A breast lift is a plastic surgery procedure that enhances the appearance of the breasts by repositioning them higher on the chest wall, creating firmer, more youthful-looking breasts.
There are a few things you should do to ensure you get the best results from your breast lift:
- Select a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform the procedure
- Get prepared beforehand and follow recovery best practices
- Continue your healthy lifestyle, including exercise and a balanced diet
Here are some other best practices to help you optimize your best breast lift results.
Breast Lift Recovery Tips
Following your breast lift, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure your safe and healthy recovery. Here are a few tips to get started.
Prepare Your Home and Schedule
One important step in preparing for your breast lift is ensuring that your home and work life are both in order so you can limit stress after your procedure so that you can start resting and recovering.
Ensure you have plenty of time off work, your prescriptions are filled, you have some meals prepared, your childcare is covered, and you have a comfy place to relax with sufficient entertainment.
Rest and Relaxation
Rest and relaxation are crucial to a successful breast lift recovery, and after your surgery, you may need more than you think.
Take at least a week off work and at least four to six weeks off from strenuous activities. Resuming your normal physical activities too early can affect the incisions and breast tissue position. Typically, it takes four to six weeks for incisions to heal and for tissues to settle.
Sleeping Positions
Following your breast lift, it’s important to avoid sleeping on your stomach or sides. These sleeping positions place too much pressure on your chest and incisions. Instead, it’s recommended to sleep on your back, propped up by pillows for at least two to four weeks.
Wear Your Compression Garments
After your breast lift, compression garments and bras help support the breasts and minimize swelling during recovery. Most surgeons recommend wearing support garments full time for at least four to six weeks.
Proper Follow Up
Complications following a breast lift are rare, but the earlier they’re identified, the easier they can be addressed. Continue regular communications and follow-up appointments with your surgeon to ensure your recovery is on track. Keep track of how you feel and contact your surgeon immediately if you feel anything out of the ordinary following your breast lift.
Eat a Healthy Diet and Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated and eating a nutritious diet are important to help your body heal. Following your breast lift, be sure to drink plenty of water and include a variety of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy fats in your diet to provide optimum nutrition for your body. Avoid skipping meals, as your body needs nutrients to maintain the healing process.
Avoid Drinking and Smoking
Drinking alcohol and smoking can impede the body’s natural healing abilities. Alcohol presents another concern—it thins the blood and reduces its ability to clot, leading to a greater chance of bleeding complications. Also, alcohol doesn’t mix well with pain medications.
Take a Walk
Following your breast lift, you’ll need to avoid strenuous exercises that raise your heart rate, use your chest muscles, or create potential complications. However, slow, brief walks are a great way to ensure your blood is pumping once your surgeon clears you for activities.
Incision Care
It’s important to keep your incisions clean, dry, and protected during your recovery. You’ll need to avoid showering for at least 48 hours after your breast lift and be careful when cleansing the skin around the incision, tapes, or steri-strips.
Scar Care
While Dr. Hamwi uses the latest techniques to limit scarring from your breast lift surgery, caring for your scars can help reduce their appearance. Vitamin E topical creams and other cosmetic treatments can help minimize, and sometimes eliminate, breast lift scarring.
Your Florida Breast Lift Expert—Dr. Kristopher Hamwi
As one of the top-rated plastic surgeons, double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kristopher Hamwi uses his vast training and experience to help you navigate your breast lift in Sarasota to achieve amazing results. Contact us today or call (941) 263-2618 to learn more!
