Many women are enamored by the possibilities of a breast augmentation, but there’s one thing that stops the majority of them from moving forward with treatment: a painful recovery. Despite the immeasurable benefits of breast augmentation, the thought of enduring a painful recovery can be discouraging. However, we’re going to explain how the perceived pain of a breast augmentation is often blown out of proportions. In fact, with the right surgeon and a little bit of preparation, you can enjoy a very manageable breast augmentation procedure.
Is Breast Augmentation Surgery Painful?
Any surgery will inevitably cause some pain, discomfort and soreness while the body recovers. Fortunately, however, the pain from breast augmentation isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. In fact, most patients are able to fully manage their pain with over-the-counter pain medications like Advil and Tylenol. Better yet, the only significant pain during the breast augmentation recovery process will occur during the first week. Patients can expect this pain to be at its worst about three to five days after surgery, during which time you can use prescription pain medications to alleviate pain. After the first week, pain and other symptoms will start to fade, leaving most patients completely pain-free within just two to three weeks of surgery.
How Much Pain Can I Expect?
The amount of pain experienced following a breast augmentation will vary based on a few factors, including your own pain tolerance. Fortunately, you can control most of these variables – and they all come down to your breast implants. Typically, you can expect greater pain with larger, heavier implants. These implants place more stress on the body during recovery, which can exacerbate the pain you are already feeling. Additionally, the placement of your breast implants will affect your postoperative pain. Breast implants are either placed above or beneath the chest muscles. Breast implants placed beneath the chest muscles will create more discomfort and soreness, because these muscles have to stretch to accommodate the newly placed implants.
How to Reduce Breast Augmentation Pain
With these things considered, there are several ways that patients can reduce breast augmentation pain and enjoy a more comfortable recovery.
Select Breast Implants Carefully
We do not recommend letting the fear of pain influence your cosmetic goals, because the rewards from a breast augmentation can be far greater than the temporary discomfort. However, selecting smaller breast implants and considering their placement can go a long way for easing your recovery process.
Select Your Surgeon More Carefully
Regardless of your breast implant size, be sure to select the right surgeon for the job. A skilled and experienced surgeon can minimize the stress placed on your body during surgery, easing your recovery experience. A well-qualified surgeon can also guide you through the treatment and recovery process so that you are well-prepared for a successful recovery.
Follow Recovery Protocols
When it comes down to it, your habits and self-care during your recovery process will have the largest influence on your pain levels. At the Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Center of Texas, Dr. Morrissey will provide you with clear recovery guidelines to aid you in your recovery process. Some of the tips that can help accelerate healing and make your recovery more comfortable include:
- Get plenty of rest
- Drink lots of water and eat healthy foods
- Sleep on your back
- Avoid strenuous activity
- Use pain medications as prescribed
- Care for incisions properly
If you want to start your breast augmentation off on the right foot, contact us today to schedule your consultation at the Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Center of Texas.
