If you are considering enhancing the appearance of your breasts, you may be wondering about breast lift recovery. Many women search to find answers to their question, “How long to recover from breast lift surgery?” Many women can return to most light activities and part of their daily schedule within about two weeks, but it can take several months for complete healing.
Your breast lift recovery time will depend on how healthy you are, the type of technique used for your breast lift, the extent of your surgery, and how closely you follow the aftercare directions given to you by your surgeon.
An Overview Of The Average Breast Lift Recovery Time
Everyone is different, and so recovery times vary. A basic timeline for breast lift recovery may look a bit like this:
Days 1 Through 3
These first few days, most women experience bruising, swelling, and mild to moderate tightness. It is important to get as much rest as you can, and you need to wear your surgical bra according to the surgeon’s directions. You will not be able to sleep on your side or stomach and will need to sleep on your back in an elevated position.
Days 4 Through 7
Your pain should be getting significantly better by this time, and most patients are able to stop taking their prescription medication and switch to over-the-counter options. You will need to avoid strenuous activity and continue sleeping on your back, as sleeping on your side or stomach is still off-limits.
Weeks 2 Through 3
The Mayo Clinic advises that it usually takes a few weeks for your bruising to start fading. You may have a follow-up appointment to remove any sutures that do not dissolve on their own or steri-strips. If you are no longer taking your prescription medications, you may be able to do some light driving and go back to work if it is not physically demanding.
Weeks 4 Through 6
Most women say they begin to get their energy back during this time and start to feel more normal and are able to do more. The surgeon usually lifts most activity restrictions, and many patients can begin light exercises that are low-impact and return to full time work.
Months 3 Through 6
Your swelling should totally subside during this time, and your breasts will settle into their natural, new lifted position. The incision lines should start to fade from pink to more like your skin tone over the next several months.
What Is Breast Lift Recovery Like?
Most patients say that they were the most uncomfortable during the first few days with swelling and tenderness. It is normal to also have bruising, but this normally improves in the first few weeks.
You will have to wear a special bra from the day of your surgery and forward until your surgeon says you may stop wearing it. This surgical bra will help mitigate swelling and keep your breasts supported and your incisions stable while you are healing.
Many women also have temporary numbness in areas of their breasts or changes in nipple sensation. The sensation usually comes back gradually as the nerves heal, but everyone heals at their own rate, so the timeframe can vary.
How Long To Recover From Breast Lift Surgery?
Full recovery from a breast lift usually takes between 6 and 8 weeks to return to your normal routine but can take 3 to 6 months before all the internal healing is complete.
The speed of your recovery can be influenced by:
- How healthy you are;
- Your age;
- Whether you smoke or use nicotine products;
- The extent of your breast lift surgery;
- If you had implants placed during your lift;
- How well you follow your surgeon’s instructions for aftercare.
Even if you feel pretty good, you need to be careful because doing too much before your body is completely healed can increase swelling or slow down your progress. Wait until your surgeon clears you before you try to go back to your normal routine.
Tips To Make Your Breast Lift Recovery Go Smoother
There is no way to rush your healing process, but there are things you can do to make sure you do not slow it down. Your body is designed to naturally heal itself, but you need to give it the building blocks it needs to do it. Some of the things you can do to make sure your breast lift recovery goes as smoothly as possible include:
- Follow your surgeon’s instructions to the letter for wearing your special surgical bra;
- Sleep on your back with your upper body elevated. Use pillows to prevent rolling onto your side or stomach. Some patients find sleeping in a recliner with a few support pillows is the best way to stay comfortable;
- Follow the activity restrictions given to you by your surgeon. Doing too much before your body has healed enough can prolong your breast lift recovery;
- Eat a nutritious, healthy diet and stay well hydrated;
- Take any medications exactly as prescribed;
- Delegate some of your responsibilities (those that cannot wait), like child or pet care, housework, etc., to another person in your support system;
- Catch up on laundry before your surgery so things are clean and easy to access for you or a caregiver who is assisting you;
- Write out instructions for anyone who will be assisting you with your children, pets, housework, or yardwork;
- Prepare meals ahead of time;
- Set up your recovery area so it is already prepared when you come home from surgery. You will have a limited range of motion, so make it easy on yourself and have things like snacks, water, a book to read, the television remote control, your phone and charger, etc. within easy reach. This will make it easier to avoid stretching or bending too much in the early healing stages;
- Attend every follow-up appointment.
When Will I See My Breast Lift Final Results?
Your breast lift will be obvious right after your surgery, but swelling can mask your true results, and your breasts may look higher than you expected or feel very firm.
It will take a few months, but the swelling will gradually decrease, your incisions will continue to heal, your scars should soften and fade some, and your breasts will eventually reveal their new shape and position. Most women find that at the six-month mark, they can see their final breast lift results, but their incisions may still take up to a year or longer to fade.
Where Can I Learn More About A Breast Lift In Seattle?
If you are looking into enhancing the shape and position of your breasts, NewVue Plastic Surgery can help. Dr. George Min is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience in many types of breast surgeries, including breast lifts in Seattle, Bellevue, and the surrounding areas in Washington.
Dr. Min and his team of experts can answer your questions and help determine if a breast lift will help you reach your aesthetic goals. Set up your consultation today.
FAQs
Is breast lift recovery painful?
Breast lift recovery can feel painful depending on your tolerance threshold, but most women say it is more uncomfortable than painful. Your surgeon will provide you with pain medication that can help the first few days with soreness, tightness, and discomfort.
How long is breast lift recovery time before returning to work?
This depends on your specific job and how physically demanding it is. Most women who have desk jobs can go back to work within a few weeks, but jobs that require lifting or increased physical exertion will need more recovery time before resuming.
How long do I have to wait to exercise after a breast lift?
You can normally start doing some light walking right after your surgery, but you will need to wait between 4 and 6 weeks to go back to your regular routine and only after your surgeon clears you.
When can I sleep on my side after a breast lift?
It normally takes anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks before you can sleep on your side without causing potential issues with your breast lift results. Your surgeon will monitor your recovery process and let you know when you can safely resume side sleeping.
Will I have visible breast lift scars?
You may have visible breast lift scars depending on the extent of your surgery and the technique used to complete it. Your surgeon will do all possible to create incisions in the most discrete areas possible to minimize the visibility of any scarring. Following your surgeon’s scar care recommendations may help gradually improve the appearance of those more noticeable.
