Breast augmentation is a popular form of plastic surgery among women. The reasons for choosing this type of surgery varies, but for many, their self-esteem and self-confidence increases upon seeing the final results. However, as with any kind of operation, you may experience some pain afterwards. This is a normal side effect of the surgical procedure and is generally nothing to worry about.
Luckily, Dr. Adams has refined several techniques that minimize post-operative pain. In fact, over 98% of Dr. Adams’ patients return to normal activities within 24 hours after surgery. The thought of experiencing any kind of pain, or downtime, however, can be scary for some people.
In this article, we hope to put your mind at ease by talking about what to expect and how to prevent or help any pain you may experience after your augmentation.
How can I minimize pain after surgery?
The most important thing to remember is that not all breast augmentation surgeons are the same, and similarly, recoveries are very different as well. Dr. Adams published the Process of Breast Augmentation, which allows patients to have a fun, easy experience with breast augmentation, including shopping, picking up children under 3, and going to dinner the day of surgery. The majority of surgeons do not use these techniques and the recovery is very different – oftentimes patients can not get out of bed for a week, or have to take narcotic pain medication.
After a breast augmentation, your plastic surgeon generally offers a pain medication. Sometimes this can cause an upset stomach, so it may be prescribed with an anti-nausea medication or recommended that you take it on a full stomach. Medication such as Motrin are well tolerated, and are an excellent anti-infalmmatory.
There are also exercises suggested to those who have undergone breast augmentation to help with the muscles and subsequently, the pain. These exercises are very basic and some examples are listed below:
- Shoulder Roll – Lift your shoulders to your ears and slowly roll them back. Do this 10-15 times before reversing and moving your shoulders forward in a circular position.
- Arm Circles – While seated, move your arms out to each side and slowly move your hands in a circular motion, first forward 10-15 times before switching directions.
- Arm Stretch – Place your forearm on top of your head and touch your elbow with your other hand. Keep it there for a few breaths, roughly 10-15 seconds, before switching hands. This will help you gently stretch that pectoral muscle.
While healing from your surgery, you should never do any heavy lifting or perform any sudden movements.
While many breast augmentations can take weeks to heal, Dr. Adams focuses on rapid recovery, allowing you to resume normal activities within 24 hours of the procedure, with minimal pain. Dr. Adams is an international authority on breast contouring, developing innovative techniques that make surgery safer for patients. To find out more, contact us today.
