Dr Rohit Kumar reveals what to expect after your breast augmentation
surgery, plus one thing that could happen to anyone..and it’s pretty
scary!
CREDIT: Many thanks to Plastic Surgery Hub for providing this content, to listen to the podcast visit: https://www.plasticsurgeryhub.com.au/podcasts/ or listen on iTunes Podcast called “Plastic Surgery Hub Podcast” Transforming Bodies. The name of the episode is “Dr Rohit Kumar Explains What Happens After a Breast Augmentation”
So you’re set! You’ve booked in for your surgery, you’ve spoken to your doctor, prepared for your hospital stay, excitedly waiting for your transformation date! But what happens after your surgery? How quickly will you see the results? Will there be pain? What about going back to work?
Dr Rohit Kumar from The Sydney Cosmetic Sanctuary sits with Trish Hammond from Plastic Surgery Hub, and answers many questions raised concerning life after your breast augmentation.
A lot of enquiries come in after surgery, women concerned that their breasts don’t look how they expected them to, they’re not happy with them or they’re having a bit of anxiety. Dr Kumar gives his insight about what to do if you’re feeling concerned, and also discusses tips and tricks about the recovery period.
Which breast surgery takes the longest? You’ll never guess! Keep reading to find out the answer!
Compression garments! This question pops up in almost all the forums,
the answer always varies. According to Dr Kumar, generally speaking,
you will be fitted for a compression garments before your surgery, to
get the most accurate measurement. As soon as the procedure is over, you
will most probably wake up with the garments already placed on you.
Now, there are some surgeons who will advise a garments 1 or 2 weeks
after your surgery. Depending on what your surgeon suggests, always
follow their instruction, and if you have doubts or concern, always
refer to your medical practitioner.So your surgeon has fitted you with a garment. How does it feel? Dr Kumar would like the garment:
- To hold your breasts snugly and quite firmly (like a t-shirt that is 2-3 sizes too small)
- Nothing tighter than this, and definitely should not be uncomfortable
The compression garments could be worn 24/7, for 6 weeks.
(a little lit longer, a little bit shorter, depending on your surgeon’s personal preference)
You might like to have two so that you can wear the other while you take one off to wash.
Listen from 2:40 to get the full details!
https://www.plasticsurgeryhub.com.au/podcasts/ “Dr Rohit Kumar Explains What Happens After a Breast Augmentation”
WHY WEAR A COMPRESSION GARMENT?
- It holds everything in place where it should be
- While providing support, it helps remove edema and swelling, helping the healing process and reducing recovery
- Gives you piece of mind, making you feel comfortable!
What about the pain? Everyone will experience this aspect of post surgery recovery so differently, but there are some factors that can help determine what you could roughly expect, for example:
THE TYPE OF SURGERY: Implants placed up above the muscle may experience less pain, because implants going under the muscle require incisions to the muscle. BUT you can liken this pain to muscle pain 2 days after doing heavy exercise. You know that pain you get to your arms or legs after a hard workout? Yep, it is painful, but definitely manageable!
(Keep reading to find out which type of breast procedure takes the longest but also is surprisingly the least painful!)
Some patients may also experience some small niggles or quick sharp pains in the first 6-8 weeks. Some people may feel this once, others might experience this a few times throughout the recovery period. You can rest assured that this is common in post surgery recovery. This pain is associated with the muscle getting used to the pressure of the implant, the muscle is stretched and is coming to terms with its new position. After a time the muscle will stretch to accommodate, and things will get back to normal.
One thing that can make you feel really refreshed is having a shower. But how soon?
Depending on your surgeon, they might use waterproof dressings. Dr Kumar uses waterproof dressings, so he feels comfortable telling patients that they can shower the day of, or day after their surgery. He advises against going into a swimming pool and staying in there for a while so soon after the surgery, but is happy for patients to have a shower to keep clean right after surgery. If you have any doubts about what you should do, your doctor or medical practitioner will give you the best advice for your situation.
How long should you wait before...
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Going back to work?
If you’re in an office, on computers, you could be back within the week. If your work involves manual labour, you might need a week to ten days. If you’re lifting more than 5kgs, you should wait 6 weeks before attempting this kind of work.
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Driving?
This will depend on how well you’re healing. The vast majority would be able to drive within a week to 10 days, sometimes earlier. You need to take into account your pec muscles, they might still be painful so there could be less control on the wheel when turning, and you might need a small pillow between the seatbelt and your chest.
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Exercising?
In terms of gentle walking, this can happen the day after the surgery. Exercises involving the pec muscles like swimming, or grasping or pulling, e.g. like weights, should be done after the 6 week recovery period, and start slowly, then slowly build up, just like when an athlete tears a muscle, they would have to recover for 6 weeks.
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When should you expect to be home after the surgery?
This can be different in different cases, but generally most breast augmentation patients will be allowed to go home on the same day. This could be different for patients who may have also undergone a revision or a redo, if the procedure was a bit more technically difficult, if drains needed to be put in, or something out of the ordinary arises.
This is the same for breast lift patients, Dr Kumar’s breast lift patients should expect to go home on the same day as their procedure, same as his breast augmentation patients. The pain should also be similar for breast lift and augmentations, because the pectoral ‘pec’ muscle will have experienced a similar stretch for both procedures.
Now, there is a difference when it comes to breast reduction. Surprisingly, most breast reduction patients tend to stay overnight in the hospital after their procedure. These patients will still end up in a compression garment, but there are more wounds involved in a breast reduction, so the patient will have to manage their wounds and dressings throughout the 6 weeks recovery period.
Another reason why a breast reduction patient will generally stay overnight is because a drain will be fitted on either side of their breast, and it will be removed generally within 24 hours after the surgery. Dr Kumar finds that interestingly, most breast reduction patients will experience minimal and less pain in spite of the nature of the procedure, but Trish shares her experience with a breast reduction, and it’s not what you expect!
Listen in at 12:50 to hear what happens!
https://www.plasticsurgeryhub.com.au/podcasts/
“Dr Rohit Kumar Explains What Happens After a Breast Augmentation”
Dr Kumar explains why: it’s that fat and skin that is being operated on in a breast reduction, and should not generally involve going deeper than the muscle and other areas. This is why most breast reduction patients tend not to feel the same pain as the breast augmentation and lift patients, whose muscles would have been involved in their procedure.
THE FOLLOW UP
It will always depend on your surgeon, but in most situations, after surgery, you will be seen about one to two weeks after your surgery. Then another appointment would be made 6 weeks after, then usually 3 months then 6 months after, for the vast majority of follow ups.
Of course, if there have been complications, for example infection happens, or the wound is not healing as it should, or you would like a sooner follow up, you would discuss these options with your surgeon or medical practitioner.
THE DREADED DOUBLE BUBBLE
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One term nobody wants to hear associated with their surgery is ‘double bubble’! While is is not common, unfortunately there are many reasons why this could occur. The reason will be different in different cases, but here are some things that have been noted in the past:
- The implant could be too big of the pocket created
- The pocket could be too big for the implant
- The positioning above or below the muscle was not appropriate for the size of the implant
- What might have happened to the breast crease
- Muscle overuse, for example if you’re a bodybuilder, and you’ve been using your pecs more than you usually would
- Plus many more factors in the development of a double bubble.
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Ultimately, who’s fault is it when a double bubble occurs? This is very hard to say, according to Dr Kumar. It’s often related to the type of implant, or type of surgery. Dr Kumar has seen many patients with double bubbles who have had their surgery overseas. This indicated that this could be not only a surgical misadventure, but that you might not have been guided appropriately to choose the implant that best suited you, and you’ve gone for an implant that is way too big for what would have suited your frame.
Listen from 19:20 to hear Dr Kumar explain further the reasons when a double bubble could likely form
https://www.plasticsurgeryhub.com.au/podcasts/ “Dr Rohit Kumar Explains What Happens After a Breast Augmentation”
DROPPING AND IRREGULAR SIZED BREASTS?
There’s a reasonable explanation!
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A common issue spoken amongst surgery forums is breasts that look
different sizes, or feel like they’ve dropped since the surgery.
The
reality is that generally speaking, when surgeons actually do the
implant right at the very beginning, they set the implants high because
they know that they are going to fall with gravity. If the surgeon put
the implants where you expect them to be, they will settle down lower
than what you expect.
If you compare the breast before, during,
immediately after and then weeks and months after the surgery, you will
notice distinct changes. Initially after surgery everything is
stretched, they almost have a bit of a sheen to them, they’re sitting a
little bit higher. As everything starts to accommodate the new implant,
everything will gradually settle in.
Your breast won’t actually achieve their true shape and form until about 6 months after your surgery!
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Still panicking? First port of call, talk to your surgeon, see what they say. Give your breasts time to recover, let your breasts settle in. If you’re still not happy, you’re not happy with the answers, you’re not happy at 6 months, then by all means, get a second opinion. Keep in mind that most surgeons will not operate on a breast that is still in the healing phase (the first 6 months), unless there was something dramatically wrong.
SCAR MANAGEMENT...it’s not what you think!
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There is no hard and fast rule. The many options already out there, Dr
Kumar believes they all work about the same. He suggests to use
something you are already familiar with, preferably something with
Vitamin E.
Surprisingly, the thing that will help the most is
massaging! 6 weeks onwards, when you are applying your preferred scar
management product, Dr Kumar suggests you firmly massage (not too hard
though!) to break down the scar that is forming.
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AND FINALLY, WHERE TO GET THE BEST ADVICE?
We hope you feel a little more prepared now! Knowing what to expect can put one’s mind at ease, and mentally prepare for the big day, and the recovery period after. Why not share this with friends and family? They will want to support you in every way, and the more they understand, the more they will be able to help.
In the end, if you still have concerns or questions, your best resource is the direct resource: your doctor, surgeon or preferred medical practitioner. They will know your medical history, and will be able to offer the best advice for your case. Everyone will have a different journey, the best we can do is share what others have gone through, to best prepare for your own experience!
Remember:
- Go back to your surgeon or doctor for any piece of advice
- Wait 6 months to let breasts recover and adjust
- You are free to ask for a second opinion - but most surgeons will say to wait 6 months
Many thanks to Dr. Rohit Kumar from Sydney Cosmetic Sanctuary, for his time in giving us a wealth of his knowledge about what to expect after a breast surgery!
CREDIT: Many thanks to Plastic Surgery Hub for providing this content, to listen to the podcast visit:
https://www.plasticsurgeryhub.com.au/podcasts/ or listen on iTunes Podcast called “Plastic Surgery Hub Podcast” Transforming Bodies. The name of the episode is “Dr Rohit Kumar Explains What Happens After a Breast Augmentation”
The material provided in this podcast is general information and does not constitute medical advice nor is it a substitute for consultation and advice from your own practitioner. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical illness. Any medical or surgical decision should be made in consultation with your own doctor or practitioner and not based on the materials provided in this podcast.
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