping breasts may not realize that they have the potential to achieve large, beautiful, and youthful-looking breasts through a breast lift procedure.

Breast lifts have the power to completely transform sagging breasts by lifting and reshaping the existing breast tissue. This often leads to a highly attractive figure that brings great satisfaction to the patient.

However, it is unfortunate that one of the main reasons some women hesitate to undergo a breast lift is due to concerns about the recovery period associated with the procedure.

• How long will breast lift recovery take?

• How long will I need to be off work?

• Will the surgery hurt?

• When can I exercise again?

• When will I see my results?

These are all common questions patients have. In the article below, we will attempt to answer all of these inquiries and others related to breast lift recovery.

Breast Lift Recovery Time

Throughout your breast lift recovery, your most important task is to follow your surgeon's postoperative instructions carefully. Failing to do so may cause you to sabotage your breast lift results, increase the visibility of scars, or even put your health at risk.

Breast Lift Recovery timeline Week by Week

Directly After Surgery

Right after breast lift surgery, you'll experience some moderate pain. Fortunately, your surgeon will help you with this by prescribing pain medications and showing you at-home care techniques to mitigate your discomfort.

At home, you'll need to wear the appropriate dressings and compression garments to keep your breasts and nipples in place and minimize swelling. Sometimes, your surgeon will place drains beneath your bandages, and these will be removed several days after surgery.

Weeks 1 and 2

1 week after breast lift surgery, you should feel much more comfortable, although you will still have swelling and bruising. Some patients will return to work after one week of recovery while others may want to wait an additional few days before going back to their jobs.

Be sure to continue eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep, and walking around (for short distances) frequently. Regular movement will help with circulation and swelling reduction.

Weeks 3 and 4

Moving into the third and fourth week of your breast lift recovery time exercise will be something to start thinking about. Of course, you must always clear this with your surgeon before starting up a new routine or going back to the activities you did before surgery.

Fortunately, by weeks three and four, your pain and discomfort should be nearly gone. Some swelling and light bruising may still be present, but this should fade quickly as well.

Weeks 5, 6, and Beyond

After five or six weeks, you should be able to stop wearing surgical bra under your compression garment and start wearing your own regular bras with underwires if you choose. Swelling will be nearly gone, and you should be able to see your results fairly accurately when you look in the mirror.

From here, continue following your plastic surgeon's care instructions and start enjoying your new figure!

When Will You See Results?

The majority of swelling will disappear within a few weeks after surgery, but there's always some residual swelling that hangs around. Approximately six to 12 weeks after surgery, your breasts should be mostly settled into their final positions. However, it may be between about two weeks to six months and a year before you see your complete results.

FAQs: Breast Lift Recovery Time

How painful is breast lift recovery?

You will certainly experience some moderate pain and discomfort after breast lift surgery. This should be the worst during the first one to three days post-op. After this, your discomfort should gradually improve. Your surgeon will prescribe you with medications to improve your comfort during this time, and then you can gradually transition to over-the-counter pain medications as needed.

How long does it take for breast to drop after a lift?

“Dropping” refers to your breasts settling into place after surgery. Swelling and general fluid accumulation post surgery will alter the appearance of your breasts. But after a few weeks of recovery, your breasts will begin to take on their final shape. This usually happens six to 12 weeks after surgery.

Is getting a breast lift worth it?

For most breast lift patients, the surgery is absolutely worth it. Women who struggle with sagging breasts often complain that they experience daily discomfort and dissatisfaction with their appearance. A breast lift can help with both of these issues and give you a boost of well-deserved confidence.

What can you not do after breast lift surgery?

After breast lift surgery, you need to take it easy. However, don't just stay in bed all day. Get up frequently to stretch your legs and walk short distances.

You should not lift heavy objects (including children), exert yourself physically, or do too much reaching or extending with your arms. You should also avoid sleeping on your stomach. Finally, don't get your skin or incision areas wet until your surgeon says it's okay to do so.

What if I regret my breast lift?

As with any surgery, there is always a chance that you may regret undergoing your breast lift after it is done. Of course, this is why you should always be sure that the surgery you are thinking about is definitely right for you before going through with it.

With that said, if you do regret your breast lift after surgery, first, wait until you have fully recovered from cosmetic surgery before deciding if you'd like to actually have revision surgery. If you are fully recovered and still unhappy with your results, you can meet with a surgeon to discuss revision surgery so that you can achieve the results you ultimately want.

Can you get a breast augmentation with breast lift?

Opting for a combination of breast lift and breast implants can be an effective approach to maximize the benefits of your cosmetic surgery. When a breast lift is performed alongside implants, you may require a lesser volume of the implant. This is because the breast lift procedure helps position the breasts correctly and imparts shape, contributing to an overall desirable outcome.

How long does it take for nipples to heal after breast lift?

Numbness in your nipples, areolae and breast skin might last for about six weeks.

Book a Consultation Appointment Today

Could a breast lift give you your confidence back? Call today to schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Aric Aghayan and find out if you'd be a good candidate for breast lift surgery. We look forward to hearing from you!

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/recovery