Breast Augmentation: What to Expect After Surgery

Posted January 20, 2016 in Practice News

Breast augmentation is an elective operation, but just because the surgery is a choice doesn’t make it any less serious, especially since no woman chooses the sometimes-unsettling feeling and implications attendant with the process.

Talbott Plastic Surgery Center has performed a lot of breast augmentation procedures in Reno, so we understand that as a patient, just knowing about the aftereffects of the surgery helps you manage expectations and worry less. You probably have a lot of questions – How long is recovery? How will my breasts look immediately after, etc. – so here’s a list of what you can expect.

• Pain, Tightness, and Pressure. Yes, you will experience pain and soreness for weeks after your procedure. Generally, patients report needing 3 months for full recovery, complete absence of pain, and total return to pre-surgery mobility. If your implants were placed under the muscle, you’ll experience tightness and pressure as your muscles adjust to having implants under them. The good news is, the feeling of tightness will gradually dissipate within weeks. Also, you will be provided with medication to mitigate the pain.
• Pain Medication and Antibiotic Side Effects. Fortunately, pain medications have seen incredible improvements over the last decade to reduce undesirable side effects, including habit formation, so associated aftereffects are usually minor. They may include loss of appetite, drowsiness, and constipation. Antibiotic regimens can sometimes also result in higher incidences of yeast infections. However, because recovery from breast augmentation is usually swift and incremental, these medication-related issues are short-lived.
• Feeling Low About High Breasts. After surgery, your breast implants will appear to sit too high on your chest. Don’t panic. Your Reno plastic surgeon positioned the (seemingly elevated) implants purposefully. Your breast tissues need time to ‘get acquainted’ with the implant, and post-operative swelling only exacerbates the ‘way too high’ appearance. It will take about 3 to 5 months for the settling to occur. So try to relax and have faith in your plastic surgeon – you likely chose them after careful consideration, ample research, and plenty of great references.
• Second-guessing Your Decision. One of the toughest psychological effects following breast augmentation (apart from the lovely list above) is second-guessing your decision. The self-doubt afflicts most women to varying degrees – and that’s completely natural. You’ve altered one of the most conspicuous features of your body, which will also confer changes to your sexuality. Wondering whether or not you’ve made the right decision is par for the course. Study after study has shown that within months, self-doubt evaporates and patients are almost universally thrilled with their decision.
• Too Big or Too Small? Along with wondering if you should have even altered your breasts at all comes the inevitable question of whether you went big enough or too big. This too is completely normal. And, this is why you go to pre-surgery consultations and health evaluations. Again, trust in your doctor and your decision. Within months you’ll stop looking back and simply look forward to waking up to a beautifully contoured body, improved image, and renewed self-confidence.
• Great Results. Wondering if we were ever going to get here? Of course we were! After all, great results are why you elected to have breast augmentation in Reno. By selecting a reputable, Board-certified surgeon, you’re doing your part as a patient. Trust in your surgeon, follow the recommended post-op care, and give yourself plenty of time to rest and adjust. You’ll emerge from the transformation looking and feeling great!

If you’re seriously considering breast augmentation in Reno, schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. LaDawn Talbott today! You can also view our Breast Augmentation Before & After Photo Gallery.