When it comes to your results, your breast lift recovery is just as important as the procedure itself. Key to your recovery will be allowing time for your body to rest, avoiding activities or actions that can raise the chance of encountering complications and following your surgeon’s tailored instructions.
In fact, when you have your consultation before the procedure, your ability to complete a sufficient recovery period will be one of the aspects that your surgeon will consider when determining your suitability for a breast lift.
Read on to learn all about breast lift recovery and familiarise yourself with our top tips to follow!
What is a breast lift, and how is it performed?
The first step in understanding what is involved during a breast lift recovery is getting an idea of what the procedure itself involves. Detailed surgical steps that are highly tailored to each patient’s features and needs mean that recovery is an important part of the procedure’s process and can be slightly different for each patient.
A breast lift generally involves lifting the breasts by removing excess skin and fat deposits. Sometimes, the nipples and areolae are also readjusted to suit the breast’s change in position and any changes in shape.
A breast lift is performed under general anaesthetic. Using a variety of techniques, the procedure can be performed with different incision types or patterns. For example, the procedure may use an anchor-shaped, lollipop-shaped, or periareolar incision, depending on the amount of excess skin you may need to remove and the level of lifting that will be achieved.
What to expect during your breast lift recovery
Although your surgeon will let you know what to expect after your surgery, it can be helpful to familiarise yourself with what typically happens straight after the procedure.
After your breast lift, you’ll need to recover in the designated recovery area while you wake from the anaesthetic. Medical staff will be there to monitor you and ensure that you’re progressing as normal.
When you’re cleared to return home, you’ll need someone to drive you, which we recommend organising in advance. Before your surgery, you will receive some detailed and personalised recovery instructions so that you can prepare everything you’ll need at home ahead of time.
You will have some normal post-surgical discomfort, such as swelling, pain, and bruising, which will subside throughout the days of your recovery. Discomfort after surgery can vary from patient to patient, so it’s important to listen to your body and follow your surgeon’s instructions, as they will be specifically tailored to your circumstances.
On average, a breast lift recovery with limited physical activity can take about two weeks, but this can also vary. It will generally take longer than this for the results of a breast lift to show, as swelling needs to completely subside, and the breasts need time to settle into their new position.
Our breast lift recovery tips
Our key breast lift recovery tips can help you better understand what it can involve and navigate your recovery. Remember to always follow your surgeon’s personalised instructions and advice, as they will tailor your instructions to your specific needs, the details of your procedure, and any other important individual factors.
First, always wear your compression bra if instructed. Your compression bra is specifically designed to help the healing process along, reduce swelling and prevent complications. Your surgeon will let you know how often to wear it and when you can return to wearing normal bras. If you’re experiencing significant discomfort, you should take your pain medication as prescribed by your surgeon, carefully following the instructions provided.
Incision care is another important part of recovery. Generally, you’ll need to keep the incision site clean and dry and avoid submerging the area in water early on in recovery. Properly caring for your incisions will help prevent infection and can also minimise the visibility of scars. To prevent scarring even further, we recommend protecting the area from direct sun exposure when the incisions have healed, as UV rays can darken scar tissue.
Next, we want to emphasise how important it is to get enough rest during your recovery. You’ll have some restrictions on your activity levels, particularly early on in your recovery, and you should always listen to these and avoid pushing your body beyond its limits. Typically, you’ll need to avoid strenuous exercise (like running or workouts), heavy lifting, and any other activities that can put strain on the chest area. Slowly, you’ll be able to increase your activity levels, but you should closely follow your surgeon’s advice.
While you rest or sleep, we recommend sleeping with your back slightly elevated on an extra pillow or elevated upper body support. This not only helps to reduce swelling but also prevents pressure on the chest or the incision sites.
Following a balanced, healthy diet and staying hydrated are always important, but they are particularly necessary while your body is healing from surgery. Our top tip is to organise healthy meals before your recovery so that you’ll be able to easily access them at home.
Last but not least, always attend your follow-up appointments. Your follow-ups with your surgeon are essential to ensure that your body is healing as expected and that there are no signs of complications. On the rare chance that a complication has occurred, attending your appointment will allow your surgeon to act promptly, preventing any further complications.
After a breast lift, patients usually have a follow-up appointment on day two of recovery and additional follow-ups one week, one month, and four months after the surgery. The frequency of your appointments will depend on your individual needs. Your surgeon can discuss how follow-up appointments will be spaced during your consultation.
Specialist Plastic Surgeons at Melbourne’s Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery
For recovery instructions and advice that are tailored to your specific needs, and the details of your personalised breast lift, you should always choose a qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon.
Operating at Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery, the Melbourne-based Specialist Plastic Surgeons are highly experienced and qualified to perform a variety of procedures, including breast, body, and face procedures.
These skilled surgeons have taught courses, contributed to industry advancements and research (including medical book chapters and articles on corrective surgery for breast asymmetry and breast reduction techniques), and presented at conferences around the world (including the Breast Masters conference).
If you would like to arrange your consultation, please get in touch with our team.
