After Breast Augmentation Surgery

Instructions for Cruise Plastic Surgery Patients

1. Get plenty of rest and limit yourself to light activities the first 10 days after surgery. Sleep and rest with head slightly elevated for the first 3 days.
2. You may take a cool shower the day after surgery. Make sure you have someone helping you. Put your bra or strap back on.
3. At 2-3 weeks after surgery take your steri-strips off.
4. Sutures will dissolve on their own.
5. Do not drive for the first week or while on pain medications. Do not do heavy housework and do not work out at all for the first 3 weeks, no upper body workout for at least 8 weeks.
6. Avoid lifting anything heavier than 5 pounds for 2 weeks.
7. Wear a surgical bra or a breast strap 24 hours a day for 6 weeks unless Joseph T Cruise, MD instructs you differently.
8. Avoid exposing the incision to direct sunlight for at least 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15) to the area of the incision, if you will be in the sun for extended periods of time.
9. Do not smoke for at least 1 week after surgery.
10. Do not use aspirin-containing products for at least 1 week. You may take Tylenol or pain medication as prescribed.
11. You may apply ice or frozen peas or corn on the breast for the first 48 hours to decrease swelling. Do not apply it directly on your skin.
12. Be sure to use all your medications as directed.
13. It is not uncommon for a small part of incision to open up and look like a pimple at 4-8 weeks. This is called a Stitch Abscess - it is caused by a suture which is expelled by the body. Simply wash it with soap and water and apply Neosporin or Polysporin on it. If the redness is larger than a dime call the office.

Timeline for Driving, Work, Exercise

Driving: Driving is usually possible after 3-5 days, taking into consideration that you feel comfortable and haven't taken any medications that can impede clear thinking (i.e. Vicodin, Darvocet, Xanax). It is recommended to first drive short distance to test out your ability to drive.

Work: Some people with sedentary jobs go back to work as early as 3 or 4 days after breast augmentation surgery. If your job, however, requires aggressive arm movements it may take as long as 4 weeks to return to work. You should discuss this with Joseph T Cruise, MD. Most people return to work after one week.

Exercise: It may take 6 weeks to 3 months to return to full workout. It is recommended to go on brisk walks shortly after the surgery. You can go back to the gym and use stationary bike at about day 7. Lower body workout can be resumed at about day 10.

With arm workouts it is best to start with biceps, simply because they don't affect your breasts directly. For bench presses and chest workout, it is best to wait for about 3 months.

What to expect as you recover after breast augmentation surgery

1. Immediately after surgery, some patients feel groggy or nauseous. These feeling normally subside by the next day.
2. Many patients experience some pain for the first 3-4 days and soreness for the first 2 weeks.
3. Most of the time the breasts are very swollen and tight for the six week. Do not be concerned, they will drop with time. At your follow up appointment Joseph T Cruise, MD will show you how to massage them to make sure you positioning is appropriate. The body heals asymmetrically. One breast might be swollen, hurt more and appear higher or lower than the other, this is completely normal.
4. Swelling and bruising usually clears up within 2 weeks.
5. Pink scars will eventually fade to an unnoticeable color. It may take up to a year for the scar to fade to its minimal color.
6. Some firmness may develop. Once the tenderness subsides, you may begin to massage the breasts to help soften them. After 3 months you should massage your breasts daily during your shower for 30 seconds for the rest of your life.
7. Your nipples might become hyper sensitive or lose sensation for the first 3 months. This usually goes away.

Take a look at our detailed healing progression outlining each stage of your breast augmentation recovery.

Important instructions to avoid complications

When to call us after your breast surgery

Breast augmentation surgical complications are rare and often easily solved if you notify us at the onset of an issue. Don't hesitate to call us if you experience any of the following:

• A temperature of 101 F or higher
• Increased local redness or warmth
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Legs swelling
• Calf pain
• Continuous discharge from the incision line, if one of the breasts appears significantly larger and more tender, if the pain increases instead of decreasing after 5 days or the breasts become red.
• Or, if you feel that anything might be wrong.

Please call the office during regular business hours @ 949-446-1421

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