After the surgery, the patient is given a strict recovery protocol by the surgeon. It is important that the patient fully understands all the protocol rules and follows them in order to speed up the healing process.
Before the patient can leave the hospital she needs to arrange a post-surgery appointment with the surgeon. The surgeon will assess if the breasts are healing properly and treat any complications if necessary.
Every patient is different and requires a different healing timeframe. The surgeon’s recommendations include:
Taking time off work
This depends on the type of work that the patient does. If it is a physically demanding job, the patients may need to take two weeks off work. On the whole, when returning to work, the patient should start off slowly and avoid hard work for 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.
Sports and exercise
The patient needs to rest after the surgery. However, a light exercise like walking is advisable to lower the risk of developing blood clots. The amount of exercise is advised by the surgeon.
During the first and second weeks, the patient can’t do any sports at all. After the second week, the patient can start with cycling for example but without vigorous movement. After 6 weeks, the patient may continue with sports and exercises as before.
Wearing compression garment
After the surgery, the patient may need to wear a compression garment for 4 to 6 weeks. It helps to reduce swelling and helps to get the best results. The surgeon will advise the patient what kind of garment to wear and how frequently.
Taking care of the scars
There are different ways how the patient can treat scars and speed up their healing. The patient can massage the scar twice a day after the incisions have completely healed. Also, the patient should avoid exposing to the sun or going to sunbeds.
Other recommendations include sleeping on the back to avoid swelling and keeping a healthy and balanced diet. The patient should avoid food with too much salt or sugar and drinks with caffeine. Instead, drinking plenty of water is beneficial for healing.