Breast implants aftercare
A general guide to recovery after breast augmentation: what to expect week by week, and what to do. Your own instructions come with your discharge information and in the patient app.
Contents
Your recovery at a glance
- Off work
- 1 to 2 weeks for a desk job, 4 to 6 weeks for physical work
- Driving
- After the first week, once you are off strong painkillers and could do an emergency stop
- Showering
- From day 1; pat the dressings dry
- Exercise
- Walking from day 1, light exercise from about week 4, full exercise from about week 6
- Your bra
- Day and night for the first 3 months, then during the day to about 6 months
- First review
- Nurse appointment at days 7 to 10
- Final result
- 3 to 6 months, as the implants settle
This is a general guide for the average patient. Your own instructions come with your discharge information and in your recovery guide in the Waterfront patient app, and they come first.
Before you leave the hospital
Before you go home, the nurse looking after you will make sure you have everything you need:
- Your painkillers. Every medicine you go home with is labelled with its dose and how often to take it, and the nurse will go through them with you. Paracetamol and ibuprofen can safely be taken together.
- Your post-surgical bra. We provide a Macom bra and fit it before you leave; you do not need to bring one.
- Your follow-up card, with your first dressing-clinic appointment and the ward’s contact details.
- Getting home safely. Someone must take you home, and a responsible adult should stay with you for the first night.
Week by week
Days 1 to 3 Early recovery
What is normal
- Swelling and bruising, which can be marked
- Tightness and discomfort across the chest
- Tiredness, and a need to rest
- A little leakage from the wound sites
- Implants that sit high and feel firm
What to do
- Wear your support bra day and night
- Rest propped up on two or three pillows
- Cold packs wrapped in a towel, 20 minutes on and 20 off, to ease swelling
- Keep the dressings clean and dry
- Take your painkillers on schedule rather than waiting for pain
- Short walks indoors; sleep in whatever position is comfortable
Days 4 to 7 Improving daily
What is normal
- Swelling and bruising easing
- Discomfort lessening each day
- More energy and easier movement
- Occasional twinges or sharp zaps, which are normal
What to do
- Keep the bra on continuously
- Light activity around the house and short, gentle walks of 5 to 10 minutes
- Keep resting propped up
- Avoid lifting your arms above shoulder height
- Your first nurse appointment, usually at day 7
Weeks 2 to 3 Doing more
What is normal
- Swelling noticeably down and bruising fading to yellow and green
- Feeling much more yourself
- Implants starting to settle lower
- Some numbness or tingling, which can persist for a while
What to do
- Desk work if you feel up to it
- Gentle arm stretches below shoulder height; walks of 10 to 15 minutes
- Light household tasks, no heavy lifting
- Start scar massage if your team has shown you how, usually from week 2
- Little or no pain relief needed
Weeks 4 to 6 Back to normal
What is normal
- Most of the swelling gone
- Implants settling into their natural position
- A real sense of the result
What to do
- Most daily activities, and light exercise from about week 4
- A supportive sports bra from six weeks
- Full arm movement
- Start the micropore tape routine over the scars once the wounds are fully healed, changed weekly
- Keep the scars out of the sun
- A review around week 6 if your team has arranged one
Months 2 to 3 Settling
What is normal
- Implants settled and softer
- The final shape becoming clear
- Scars fading well
What to do
- Normal supportive bras, still without underwire
- Full exercise once your surgeon is happy
- Keep protecting the scars from the sun
Month 6 Final result
What is normal
- The final result visible, with implants that feel natural and soft
- Scars well healed and faded
- Every activity back to normal
What to do
- Any bra style, including underwire if comfortable
- Regular exercise, including the upper body
- Your surgeon’s final review
Wound care and scars
- You can shower from day 1 unless your surgeon says otherwise; it is fine if the outer dressings get damp. Pat them dry gently.
- Change dressings as your surgeon has instructed.
- After the first week, clean the incisions gently with mild soap and water.
- Avoid soaking in a bath, pool or hot tub until the wounds are fully healed, usually 2 to 4 weeks.
- From about 4 to 5 weeks, once the wounds are fully healed, start the micropore tape routine: tape worn over the scars and changed weekly. Taping supports the scar and takes tension off it, which is what drives thick, red scarring. It is one of the best-evidenced things you can do for your scars.
Comfort and pain relief
- Take your painkillers as directed on their labels. Paracetamol and ibuprofen can safely be taken together.
- Some discomfort, tightness and swelling is normal. Swelling usually peaks at 48 to 72 hours and then gradually settles.
- Cold packs wrapped in a towel, for the first 48 hours, help with swelling. Never put ice directly on the skin.
- A supportive bra makes you more comfortable.
- Most pain eases a great deal after the first week; from the second week most patients need little or no pain relief.
Your post-surgical bra
A well-fitting bra made of soft fabric gives support and comfort during the first few months. Before your wounds are closed, your surgeon makes sure the implants are a snug fit within the surgically created pockets, so in the early months the bra is mainly for support and comfort while everything settles.
We use nanotextured implants, which stay mobile in their pocket, especially when placed in front of the muscle. For that reason we advise a supportive bra whenever you are upright, even after your recovery. It is fine to go without for special occasions such as a holiday or a night out.
As a guide: wear your post-surgical bra day and night for the first 3 months, then during the day to about 6 months. Avoid underwired bras for about 3 months, or until your surgeon says otherwise. Your team will tailor the timings to you.
We provide a Macom post-surgical bra and fit it before you go home. If you would like extra bras of your own, soft non-wired bras from the high street are fine. Specialist options: Macom Signature Bra, Lipoelastic PI Ideal or Lipoelastic PI Relax; the code QUABA gives a discount.
Activity, driving and work
- Light activity and walking are encouraged from day 1.
- Use your arms normally for light tasks from the start; avoid forceful or repetitive overhead activity for the first 2 to 3 weeks if it pulls or hurts.
- Avoid heavy lifting, roughly anything you cannot lift easily with one hand, about 5kg, for the first few weeks, then build up gradually. No strenuous upper-body exercise for 6 weeks, or as advised.
- No driving for the first week, and only once you are off strong painkillers and could comfortably do an emergency stop. Check your insurance policy.
- Work: usually 1 to 2 weeks for a desk job and 4 to 6 weeks for physical work. Your surgeon will confirm.
- Gentle walking only for the first 2 weeks, light exercise from about week 4, and full exercise from about week 6, guided by your surgeon.
Follow-up appointments
- Days 7 to 10: a nurse appointment to check the wounds, remove dressings where needed, look at the implant position and go over your care instructions.
- Further nurse reviews, if needed: the nurses arrange these with you and discharge you from nurse-led care once your wounds have healed.
- Around 6 months: your surgeon sees you to assess the final result. Your surgeon is always available sooner if needed, and may wish to see you before then.
Your appointment card has your dates and times. Contact us if you need to reschedule.
Common questions
When can I see my final result?
The early swelling takes 6 to 8 weeks to settle. The final result shows at 3 to 6 months as the implants settle and the tissues relax.
Will I have visible scars?
The incisions sit in discreet places: under the breast crease, around the areola or in the armpit. Scars fade a great deal over 12 to 18 months with good care.
When can I wear normal bras?
As a guide, your post-surgical bra day and night for the first 3 months, then during the day to about 6 months, and no underwire for about 3 months. Because the implants stay mobile in their pocket, we advise a supportive bra whenever you are upright even after recovery; going without for a special occasion is fine.
Is it normal for the implants to feel hard?
Yes at first, because of swelling and muscle tightness. They soften over 3 to 6 months as the tissues relax.
When can I sleep on my front?
There is no strict rule. Front-sleeping tends to be uncomfortable at first, so most patients avoid it for a few weeks. Once it is comfortable, it will not harm the implants or the result.
Your guide in the patient app
Your recovery guide in the Waterfront patient app is the personal, dated version of this page, with your own instructions, your appointments and the hospital’s contact details.
Download the printed leaflet (PDF)
Your discharge information and your recovery guide in the Waterfront patient app tell you who to contact and when. If you have any concerns about your recovery, contact the hospital using the details you were given.