When you have a breast lift done, your body, skin and breasts need time to recover. The average recovery period is six weeks, but the final result often takes a little longer. We’re happy to inform you about recovery after a breast lift and what you can and cannot do after surgery.

The first day after surgery, your breasts will feel sore and still be swollen. That feeling lessens within a few days. Scars may be temporarily red and swollen after the procedure. Only after about three months do you see the final result.

The first days after a breast lift

Usually you’ll be allowed to go home on the day of breast lift surgery. We check that everything is fine with you and after our plastic surgeon’s approval, you may go home. Your breasts will feel sore but that feeling lessens after a few days. In order to obtain the best possible result and speed up your recovery, we recommend the following: (unless expressly stated otherwise by the plastic surgeon.).

Are you going or have you had a breast lift done in conjunction with breast augmentation? Then you can also read the aftercare after breast augmentation with implants.

Wear a sports bra

You must wear a sports bra until 6 weeks after surgery and it should only come off while showering. The bra should provide adequate support: it’s important that the bra fits your breasts nicely after surgery and that it is not too big. On the website, emdawear.co.uk, the shop features 17 different compressive bras. Of these, we recommend the Bonnie variety. Take the bra with you to the hospital.

Medication and pain relief

If you feel lousy or your breasts are very painful, you may always take paracetamol and any additional painkillers prescribed by the doctor. When problems occur at home, such as a lot of pain, increasing swelling or tension on one side, you should contact us.

If you were taking certain medications before surgery, such as blood thinners, you can resume them in consultation with the plastic surgeon.

Drains

If you go home with drains after the breast lift, they are usually removed the next day. You’ll receive a call from the assistant at MOOI Clinic. You can expect this call starting at noon. If you don’t receive a call, we may not be able to reach you, so please call the clinic. Until the drains are taken out, you should not shower! After the drains are removed, you may shower quickly starting three days after surgery.

Don’t: Alcohol and smoking

Definitely don’t! Smoking adversely affects blood flow to the tissues, which is precisely what is important for proper recovery. We therefore recommend that you stop smoking weeks before and after treatment. It’s also better not to smoke after treatment. This accelerates the aging process.

Do not use alcohol in the first week after treatment because of the risk of post-treatment bleeding.

DON’T: DRIVE YOURSELF HOME

One thing you should not do immediately after the breast lift is get behind the wheel yourself. So make sure there is someone with you who can drive you home safely. The recommendation is not to drive a car for 2 weeks.

DO: REST A LOT

For the first 10 to 14 days after your breast surgery, you should take it easy. This means you should rest a lot and avoid doing (heavy) household chores. Is there someone who can cook delicious meals for you, help you get dressed and undressed or occasionally get up for you? After surgery, you may have trouble getting up and so it’s helpful to have someone around to help you. Note! Resting too much and too long is not good for your body either. Stretch your legs occasionally during a short walk to reduce the risk of thrombosis or embolism. Further:

• Do not lift or stoop
• Reaching no higher than past the shoulder with your upper arms
• Not pushing yourself up with the arms
• Do not run, bike or engage in other sports activities
• Walking and gentle movements with the arms are allowed

DON’T DO IT RIGHT AWAY: SHOWERING AND BATHING

If you don’t have drains, you may shower again 24 hours after surgery if you feel the need. If you have drains, then you should wait to shower for at least three days. Of course, you can freshen up your body with some warm water and a washcloth. However, you should not bathe (or steam) for the first 6 weeks!

DON’T: SLEEP ON YOUR STOMACH OR SIDE

It probably won’t occur to you so soon after surgery, but if you’ve had your breasts lifted you absolutely must not sleep on your side or stomach for the first few weeks. It’s best to sleep completely flat for the first few weeks due to swelling. Put two pillows behind your back so you lie more upright. Do not sleep on your stomach or side for 6 weeks.

Two weeks after the breast lift

After two weeks, you’ll come for a check-up at MOOI Clinic.

SUTURES

After two weeks, the stitches will be removed and the assistant(s) will give you instructions on aftercare and/or massaging the scars.

Two weeks after the procedure, you’re allowed to do a little more again, but by no means everything!

YOU MAY DO THIS AGAIN:

• Driving
• Depending on your occupation, you may start working again
• Walking and gentle movements with your arms
• If your recovery goes well, you may fly again after 2 weeks

YOU MAY NOT DO THIS YET:

• Sports
• Taking off your sports bra (permanently) without consultation
• Heavy lifting
• Taking a bath
• Sauna, tanning or tanning bed

Six weeks after surgery

After 6 weeks, you’re usually well recovered from the surgery. The swelling has gone down considerably and the scars are healing nicely. Most people can fully resume their normal lives after 6 weeks. A scar takes 12 months to fully mature. The color and thickness by that point will likely remain. Protect the scar from the sun during this period.

DO: SPORTS

Exercise is good for your body and after all those weeks of not exercising, maybe it’s also time to get back in shape? Fortunately, after 6 weeks, you can return to sports. Fitness, swimming, cycling, running, if it feels good and you experience no pain then you can just start doing this.

Final check-up and result

After about 3 months, you’ll come for a final check-up at MOOI Clinic. The periods of recovery mentioned are averages and can vary greatly from person to person.

In general, you’ll experience the benefits of the breast lift fairly quickly, such as less neck, shoulder and back pain. And a nicer appearance and shape of the breasts!

As for scars, they may take longer to become less visible. Scars begin to turn from red to purple sometime between 6 and 12 months, eventually turning pale and then becoming almost invisible.

Do you have any doubts about your situation, as to whether or not you should be allowed to do something? Then contact us!