When you have existing breast implants removed, your body needs time to recover. The average recovery period is 6 weeks, but the final result often takes a little longer. We often get questions about what you can and cannot do after this surgery and how to promote recovery. Here’s what you need to know to promote a successful recovery. Only after about 6 to 12 months will you see the final result.

Recovering from an implant replacement? Then check out the recovery after normal breast augmentation.

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.

In consultation with the plastic surgeon, resume any blood thinners.

Drains

If you go home with drains, they are usually removed the next day. You’ll receive a call from the assistant at MOOI Clinic which you can expect starting at noon. If you do not 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 briefly starting three days after surgery.

Alcohol and smoking

Definitely don’t! Smoking adversely affects blood flow to the tissues, which is precisely what’s 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.

The first days after surgery

After surgery, you can usually go home the same day. We check that everything is fine with you and after our plastic surgeon’s approval, you may go home. The dressing after surgery consists of a well-fitting bra that you put on immediately after surgery. The breasts may feel painful and they will become swollen making them feel tense. But, that feeling lessens within a few days. Scars may be temporarily red and swollen after the surgery. In order to obtain the most MOOI result and speed up your recovery, we recommend the following: (Unless expressly stated otherwise by the plastic surgeon).

DON’T: DRIVE YOURSELF HOME

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

DO: REST A LOT

Recovery depends very much on the procedure or combination of procedures. When a lot of capsule must be removed, or when removal is combined with a breast lift, recovery may take longer than if some of the capsule can remain in place. For the first two weeks after surgery, you should take it easy and follow the following instructions:

• do not lift or stoop
• reaching with your upper arms no higher than the shoulder
• don’t push yourself up with the arms
• sleep on your back with two pillows supporting you if you can, take advantage of the bed’s tilt function
• don’t sleep on your side or stomach
• don’t run, bike or engage in other sports activities
• walking and gentle movements with the arms are allowed
• wear a supportive bra, such as a sports bra, day and night
• don’t drive

DON’T DO IT RIGHT AWAY: SHOWERING AND BATHING

If you do not have drains, you may shower again 24 hours after surgery if you feel the need. If you do have drains, then you should wait to shower for a while anyway. It’s best to wait three days before showering again. Of course, you can freshen up your body with some warm water and a washcloth. However, you should not bathe 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 for the first few weeks after your breast surgery, you absolutely must not sleep on your stomach. Belly sleepers need to take a break. It’s best to sleep on your back with an extra pillow supporting your back so you lie a little more upright.

Two weeks after surgery

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 will give you instructions on aftercare and/or massaging the scars.

Two weeks after the procedure, you are 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
• Sauna, bathing, steaming
• Heavy lifting
• Tanning or sunbed

Six weeks after surgery

After six 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.

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 will come for a final check-up at MOOI Clinic. The periods of recovery mentioned are averages and can vary greatly from person to person. The final result depends on your breast tissue, skin and how the surgery went. You can only judge the final result after 6 to 12 months. How your breasts look after the removal of implants is difficult to predict and varies from person to person. This has to do with the volume of the implants being removed, your own breast tissue, the elasticity of your skin and, of course, the specific surgery.

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.

BREAST EXAMINATION

Screening for breast cancer can be performed normally after breast surgery. Performing a mammogram may also be done 6 weeks after your surgery. If necessary, an additional examination will be done.

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