Contents
Your recovery at a glance
- Off work
- Light physical work: Weeks 2–3
- Showering
- Shower carefully (it’s OK if outer dressings get wet)
- Exercise
- Gentle exercise: Week 4 (wear support bra)
- Your garment
- Gentle exercise: Week 4 (wear support bra)
- First review
- Week 1 Nurse Appointment
- Full recovery
- 6 months for final results
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
- Painkillers: Make sure you have your painkillers before you leave, the nurse looking after you will go through them with you.
- Support Bra: At Waterfront we provide you with a Macom post-surgical bra, and our nursing team will fit it before you go home. Any additional bras you buy should be soft, seamless, with no underwire and adjustable straps.
- Follow-up appointment: You will be given a card with details of your first nurse appointment (end of week 1) and contact details for the ward if you have any concerns once you get home.
- Getting home safely: You must have someone to take you home and a responsible adult with you for the first night.
Week by week
Days 1–3 Early recovery
What is normal
- Pain and discomfort (often less than expected)
- Swelling and tightness
- Bruising
- Some blood spotting on dressings
- Numbness around nipples
- Mood changes
What to do
- Take painkillers as directed
- Wear your support bra day and night
- Sleep in any comfortable position
- Walk around your home regularly
- Shower carefully (it’s OK if outer dressings get wet)
Days 4–7 Improving daily
What is normal
- Pain decreasing
- More energy
- Swelling starting to reduce
- Feeling more mobile
What to do
- Continue support bra 24/7
- Increase walking
- Light household activities OK
- Attend Week 1 nurse appointment
Week 1 Nurse Appointment Professional check-in
What is normal
- Outer dressings removed
- Wounds checked for healing progress
- Paper tape (steri-strips) usually left on
What to do
- Attend nurse appointment at end of week 1
- Wounds will be professionally assessed
- Ask any questions about care
- Continue regular activity routine
Week 2 Getting back to normal
What is normal
- Most patients stop painkillers
- Bruising fading
- Feeling much more like yourself
- Paper tape can be removed by end of week 2
What to do
- Continue support bra
- Remove paper tape by end of week 2 (if stuck, apply Vaseline, wait 30 minutes, then remove)
- Return to work if office-based
- Daily activities feel normal
- Light activities around the house
Weeks 3–4 Progressive healing
What is normal
- Shooting pains (nerves healing – normal)
- 80-90% of swelling gone
- Delayed healing at T-junctions (common)
- Significant improvement in appearance
What to do
- Transition to supportive sports bras (after 6 weeks)
- Can moisturise scars if wounds dry (plain moisturiser like E45, Aveeno)
- Light exercise may be permitted (with approval)
- Can raise arms fully
- Protect from sun exposure
- Contact nurse if delayed healing at T-junctions
Months 2–3 Final settling
What is normal
- Scars significantly faded
- Feeling completely normal
- Full range of motion
- Breasts dropping and softening gradually
What to do
- Can wear normal supportive bras (avoid underwire for now)
- Full exercise with surgeon approval
- Continue scar care with micropore tape and moisturiser
- Continue sun protection on scars
- Follow-up appointment around month 3
- Wear support bra during day (3–6 months total)
Month 6 Final result
What is normal
- Final results visible
- Scars well-healed and faded
- Complete return to all activities
- Confident with appearance
- Breasts in final position
What to do
- Can wear any bra style including underwired bras
- All activities permitted
- Regular exercise including upper body
- Continue long-term scar care as advised
- Wear support bra as comfortable after 6 months
Wound care and scars
- Shower carefully (it’s OK if outer dressings get wet)
- Outer dressings removed at Week 1 nurse appointment
- Paper tape (steri-strips) usually left on
- Remove paper tape by end of week 2 (if stuck, apply Vaseline, wait 30 minutes, then remove)
- Can moisturise scars if wounds dry (Week 5+) with plain moisturiser
- Watch for signs of infection
- Do not soak in bath for 2 weeks
Comfort and pain relief
- Take your painkillers as directed on their labels, every medicine you go home with is labelled with its dose and frequency, and your nurse will go through them with you before you leave. Paracetamol and ibuprofen can safely be taken together
- Take painkillers regularly as prescribed – don’t wait until pain is severe
- Avoid alcohol with painkillers
- One side may hurt more than the other – this is normal
- Swelling typically peaks at 48–72 hours then gradually improves
- Supportive bra helps reduce discomfort
Support bra information
A well-fitting support bra is essential for comfort during recovery, especially in the first 3 months.
Must have:
- No underwire
- Front opening (not over-head style)
- Adjustable straps
- Soft, seamless fabric
- Additional bras of your choice:
- High Street: M&S, Tesco, Asda
- Specialist Online: Macom Signature Bra, Lipoelastic PI Ideal, Lipoelastic PI Relax (use code QUABA for discount)
Scar care guide
When to Start: Week 5 (after 1 month) – Only if wounds are completely healed
Your Scar Care Routine
Step 1: Apply Micropore Tape, Use 3M micropore tape from pharmacy
Step 2: Remove and Moisturise, Use plain moisturiser like E45 or Aveeno
Step 3: Repeat, Continue cycle for 4+ months
- Step 1: Leave on for 3–5 days
- Step 1: Can shower with it on
- Step 2: Leave scars exposed 1–2 days
- Scar Timeline, 3 months: Scars still pink/red
- Scar Timeline, 6 months: Significant fading
- Scar Timeline, 12 months: Final appearance
Activity, driving and work
- No heavy lifting for 4 weeks
- Walk regularly from day 1
- Light household activities OK after day 1
- Light physical work: Weeks 2–3
- Gentle exercise: Week 4 (wear support bra)
- Full exercise: Week 6 (build up slowly)
- Swimming: Weeks 4–6 (when wounds fully healed)
- Smoking: Avoid for at least 2 weeks
- Alcohol: Avoid for 3 weeks
- No strenuous exercise for 6 weeks
Follow-up appointments
- Week 1 Nurse Appointment: Assessment of healing, outer dressings removed, and answers to questions. Outer dressings removed; Wounds checked; Questions answered; Paper tape (steri-strips) usually left on
- Further nurse reviews, as needed: You are likely to have further nurse reviews, wound healing after this procedure often benefits from more than one visit. The nurses will arrange these with you and will discharge you from nurse-led care once they are happy your wounds have healed.
- Around 6 months: surgeon review (final follow-up): Your surgeon will usually see you at around 6 months to assess your final result. Your surgeon is always available to review you sooner if required, and in some circumstances may wish to see you before your final follow-up.
Common questions
Is it normal for one breast to hurt more?
Yes, this is very common. Each side heals at its own pace and pain levels can vary between the two sides.
When will my breasts look normal?
Most swelling goes by 4 weeks. Final shape takes 6 months. They will drop and soften gradually. Most swelling is gone within the first 3–4 weeks.
Can I sleep on my side?
Yes, sleep however is comfortable from day one. There are no restrictions on sleeping position.
What are shooting pains?
These are nerves reconnecting – completely normal and a good sign of healing. They typically occur around weeks 3–4 and are a positive indicator of recovery.
When can I go braless?
Short periods after 3 months. As a guide: day and night for the first 3 months, then during the day up to about 6 months. These are typical timings rather than strict rules, your team will tailor them to you.
Is delayed healing serious?
Usually not. It’s common at T-junctions (where incisions meet). Contact your nurse for different dressings if needed. Most delayed areas catch up with time.
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.