We all appreciate a little suspense in life, like when we know we’ll be getting a birthday surprise or promotion at work. In scenarios like these, a little nail-biting is no big deal. When preparing for surgery like a breast lift, not so much. In the case of plastic surgery, expectations are everything. We say this all the time because it is essential that patients and their doctors manage expectations from the beginning of treatment onward, including during recovery. Here, we discuss some of the aspects of breast lift recovery.
Pain Management
Most people who seek plastic surgery realize that they will encounter some pain after their procedure. Surgery is surgery, even when internal organs are not affected. After a breast lift, patients may feel tenderness at their incision sites. Any amount of pressure on the breasts may feel alarming even though bandages and compression are in place. Patients may also experience itching, numbness, and nipple sensitivity as they continue to heal from surgery. These side effects can come and go for months.
Pain lives on a spectrum. This makes it difficult to express to every patient what they may expect. For the most part, pain ranges from mild to moderate. It should be manageable with over-the-counter or prescription medication. If pain or other sensations feel out of the ordinary, pick up the phone. We’d rather hear from you and address your concerns than hear that you have suffered needless stress!
Understanding the Meaning of Downtime
After plastic surgery, patients usually have a few weeks off. However, to say “take two weeks off work” is not enough. Patients need to know what downtime really means and how it might feel. While patients are encouraged to start walking as soon as possible after surgery to avoid blood clots, this may not feel as good as expected. At first, due to the effects of anesthesia and pain medication, even a walk around the house may require effort. Without two to five days, this should get easier. Still, a limited range of motion may have you feeling like the T-Rex in Jurassic Park. Keeping necessities within arm’s reach is a good idea. This keeps you from reaching, straining, and bending unnecessarily. If you haven’t realized it yet, we’re saying that you may need to take your recovery slow. No trips to the gym or lingerie store just yet. Even sexual activity may need to wait until you’ve had your first post-op visit. In short, be gentle for at least two to four weeks after your breast lift.
Give yourself the liftoff you deserve to start this new year. Contact the Chicago Breast Center at (312) 266-6240 to schedule your breast lift consultation.