Breast Lift Recovery – Chicago
Your breast lift surgery is only the first component of the plastic surgery process, and recovery is equally important to helping you get the results you desire. Understanding the process of recovery beforehand can help you know what to expect and have a better recovery experience.
We provide this page as a general reference for people considering a breast lift or other breast surgery procedures. During your consultation with Dr. John Kotis, he will describe the recovery process in detail and answer all your questions. As part of the surgery process, you will receive detailed postsurgical instructions, and if you are a current patient, we encourage you to refer to those instructions or call our office at 847-595-0164.
Immediately after Your Surgery
Immediately after your breast lift surgery, we will take you to our recovery room. There we will monitor your condition to ensure you are recovering properly from the anesthesia. You should have a responsible driver to take you home from our office and stay with you for the rest of the day. Once we’re sure you’re ready to go home, we’ll review the postsurgical instructions with you and your driver orally and give them to you in writing.
After surgery you will be wearing a surgical bra to gently support your breasts. This also helps them to heal into the desired shape. After surgery, you should go home and rest. Sleep on your back with your head and torso propped up. You can eat and we encourage you to drink to ensure you remain hydrated.
Recovery to Your First Follow-Up
During the initial recovery period, you should focus entirely on your recovery. Take time off work and get people to help you care for pets, children, the house, and you. The more time you can devote to recovery the better. Light exercise should begin as soon as you feel up to it, but don’t push yourself too hard. Short walks are ideal and light stretches are good. Avoid strenuous activity or reaching over your head.
Keep your incisions dry, and definitely do not immerse them in water (especially in a hot tub) until cleared to do so. After two days you can resume showering. Make sure you monitor your temperature and call us immediately if you notice a fever. Take all prescribed medications, and nothing else. Herbal supplements and over the counter medications can interfere with your healing process.
At your first follow-up, Dr. Kotis will check your incisions, remove stitches, and assess your recovery. He will likely clear you to return to light work.
Full Recovery and Final Results
Most women report feeling back to normal within a month of surgery, but healing continues for a long time afterwards, generally up to 12 weeks. Dr. Kotis will have other follow-up appointments with you and will clear you for full exercise, bathing, and taking over-the-counter medications and vitamins.
At first your breasts will be bruised, swollen and tender. You may have numbness in your nipples. These should resolve gradually over the recovery period and in most cases are completely gone by week 12, though your incisions may still be pink. The incisions will continue to improve for up to a year after surgery.
To learn more about recovery from breast lift surgery, and whether it is the right procedure for you, please call us at 1-847-595-0164 today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Kotis. The Center for Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery serves patients throughout the Chicago, Illinois area.
