Recovery after mammoplasty

Mammoplasty is the most common type of surgery. It is performed to correct the size and shape of the mammary glands. The operation is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia. If there are contraindications to it, anesthesiologists use local anesthesia. The duration of the intervention is 2 hours. Surgeons often combine breast plastic surgery with other types of correction (breast lift, abdominoplasty, liposuction, lipolysis). There are 2 types of implant fixation: submuscular (under the pectoral muscle) and subglandular (under the mammary gland).

Recovery period after surgery

The postoperative period after breast augmentation lasts from 6 weeks to 4 months. The duration of recovery depends on the physiological characteristics of the woman. During the first 6 weeks, the implant takes root and is fixed under the mammary gland or under the pectoral muscle.

Healing of postoperative wounds and a decrease in the intensity of pain with submuscular technique occurs within 10-12 days, after subglandular technique - 4 days. If manipulations were performed to reduce the mammary gland, then the recovery period will be much longer, since during the operation, surgeons expand the operational access and affect the gland tissue itself.

Every woman who decides to undergo mammoplasty is warned by the surgeon about the peculiarities during recovery and what should not be done after breast augmentation.

Recovery features:

• refusal of analgesics: 1-2 days;
• return to work after 3 days;
• light chest workouts: 2-3 weeks;
• restrictions on physical activity are removed after 5-6 weeks;
• scarring after 12 months.

In order to avoid a complicated course of the postoperative period, all doctor's recommendations should be followed.

The main requirements for rehabilitation after breast augmentation are:

• constant wearing of compression underwear for six months, by the 7th month underwear must be worn at night;
• water procedures are allowed for 3-5 days after the operation, the water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees;
• treatment of seams after a shower, the use of special plasters;
• limit motor activity (tilting sideways and forward is prohibited), intimacy, avoid contact with infectious patients during the first month of rehabilitation after breast augmentation.
• sleep on your back;
• protect the breast from exposure to ultraviolet radiation for the first 4 months;
• avoid stress;
• adhere to a balanced diet to boost the immune system.

Clinical manifestations and activities in the first weeks of the recovery period

Many women are interested in how rehabilitation proceeds by day. After completion of mammoplasty, the breast is bandaged with an elastic bandage.

The patient is transferred to the ward. On the first day after the operation, swelling of the mammary gland increases, pain and discomfort, numbness of the chest, bleeding from the sutures. To prevent swelling and stimulate the formation of blood clots in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe sutures, ice should be applied. The ice container should be wrapped in a towel.

2 to 6 days after surgery

The elastic bandage is removed at the first examination by a doctor and dressing. If there are no changes in the seams, then they are treated, sealed with a plaster. The nurse helps the woman put on a compression bandage, which should be worn until the end of the recovery period.

The feeling of tightness in the chest is explained by an increase in the volume of the mammary gland (the skin did not have time to adapt to sudden changes). On the 2-4th day of recovery, with normal healing at the sites of incisions and good health, the woman is discharged with subsequent observation in the clinic.

In the first 4 days of the rehabilitation period after breast augmentation, it is necessary to control the patient's body temperature, which helps in time to diagnose the start of an inflammatory reaction and the addition of bacterial flora. On the 4th day you can take a shower. It is forbidden to wash your own hair, it is better to ask for help. Daily it is necessary to process the seams, including after a shower. Doctors recommend walking more to compensate for the limitation of other movements.

With the introduction of an implant under the pectoral muscle, the clinical manifestations will differ from day to day during rehabilitation. Sometimes the chest muscles may respond to the introduction of a foreign body with a spasm, which leads to its displacement upward. Lowering the implant can take up to 8-12 weeks, which lengthens the recovery period. The total duration of rehabilitation with the introduction of an implant under the pectoral muscle is up to 4 months or more.

From 7-20 days of rehabilitation

On the 7th-10th day of recovery after breast augmentation, the risk of infection of postoperative wounds and bleeding remains. The patient should limit movements leading to contraction of the pectoral muscle (brushing teeth, lifting weights from a standing position, combing hair). Do not take aspirin, fish oil and other drugs that reduce blood clots. To relieve pain during rehabilitation after breast augmentation, the surgeon often prescribes a massage of the mammary glands.

Doctors advise sleeping on your back in a semi-lying position to reduce swelling, pain intensity, and the likelihood of implant displacement. Sleeping on your stomach is prohibited. You should not start driving a car, as turning the steering wheel requires effort, and the pressure of the seat belt causes pain for many women. After mammoplasty, you can return to driving a vehicle after 3 weeks of the postoperative period.

From 10-20 days, the risk of bacterial flora is reduced, bleeding becomes less frequent. Swelling and soreness of the breast is reduced. The pain appears only at night. Nervous sensitivity returns, which is manifested by tingling in the areola. A woman is allowed light physical activity aimed at training the lower body.

Recovery in the first few months

Within 4-6 weeks of rehabilitation after breast augmentation, pain and swelling decrease. The patient develops hypersensitivity to touch and numbness of the chest. Over time, these reactions go away, but can become permanent. During the first menstruation, there is soreness in the area of ​​​​the mammary gland. In this case, the plastic surgeon prescribes analgesics to relieve pain. After 9 months of rehabilitation, the final healing of the sutures, softening of the scars, swelling disappears. The mammary gland becomes softer.

The shape of the breast can change depending on the hormonal background, pregnancy, weight fluctuations. All plastic surgeons warn about this before performing mammoplasty. In the first year, you should not sunbathe in the sun, as the seams can weaken under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. High temperature leads to inflammatory changes in the tissue of the gland.

Sports after breast augmentation

Most patients are interested in (how much) what time it is possible to play sports. In the normal course of the recovery period, training in the gym can be started after 4 weeks, after consulting with your doctor. Sports activities begin with small loads, gradually increasing them.

Complications after mammoplasty

A complicated course of the postoperative period can occur when the recommendations of a plastic surgeon are violated, as well as due to the physiological characteristics of a woman's body. The main complications include: swelling, pain, scars, capsular contracture.

Severe swelling

Edema is considered a normal manifestation after surgery. A deviation from this conditional norm is severe edema that does not stop for a long time. To eliminate these manifestations will help: limiting salt intake, regular walking, increasing the amount of fluid you drink. Better to drink water. You should limit the use of coffee and tea, they cause severe thirst, as they have a diuretic effect. Excess salt contributes to water retention in the body.

Pain syndrome

Pain is a common manifestation during rehabilitation after mammoplasty. The pain threshold is different for every woman. In women who have given birth, it is higher, so they assess the intensity of the pain syndrome as average. In patients who do not have children, the pain threshold is low, the pain is much stronger. In this case, the plastic surgeon prescribes painkillers (ibuprofen, paracetamol, Tylenol) every 4-6 hours. Analgesics are indicated 1-2 days after surgery.

Visualization and inflammation of scars

During mammoplasty, the surgeon makes incisions in the areola and the natural crease under the breast. Later, scars form. To reduce their visualization, it is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations, to report the inflammatory process at the site of the sutures in time. Sometimes scars can swell and become inflamed. Hyperemia (redness) persists for 3 months. After 6-7 months of the rehabilitation period, the scars become white in color and become less noticeable.

Contracture of the implant capsule

During recovery after mammoplasty, a capsule of fatty tissue is formed. With contracture, uniform compression of the implant occurs. The chest becomes hard. This complication is treated surgically. Re-contracture of the capsule rarely develops.

Pharmacological drugs and the rejection of the bandage

To improve the general condition after surgery, a woman can use medicines. In order for the rehabilitation period to go well and quickly, you need to consult a doctor about choosing a bra.

Drug therapy

The rehabilitation period after breast augmentation will require the use of pharmacological agents to facilitate its course. The plastic surgeon will prescribe a course of antibiotic therapy to prevent infection. If necessary, anti-inflammatory hormonal ointments and creams can be used.

At the beginning of the recovery period, you will need painkillers in tablet form, as well as creams. When scars are formed, the doctor will prescribe an ointment that accelerates their healing. An example of such a drug is Contractubex. With its use, the scars will become less noticeable.

Switching to regular underwear

During rehabilitation after breast augmentation, a woman can switch to a regular bra only on the recommendation of the attending physician. Early rejection of the bandage and corrective underwear leads to complications in the form of contractures of the implant capsule and its displacement upwards. Doctors recommend wearing special bandages for about 7 months.

Linen requirements:

• cups repeat the shape of the breast;
• the bones do not squeeze and do not rub;
• natural hypoallergenic fabric material;
• straps are thick;
• no tight seams.

Compliance with these simple requirements will help to successfully complete the recovery after surgery.

Conclusion

Rehabilitation after mammoplasty passes without complications, subject to all the recommendations of a plastic surgeon. At the slightest change in the body (suppuration of the seams, fever, severe pain in the chest), immediately notify the doctor about this. To avoid a complicated course of the recovery period, one should not take off compression underwear early, drive a car and rush into sports. Walking in the fresh air and a balanced diet will help the body. A successful outcome of rehabilitation depends not only on the doctor, but also on the positive attitude of the woman herself.