What should I expect when recovering from breast augmentation surgery?

Most patients of a breast augmentation surgery can return to normal activates in a couple of weeks. Learn more from Michael Howard, MD, about the recovery process of a breast augmentation surgery.

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I do caution patients to avoid heavy, strenuous activity, heavy lifting, or exercise for a period of about one

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to two weeks. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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Breast augmentation surgery is generally performed as an outpatient procedure in a surgery center or a hospital setting under anesthesia.

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The procedure takes approximately one to two hours. And the patients, in general, go home the same day, same afternoon as the procedure.

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Generally getting back to normal activities and routine activities is over the course of about one to two weeks.

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I encourage my patients to be up and walking the afternoon after surgery, gently moving their arms about,

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and really not limiting their activities of daily living whatsoever. I'll encourage patients to even be out to dinner

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the next night. However, I do caution patients to avoid heavy, strenuous activity, heavy lifting, or exercise

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for a period of about one to two weeks. Usually at my two to three week follow-up visit with the patient, most patients are released to full activity

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without limitations whatsoever. Again, these will also vary from surgeon to surgeon. And the main key is just to understand why the limitations,

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if limitations are being placed, why they are important for the patient to assist in their healing.