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Breast augmentation is major surgery, but since it is an outpatient procedure, you can usually go home the same day. An exception to that would be if you had another procedure at the same time, such as an abdominoplasty or liposuction – you may then need to spend a night or two in hospital for close monitoring.

Outpatient procedures do not use general anesthesia, but instead use local anesthesia combined with a sedative that relaxes you. That means you will need a ride home, as the sedative will take several hours to wear off and, in any case, you will not feel like driving.

Your cosmetic surgeon will discuss your recovery time when you are talking with him or her about having breast augmentation, and in advance will give you printed instructions for self-care, along with any prescriptions you will need. That enables you to prepare for your recovery time and get the prescriptions filled ahead of time. You will also have a series of follow-up appointments scheduled ahead of time, so that your surgeon can monitor your progress and catch any potential problems early.

During the First Two Weeks

Most people feel tired and somewhat uncomfortable at first. There will be swelling and bruising and your breasts will feel sensitive. You should rest. You will have a prescription painkiller to help and it would be best if you had someone in the house to help with your care. There are dressings on your breasts at first that will be replaced with a surgical bra after a few days.

It is imperative that you follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions exactly for best recovery and results. Any time the skin is incised, there is the possibility of infection and you will probably have an antibiotic to help prevent that. Do not shower or exercise until your physician gives permission for that. There will also be stitches and they may be dissolvable or they may need to be removed by your cosmetic surgeon, which would be done after seven to ten days.

The First Few Months

For more than two weeks, the breasts will remain sensitive and may be swollen for a month or more. Do not handle them or allow any contact with them until the sensitivity has faded. In most cases your surgeon will advise you to refrain from any vigorous activity for at least a month. The incisions need to heal well before it is safe to exercise very much, although walking is usually recommended early on in recovery for better blood circulation.

Breast augmentation incisions are always made in discreet locations: in the breast crease, around the areola, or in the armpit. The scars that will remain in those places will never disappear entirely, as no scar ever does, but they will be hard to see once they finish fading and shrinking. Again, it is central to your best recovery, including the appearance of your scars, that you rest and follow your surgeon’s directions. If an incision is accidentally re-opened, it invites infection and will have to be re-stitched, and the scar may end up being larger, since the body has to deal with two traumas instead of one.

Breast Augmentation is the most popular female cosmetic surgery procedure in the U.S. and by far the majority of women are extremely pleased with their results. The best cosmetic surgeons screen their patients very carefully, as it is in their interests as well as yours that your recovery be successful.