If you are considering cosmetic surgery as someone who follows a regular fitness routine, it is important you know what to expect after surgery, and how much rest and repair you need.
Following a cosmetic breast augmentation procedure, many of our ladies are keen to get back to their pre-surgery fitness regime or return to the gym fairly quickly, which is normal. We know, however, that going back to your normal exercise routines and workouts too soon after surgery can cause complications and hinder your recovery. It is important that you give your body time to recover carefully and slowly and that you follow the aftercare advice and support we will give to you during your consultations.
Rest and Recover
We advise our ladies to closely follow the advice provided by their breast surgeon and aftercare team regarding all post-operative exercise. Your consultant is best placed to advise you, given they have a full understanding of your pre-health, your surgery and your specific requirements post-surgery. By working closely with your aftercare team, you will ensure a smooth, trouble-free recovery that over time, can gently incorporate a return to your exercise and fitness regime, keeping you body confident and proud.
Feeling energised and alive from a good workout is great for body and mind, but however tempting it is to get back into the gym or run a few miles to burn calories and get the endorphins running, doing too much too soon can cause unwelcome complications. Strenuous movements, or the repetitive up and down motion may cause your implants to move, altering their shape and symmetry. After surgery the tissue around the breast area will need to heal thoroughly over time. It is a possibility that if your breast tissue doesn’t heal properly the implant can move from its intended position and alter the appearance and shape of your new breast shape. Rigorous exercise can also cause bruising, soreness and swelling, setting your recovery on a backward step and causing you discomfort.
Taking the time to fully recover and heal is a vital part of your cosmetic surgery recovery programme and we encourage all our patients to embrace this time and let your body rest and slowly grow into its new shape.
Recommended Recovery Time
Giving your body and mind time to recover properly after cosmetic surgery is important and we recommend a minimum of six weeks before you return to any kind of physical exercise and a longer period of time for high intensity activity. As part of the recovery process your body will form scar tissue, or capsule lining, around the implant (this is quite normal and is the body’s way of protecting itself from the object (your implant) that it doesn’t recognise). So, it is vital that during the first four to six weeks post-surgery that you don’t over-use the pectoral muscle and allow this healing process to gradually happen undisturbed. The complete healing process may take many months, but you should be able to gradually increase physical activity during this time.
What Exercise Can I Do?
Some forms of exercise are more active than others and the constant movement from fast or strenuous activity can put a strain on the upper body; exercising too soon or too aggressively after surgery will have an impact and can slow down your recovery period, or even lead to repeat or corrective surgery.
It is important to gradually reintroduce physical activity and exercise after your six-week recovery time post-surgery. Starting with low impact activities like walking, gentle stretching, Yoga and Pilates; these activities can help maintain a good level of fitness, muscle tone and mental well-being whilst not putting too much strain on large muscle groups, however, you may still need to modify some movements in the first few weeks you start your post-surgery exercises. Talking to your Fitness Instructor about your surgery is a great idea as they can help you adjust your usual fitness regime and exercises to protect your post-surgery body.
As the weeks progress, your strength returns and your healing is complete, it is possible for you to begin introducing higher impact exercise and activities. This should be a gradual process and a good supportive sports bra is crucial for maintaining your post-surgery shape long-term.
Protect and Support
Your breasts will need more support than you may have been used to previously, so it is important to ensure that you wear a good quality sports bra before participating in physical activity and exercise; it is always a good idea to be professionally fitted for bra’s at a specialist retail outlet; you may need help and advice to find the right bra to fit your new and wonderful shape.
With the extra weight from the implants, it’s so important to wear a good supportive is bra when exercising to avoid causing stretching of the skin or stretch marks around the breast area.
Wearing the right type of fully supportive sports bra is crucial to keeping your cosmetic surgery results long-term, along with providing the added benefits of comfort and support.
The New You Can Enjoy Exercise
Here at Red Rose Desire we want you to enjoy your new body shape and understand that many of our ladies are keen to return to their normal pre-surgery lifestyle. We will work together to help you return to your workout routines safely without jeopardising the results of your breast augmentation surgery.
If you would like to speak to any of our team about breast augmentation post-surgery exercise, then click here or call our welcoming team on 0330 124 4780.