A few more of the most commonly asked questions we get here at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery regarding breast augmentation.
When can I jog? When can I do weight training?
Although breast augmentation surgery is a cosmetic surgical procedure, it is still surgery and the body needs time to heal and recover before resuming normal activities. For most patients, they can begin brisk walking within 2 to 5 days after their breast enhancement. Progressing to jogging though takes a bit more time with most patients being able to begin jogging at around 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. Patients need to start slowly and work their way back up in their jogging time and distance. A very well fitted running bra is a must to minimize the bouncing and pressure on the breasts that occurs with running. The best places to find and get properly fitted with a running bra is at a running store. These stores usually have female staff who have been trained in finding the right size and style running bra for their women customers and take the time to ensure an accurate fit and match. These running bras may cost a little more than a regular sports bra, but the benefits and protection they provide are worth it.
Resumption of weight training not only depends on the time after surgery but also on the type of breast augmentation preformed. Patients with breast implants placed above the muscle will be able to resume weight training earlier than those with implants placed below the muscle. Usually most above the muscle patients can return to weight training around 4 weeks after their surgery but need to start slowly and advance their levels gradually. Patients with breast implants placed under the muscle may need a bit longer before resuming weight training and will be encouraged to limit the type of weight training to toning programs and not muscle building programs to avoid possibly displacing the breast implants out of the pockets. Of course, before resuming any exercise program after breast augmentation, it is best to discuss your exercise plans with your plastic surgeon.
I have implants and I just found out I’m pregnant, can I breastfeed?
One of the most commonly asked questions after breast augmentation is the ability to breastfeed. Since the breast implants are under the breast or under the muscle beneath the breast, most women can breastfeed their babies. For some women who had their implants placed through the around the nipple incision, their ability to nurse may be impacted though most women with this incision can still do so. If breastfeeding your child is an important part of your childbearing experience, some plastic surgeons will encourage their patients to consider another incision choice other than the Periareolar incision to maximize the ability to nurse post-operatively.
I think I went too big. How long should I wait before the swelling goes down and I can see my real size?
It usually takes a few weeks for the majority of the swelling to resolve after breast augmentation. The final shape and size of the breasts however will take months to occur, which is why plastic surgeons will ask their patients to wait a minimum of three months to up to a year before deciding on making a size change after breast augmentation. Often the breasts will look too full and too high after breast augmentation and can give the appearance of being too large. As the breast tissues relax and the swelling resolves, the breasts will settle and the more natural size and shape of the breasts will return. Patients should discuss their size concerns with their plastic surgeon who can monitor their recovery and help determine if a size change is recommended.
My dentist said I need to take antibiotics before a cleaning now that I have implants. Why?
Because all dental procedures are considered “dirty” procedures, for years many dentists would place all of their patients who had implants on antibiotics prior to starting the dental procedure to decrease the risk of late infections. This applied not to just breast implants but to almost all types of implants such as knee or hip replacement implants. Recent studies have shown that the rates of implant infections after dental procedures for patients with breast implants was the same in patients who took antibiotics before the dental treatment versus those that did not. Therefore, many dentists now no longer pre-treat patients with implants with antibiotics. Every dentist has their protocol for patients with implants and patients should discuss this with their dentist prior to any dental treatment.
As always, if you feel like you have additional questions, you can always call our office at 636-530-6161, or email our Marketing Director, Rhonda Shrum, at [email protected].
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