The decision to have a breast augmentation can be very exciting. Sometimes, a woman will get the larger breasts she has always wanted. In other cases, she will regain the breast size she once had, perhaps when she was younger or before pregnancy or weight loss. Some women decide on breast augmentation surgery to even out their breasts, usually to correct a natural condition they were born with. Whatever the reason, getting breast augmentation for these women is a time to celebrate!
Dr. Zenn is an expert breast surgeon, with a particularly active practice in breast revision surgery (which is why you want to get it right the first time!) In fact, Newsweek named Dr. Zenn one of “America’s Top Plastic Surgeons” specifically for Breast Augmentation,ranking him #4 in 2021, #7 in 2022 and #15 in 2023. No need to travel to New York, LA, or Miami for breast augmentation surgery when you have Dr. Zenn right here in Raleigh, NC.
Dr. Zenn loves doing breast augmentation surgery, and has a clear aesthetic for natural looking breasts. He almost always places the implant over the muscle and will often incorporate fat grafting to make the breast area soft and natural. He will not place implants that are too large for a woman’s frame because he is all to aware of the problems that causes down the road (he is Dr. Fix it!)
There is, of course, a list of post-operative instructions that Dr. Zenn provides all his breast augmentation patients to ensure proper healing and the best possible results.
Here’s a list of the most common dos and don’ts after having breast augmentation surgery:
Do:
- Get plenty of rest. Anytime you have surgery, you need rest to allow your body to recover.
- Make sure you take at least a few days off work or your other daily routines to recuperate.
- Sleep in the fetal position, or on your back elevated with the help of pillows, or in a recliner. These comfortable sleeping positions will help you heal while you sleep.
- Perform breast massage PER YOUR SURGEON’S INSTRUCTIONS. Dr. Zenn will give you specific massage instructions for your particular case usually about a week after surgery. Massage is recommended to help your breast implants settle faster and keep them soft. Early massage is helpful to expand the pocket containing the implant so it can move and look like a natural breast.
- Take your pain medication exactly as described. If you feel discomfort, you want to stay on top of your pain. Dr. Zenn recommends that his patients start on an NSAID (Motrin, Aleve) right after surgery; this is often all that will be required. Narcotic prescriptions are available to patients who need them, but most do not.
- Eat healthily. It’s always essential for you to get proper nutrients, but never more critical than when you are healing from surgery.
Don’t:
- Sleep on your stomach. Doing so while you are healing from breast augmentation surgery puts undue stress on the new breast implants.
- Do any heavy lifting the first week while you are recovering, including lifting your small children. The extra weight and pressure on your body aren’t worth it if you want to heal properly and have the best possible results.
- Swim in a pool, lake, or ocean. Wait until Dr. Zenn gives you the all-clear. This is to ensure that you don’t inadvertently introduce any water or bacteria to your incisions that are healing. You WILL be able to shower the day after surgery!
- Smoke or use any other tobacco products. Tobacco use isn’t only bad for your cardiovascular health, but it delays your body’s natural healing process. This is so serious Dr. Zenn typically requires his patients be non-smokers or quit two months before and one month after their breast augmentation.
- Do any strenuous exercise in the first week or two. While light activities such as walking or driving may be resumed after a few days, any activity that causes the breasts to move excessively (running, cardio classes, yoga) cannot be resumed for 2-4 weeks after your surgery. Dr. Zenn will review your specific case and healing and give you the okay to resume your favorite activities when appropriate.
Learn More About Breast Augmentations And The Recovery Process
If you want to learn more about breast augmentation surgery or its recovery process, schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Zenn. During this appointment, Dr. Zenn will explain the procedure and recovery time and answer any questions you have.
Contact Zenn Plastic Surgery at (919) 480-3885 to schedule an initial consultation.
