Breast Lift Recovery - What to Expect After You Undergo This Cosmetic Procedure

Breast lift is an intense procedure that can be difficult for some women to recover from. The procedure, sometimes combined with breast augmentation, helps lift and reposition the breast and nipple into a more youthful, appealing position. During the surgery, breast tissue and skin may be excised and sutures will be placed.

To allow your body to fully recover from this trauma, you should allow at least two weeks before returning to normal activities such as work and errands, and up to six weeks before more rigorous activities like exercise are undertaken.

Immediately after surgery, you will feel disoriented and confused from the anesthesia which may take a day to completely wear off. Some patients may experience severe nausea or other reactions from being put under anesthesia. If you are sensitive to it, inform your surgeon so he may prescribe medication to help ease any discomfort after waking from surgery.

The first few days will be the most uncomfortable and you will experience pain, swelling, and bruising. It is important to treat the area gently, relax, and conserve energy as much as possible.

Plan to stay in bed most of the first few days and have a friend or relative help prepare food and other comforts for you. Your surgeon will prescribe medication to help you feel more comfortable.

Pay close attention to how your body is healing during the first week after surgery. If you notice any abnormal activity, such as increased bruising, bleeding, or other discharge, contact a doctor immediately. The sooner a risk is addressed the less chance of it developing into a more serious problem.

For the first few days after a breast lift, you'll be required to wear a special surgical bra to help support the breasts and promote healing. Once removed, you will need to wear a sports bra or special bandage for another few weeks to a month.

You should not sleep on your stomach or allow other forms of pressure on your chest; this will only aggravate discomfort and could cause complications. Bathing should also be undertaken very carefully to avoid accidentally pulling a suture. Have someone assist you if possible.

Sutures from it will be removed within one to two weeks but it takes a few months for swelling and bruising to subside. The nipples or other areas of the breast may feel numb for many weeks following surgery, this is usually normal and sensation slowly returns over time; however, it can be permanent.

Recovery greatly depends on the individual, so some may find their breasts healing quickly while other women may become frustrated with their slow progress. Consult with your plastic surgeon regularly to help you monitor the process.

As with any procedure involves incisions, a breast lift will leave visible scars that will fade over time, but will never fully disappear. The degree of visible scarring has a large range based on individual healing as well as the skill of the surgeon. If you have a tendency to develop keloids or have had other irregular scarring patterns, you'll want to tell this to your surgeon beforehand to discuss what options are available to you.

There are some laser treatments and prescription creams that can help reduce the appearance of scars, and a skilled surgeon will try his best to camouflage incisions within the natural contours of the body.