Maintaining an active lifestyle is important to many of us, and plastic surgery, like Breast Augmentation, can temporarily disrupt regular exercise routines. After Breast Augmentation surgery, it’s common to wonder when you can start exercising again whether that be running, CrossFit, weight lifting or other dynamic activities. Yet, post-operative exercise needs to be approached with caution to ensure a effective recovery.
Your exercise choices and timing may differ from your pre-surgery regimen, and that’s okay. Breast Augmentation is a personalized journey, and listening to your surgeon’s advice regarding post-operative activities is crucial.
Every patient is different and each breast implant surgery is customised for the individual patient. This means you should listen to the specific information that your Breast Augmentation or Breast Reduction Surgeon provides to you.
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This complete guide to Breast Augmentation Surgery covers everything you need to know about this procedure, including:
- Your surgery explained
- How to assess if you are a good candidate.
- Planning for your surgery
- Answers to most frequently asked questions.
- Before and after gallery
- Learn more about Breast Augmentation
Why you shouldn’t overdo it or engage in high-intensity exercise after a Breast Augmentation
While staying active is a priority for many, it’s essential to approach exercise with care following breast augmentation mammoplasty. Engaging in high-intensity workouts too soon can jeopardise the healing process and the success of the breast augmentation mammoplasty. Here’s why you should hold off on the high-intensity activities after breast augmentation mammoplasty:
- Healing Needs Time: Your body needs time to recover after surgery, and overdoing it can strain incisions and disrupt the healing process.
- Implant Settling: High-impact movements may hinder the natural settling of breast implants into their desired position, potentially affecting the final aesthetic result.
- Discomfort: Vigorous exercise too early can lead to increased swelling, pain, and discomfort during your recovery phase.
- Surgeon’s Recommendations: Each Breast Augmentation is tailored to the individual. Your surgeon will provide specific guidance on when and how to reintroduce high-intensity workouts.
Follow Post-Operative Instructions
You must follow all after-breast augmentation mammoplasty instructions carefully. You should always consult your Plastic Surgeon before returning to any form of exercise, especially in the first few weeks and months after undergoing breast augmentation mammoplasty. It’s also important to be aware of any discomfort.
While this blog and other Internet resources can give you general guidance and advice, your Specialist Plastic Surgeon has specific knowledge of each patient’s individual medical and surgical history; allowing the most accurate, patient-specific advice.
The following will vary from patient to patient and will impact the time required to recover before you are able to resume excercise
- your overall health
- the size of your Breast Implants and the condition of your skin
- your nutrition
- the surgical placement of your Breast Implants and the insertion incision
- your adherence to breast augmentation post-op instructions
Tips about Exercising after a Breast Augmentation Surgery
Post-Breast Augmentation Exercise: Tips for a Safe and Effective Regimen”
- Follow Your Surgeon’s Guidance
- Your surgeon knows your unique case best.
- Listen to their advice and specific recommendations on when and how to restart exercise.
- Start Slow
- Begin with gentle movements like walking to promote blood circulation and prevent complications.
- Focus on Lower Body
- During the initial recovery phase, emphasize lower body workouts to avoid strain on your chest area.
- Avoid High Impact
- Skip high-impact activities like running, jumping, or intense weightlifting until your surgeon gives the green light.
- Supportive Sports Bra
- Invest in a quality sports bra that offers firm support and reduces breast movement during exercise.
- Stretching and Yoga
- Incorporate stretching and yoga to enhance flexibility and promote relaxation.
- Gradual Progression
- As time passes and your body heals, gradually reintroduce upper body exercises and high-intensity workouts.
- Hydration
- Stay well-hydrated to aid the recovery process and overall well-being.
- Listen to Your Body
- If you experience discomfort, pain, or unusual sensations during exercise, stop immediately and consult your surgeon.
- Patience is Key
- Understand that patience in resuming exercise is crucial for long-term success and satisfaction with your Breast Augmentation.
Breast Surgery Risks & Recommendations: High-Intensity Activities
Some activities are more intense than others, especially exercises that involve the use of large muscle groups. High-intensity exercise is known to help burn more calories, save time with shorter workouts, and increase overall health and fitness.
Examples of High-Intensity Exercise include:
- Jogging
- Running
- Tennis
- Horseback Riding
- HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)
- Step Aerobics
- Climbing Stairs
- Plyometric Exercise
Risks of High-Intensity Exercise after getting Breast Implants
- The constant up or down motion from running or fast movements can be quite strenuous on the upper body, exercising too soon or too aggressively after surgery can slow down the recovery process.
- After breast augmentation, the tissue around the breasts needs to heal so that capsules can form.
- For some patients, strenuous exercise too soon after their surgery might cause the scar tissue to constrict the implant capsule, causing pressure and hardening.
- Some types of breast implants may shift out of their intended location, giving an unbalanced or distorted appearance, if healing hasn’t occurred properly OR if the patient is NOT wearing a supportive, high-quality sports bra and other recommended post-op garments.
Recommended Recovery Time after Breast Implants and Before Exercising
A minimum of 6-8 weeks after cosmetic Breast Augmentation with implants, Breast Lift or Breast Revision Surgery is recommended before returning to this kind of activity.
However, it is best to consult with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon before returning to High-Intensity Exercise. Wearing the right type of bra is crucial in maintaining a long-term result.
Breast Surgery Risks & Recommendations: Low-Intensity Exercise & Other Activities
Low-Intensity Exercise has become increasingly popular, with many women enjoying the likes of Yoga and Pilates to help maintain a toned and sculpted physique.
Examples of Low-Intensity Exercise include:
- Swimming
- Yoga
- Pilates or Physio-Pilates
- Walking
- Gentle Stretching
Risks of Low-Intensity Exercise after Getting Breast Implant Surgery
- Any type of movement post-surgery and during your recovery will involve you needing to make modifications.
- Be sure to not go beyond your comfort level as this can harm your post-surgery recovery.
- Yoga and Pilates, although relaxing, can, in fact, become quite strenuous when focusing on the core and upper body. Be sure to monitor yourself carefully for any pain or soreness.
- Always speak to your surgeon first and tell any coach or instructor that you need to make modifications due to your need to heal post-surgery.
What about other types of activity?
If your job includes a fair amount of movement, you should definitely consult with your doctor to see if you need some additional time off.
Some careers may be quite strenuous and may require special attention or longer periods of reduced working hours. If you perform work described below, be sure to ask your Surgeon about how soon you might return to full activities.
- Hairdresser or Stylist
- Relocation or Postal Deliveries
- Warehouse Stockists or other work requiring heavy lifting
- Police or Armed Forces
- Fire Fighters
- Trades persons
- Personal Trainers
- Warehouse or factory work that is not sedentary
- Cleaning, Painting or Window Washing
- Dancers
- Hospitality work that involves lots of lifting or rapid movement and carrying heavy objects
- Child care (or parenting or grand-parenting or foster caring) that involves lifting children
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