Breast augmentation surgery is where a surgeon increases the size of your breasts using implants. The breast implants are often made from silicone and inserted under your breast tissue, although other techniques are possible.
Breast augmentation is considered to be a major surgical procedure, which means it exposes a body cavity (in this case, your chest). Recovery can take longer than minor surgeries.
If you’re considering a breast augmentation, you’ll most likely have to have it performed privately, as the NHS generally doesn’t cover cosmetic surgery or plastic surgery. The NHS will typically only offer breast augmentation if you have a significant size difference between your breasts or if it’s part of a breast reconstruction after treatment for breast cancer.
Going private can be overwhelming at first as you may not know where to look. However, PHIN can help you wade through the numerous surgeons and hospitals so you can continue your breast augmentation journey.
How long does it take to recover from a breast augmentation?
Recovering from breast augmentation and returning to everyday activities usually takes about six weeks.
Your breasts must settle into their new position and shape and your incisions must fully heal, which will not happen quickly. Moreover, it can take several months before you see your augmentation’s final results and completely recover.
It’s vital to remember that every person is different. Some may recover faster or slower than others. But with the proper approach, your recovery will improve over the coming weeks and months until you are well again.
Top tips for supporting your breast augmentation recovery
Before having a breast augmentation, it’s a great idea to prepare your home and daily routine to support your recovery. Learn more about what happens after your hospital stay and how you can prepare for it in our comprehensive article ‘What happens after my hospital stay and how do I prepare?’.
Some top tips when recovering from a breast augmentation include:
- Sleep on your back – it may reduce swelling and enhance circulation.
- Stock up on your favourite foods and prepare them in advance – freezing prepared meals means you don’t have to cook during the first part of your recovery when this task is challenging.
- Do laundry before your appointment – you’ll be unable to perform this task for a while, so make sure you have clean clothes and bedding before you’re discharged.
- Place everyday objects within arm’s reach – as you won’t be able to stretch or bend easily during your initial recovery, put things like phone chargers and remote controls within reach before your surgery.
- Fill your wardrobe with clean, loose-fitting clothes – wear clothes you can easily slip on and off with minimal movement during your recovery to minimise the need to lift your arms or bend.
Although you can’t speed up your recovery, you can support it and reduce the chances of post-operative complications.
Breast augmentation: a timeline of post-op recovery
Understanding each step of the recovery process will help you to do the best for your body.
Follow your surgeon’s advice carefully to minimise your risk of complications like infection or setting your recovery back.
Here is a breakdown of breast augmentation recovery to support you after surgery.
Day of the surgery
Immediately after surgery, you’ll wake up in the recovery room and may feel groggy or nauseous from the general anaesthetic. It’s usual to feel some soreness or tenderness in your chest but you will be given pain relief medication at the hospital to minimise pain.
Post-surgery and aftercare
Although you may feel tired or groggy, your doctors and nurses will get you out of bed and moving around to support your recovery.
Week one
You will most likely feel slight pain or discomfort during the first three to five days of your recovery. However, you will be given pain medication and you should notice the pain reduces after the first 72 hours or so.
Your breasts may feel and look swollen. This side effect means you won’t see the full results of your breast augmentation until the swelling has completely gone away, which can take several months.
You must wear a compression garment (recovery bra) or sports bra 24 hours a day during the first three months of your recovery. You’ll also need to avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for at least one month.
At the end of the first week, you may start to feel back to normal. If your surgeon agrees, you can start driving again.
Week two
During your second week of recovery, your stitches (unless they’re dissolvable) will be removed.
You should also feel better and well enough to return to work and engage in light exercise. However, you must still avoid things like running or heavy lifting until you have completely recovered.
Week six
Recovery will continue between weeks two and six, and you can increase your activity little by little.
By week six, you should be able to return to most of your regular activities – including strenuous activities like running and weight lifting.
Your scars should begin to fade at this point. You may still have some swelling but this will continue to reduce as you recover.
Several months later (full recovery)
Your breasts will begin to look and feel more natural after a few more months. You may also be able to stop wearing a sports bra. Your scars will continue to naturally fade.
By this point, you’re fully recovered and will see the full results of your breast augmentation and should be able to resume all your normal activities.
This timeline is a guideline. Your surgeon will give you specific information about your individual recovery time and healing process to meet your unique needs. Everyone’s recovery journey looks slightly different, so always follow your surgeon’s advice. Although the road to recovery may seem long, you should start to feel back to normal within six weeks.
Book your private breast augmentation with the help of PHIN
We can help you find the right consultant close to home, so you don’t have to travel far after surgery. PHIN helps you find local consultants and surgeons to support your recovery from the start.
Use our easy search tool if you’re considering breast augmentation and want to find a private practitioner near you. Simply type in your location and ‘breast enlargement’ and we’ll provide a list of private consultants specialising in the procedure who are local to you.
Learn about your local consultants and discover how much the procedure could cost through PHIN.
Other breast surgery
You can find out about other cosmetic procedures, such a breast lifts in our Help and Advice section.
Sources
- Breast enlargement (implants). NHS. nhs.uk. Last reviewed: 21 September 2023.
- Your guide to breast augmentation. Association of Breast Surgery, British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. baaps.org.uk, published 2021.
- Fardo D, Sequeira Campos M, Pensler JM. Breast augmentation. StatPearls. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Last updated: 18 July 2023.
