There are different types of plastic surgery, most of which are done by taking tissue from one part of the body then transferring it to another. When a body part is defective, injured or lost, it is surgically repaired or restored by means of Reconstructive plastic surgery. On the other hand, cosmetic surgery aims to enhance the way people look.
In both cases, recovery after going through the procedure can be extensive. For this reason, there should be a strong plan as well as support system ready. Also, those who decide to go under the knife should be patient during the healing process and follow the doctor’s instructions.
Recovery Time of Breast Enhancement Procedures
It can take from a month to a year to recover completely from breast augmentation, lifts, reconstruction and reduction. Though scars fade, there are cases when they do not fully disappear. Below are more information on the different types of breast procedures.
Augmentation
This surgical procedure aims to increase breast size, shape or fullness. The surgeon does this by placing silicon, saline or another composite breast implant underneath the breast tissue or chest muscles. In general, such implants last from seven to twelve years. During the healing process, patients may need to use a support bra. After the procedure, they need to wait for four to six weeks before they can go back to their daily routine. Their scars will fade as time goes by but will not totally disappear.
Lift
Breast lift is a procedure done to lift a woman’s sagging breasts upon her chest. The surgeon will do modifications on the breasts’ elevation, size and contour. The patient’s skin will be more sensitive and feel numb. It will remain like this for about six weeks. Scars will be visible for a year until they fade but not totally vanish.
Reconstruction.
Reconstruction aims to rebuild the shape, size, symmetry and appearance of one or two breasts. This procedure takes place after a mastectomy, congenital deformity or lumpectomy. It is usually done in several procedures and different stages. Some makes use of implants while others like flap reconstruction techniques use the patient’s tissue from another body part to shape a new breast. After the procedure is done, bandages will be used to cover the wounds and a support bra or elastic bandage can be worn to reduce swelling in the areas involved. Patients can go back to their normal lives after a month. The wounds will continue to heal and scars will eventually improve but not vanish completely.
Reduction
The goal of reduction is to reduce the size of big breasts. The surgeon removes excess fat from the breasts, skin and glandular tissue to obtain a breast size proportional to the whole body. Some patients decide on reduction to relieve the discomfort felt with extra large breasts. After this procedure, the incisions will be covered with dressings. Patients usually wear a support bra to reduce swelling as well as support the breasts while they are healing. They can go back to their regular activities in about six weeks and scars will look less noticeable after a year.
