Breast Lift
Recovering from Breast Lift Surgery in New York
What happens after breast lift surgery?
For a few days after your surgery, you will probably experience some moderate degree of pain, which should be controlled with painkillers. After surgery it is important that you maintain good circulation in your legs and thus you will be advised to actively move the joints in your feet, knees and hips quite regularly.
If drains are used (only occasionally) these are removed the following day. Normally the are left on until your first postoperative visit. You will also be instructed to wear a sports bra.
Is breast lift surgery painful?
For a few days after your surgery, you will probably experience some moderate degree of pain which should be well controlled with pain killers. This usually improves after the first 4-5 days.
What kind of after effects should I expect?
Following surgery you will experience some swelling and bruising of the breasts. The bruising usually lasts about 2-3 weeks. While most of the swelling will have dissipated by this time, some subtle swelling may still be present for up to 3 months.
Whilst the techniques used by the Dr. Klapper ensures the best possible continuity between the breast and nipples, thus increasing the possibility of breast-feeding after breast lift surgery, this cannot however be guaranteed.
After surgery you may notice that the breasts feel quite firm and taut, particularly along the edges of the incision site. This will be as a result of the normal healing process laying down elements of scar tissue to facilitate healing. When this occurs, massage as instructed by your surgeon will speed up the recovery. It gradually resolves in time but may take a few months to complete. You may also notice in the first few weeks that your breasts appear unnaturally high and very propped up. Don't despair as gravity always loosens them up quickly and brings them back to a more natural, desirable level.
You should expect the sensation to the skin in the nipples and surrounding skin to be reduced after surgery. This is as a result of surgical trauma to the nerves in the region. Although this usually recovers in a few months, permanent numbness may conceivably ensue.
What are breast lift scars like?
Scars are not a complication but a normal event after any surgery. In a breast lift, the scars, depending on the degree of sagging and the technique used, can be quite lengthy and take many months or years to settle. However as they are around and below the nipples, scars shouldn't be noticeable even in low cut clothing or a bathing suit. You should always expect the scars to be red, raised, lumpy and even itchy to begin with but with time they should fade and flatten. This is the natural evolution of the healing process. However it is important to keep in mind that this may take up to two years to complete. Daily massage of the scars during this time period is advised to expedite and facilitate this process. You must understand however that no responsible surgeon will ever be in a position to predict any scars ultimate appearance. Although as mentioned, scars do fade and improve in time it is unlikely however that these could ever be characterized as being mainly only "hairline" in nature. As a result of the unpredictability of scars, in cases where breast droop is minimal, it may be advisable to opt against surgery rather than opting for a minor lift with major scars.
How long before I'm back to normal?
Patients should always remember that healing is a gradual process. Despite being up and about in a day or two after this type of surgery, you should always try to make provisions to rest in the first few days after surgery. Although many people go back to light work duties by 10-14 days others find it more appropriate to take a further 1-2 weeks to rest. Remember variations do occur in the time individuals take to heal and in fact it may be that you may need a few weeks to pass before you feel yourself again. Walking is helpful in the first 3-4 weeks as this improves the circulation and helps reduce the swelling, as well as the chance of blood clots developing. Heavy lifting or strenuous activity is prohibited in the first 6 weeks after surgery. Overall common sense rules in the recovery period. If what your doing is uncomfortable then don't do it!