The best way to ensure a successful and stress free recovery following breast augmentation surgery is to be prepared, and the skillful team at Cosmetic Surgery Associates, led by Dr. Franklin Richards, M.D., and Dr. Dean Jabs, M.D., will ensure that you have all of the information you need in order to have a worry-free recovery. The details of the recovery process after breast augmentation surgery depend on a number of factors, including the tightness of the breast tissue, the size of the implants, and whether the implant has been placed under the muscle or on top of the muscle.
Timeline For Recovery
The first four days after breast augmentation surgery, patients may experience swelling, fluid retention, and mild to moderate pain and tenderness. You may need assistance lifting your children, doing housework, and performing any type of physical work at your job. Bruising may become visible at this time, and medication can be used to minimize discomfort (patients should not drive while taking prescription pain medication). Patients whose implants were placed under the chest muscle (submuscular placement) may experience discomfort for a longer period of time (generally 10-12 days) than patients whose implants were placed between the chest muscle and breast tissue (typically 4 days).
After your breast augmentation surgery, you will be released to a friend or family member, and it is generally a good idea to have someone assist you for the first few days after your surgery.
There are no sutures that need removal, and your follow-up appointments will be scheduled during two-week, six-week, and three-month intervals. During the initial 1-2 weeks after breast augmentation surgery, discomfort will lessen during the day; however, patients may still experience pain at night (this pain is often more pronounced with submuscular implant placement). Bruising stabilizes during this time period, and patients are generally able to resume normal daily activities, although vigorous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for an additional 3-4 weeks. Most of the swelling subsides by the end of the third week after surgery, and you may experience “pins and needles” sensations in the nipple area as your nerves begin to adjust to the breast implants.
Results Of Surgery
The visible results of your breast augmentation surgery will be immediately noticeable after surgery, and over the course of the next nine months, as the scar tissue relaxes and softens, the initially firm results of the surgery soften as well, giving the breasts a softer, more natural feel. Although the changes brought about by your breast augmentation surgery stabilize by the end of the first year, it is important to remember that your breasts will continue to change shape under the influence of outside factors, such as pregnancy, weight gain, and menopause.
Keshav Magge, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Honored as a Top Doctor by Bethesda Magazine and Washingtonian in both 2024 and 2025, Dr. Magge is recognized for his exceptional surgical skill, artistic precision, and patient-centered approach. A leading plastic surgeon in Bethesda, Maryland, he completed a fellowship in Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he gained advanced expertise in facial rejuvenation and aesthetic surgery innovations.
Meet Dr. Magge
A. Dean Jabs, MD, PhD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Jabs is an award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeon recognized nationally for his expertise in creating natural-looking results and his warm, compassionate approach to patient care. Trained in NY at Columbia University, he served in the US Army and has special expertise in facial rejuvenation. He has over 35 years of experience and has consistently been voted a top plastic surgeon by Washingtonian and Bethesda magazine.
Meet Dr. Jabs
Franklin D. Richards, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Richards has been recognized as a Top Doctor by several prestigious organizations, including Castle Connolly, Consumers’ Research Council of America, and Washingtonian magazine. A leading plastic surgeon in Bethesda, Maryland, Dr. Richards is the past Chief of Plastic Surgery at Johns Hopkins Suburban Hospital. His expertise is in achieving natural results in facelift and eyelid surgery, with additional interests in cosmetic surgery of the breast and abdomen.
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