Recovery after Breast and Abdominoplasty Surgery

Although we don’t encourage patients to undergo multiple surgeries at the same time, some advantages of undergoing Breast Surgery and an Abdominoplasty is that both procedures are performed together during a single operation, which may reduce the overall recovery time and cost.

Every patient’s recovery is different, but generally a patient does not experience too much pain during their recovery. Medication for pain relief will be prescribed to assist.

The first 5 days can be the most challenging with moving around and holding your posture. Especially throughout the abdominal area. You will need plenty of support from family and friends!

Ensure you consider the below:

Sleeping
This can be challenging for most! Many find a boomerang or European pillow can help make this more comfortable. If you are a side sleeper you may find it helpful to place pillows either side of you, this will help to avoid rolling over but can also make it more comfortable for the first few weeks.

Children
If you have young children we suggest they stay with family or friends for the first few days of your recovery to give you the much needed rest time you need. If this cannot happen we suggest being well prepared with things to make your life easier during recovery- such as food preparation and frozen meals so you don’t have to worry about cooking for a few days.

Lifting
No lifting over 5kgs for the first 6 weeks! Some parents teach their kids to use a stool prior to surgery to assist with getting in and out of the car, cot and even a high chair.

Showering
It is important to avoid your dressings staying moist for any period of time! You will need to have quick showers using a flexible shower head or even use wipes/face clothes for the first few days.

Bloating
You may experience a bloated tummy for a few days so ensure to drink PLENTY of water. Hydralite can also be really helpful for patients who struggle to drink much fluid. Have some healthy food options available that are quick and easy to prepare.

Clothing
Have loose fitting clothes available. Think tracksuits, zip up hoodies, robes ect. Everything must be soft, comfortable and easy to get on and off.

During the first few weeks some swelling and bruising will be present whilst the tissue is healing. This initially feels quite firm but gradually softens over time and can take 6-12 months to see final results so don’t rush it!!

Approximately 2-3 weeks after surgery most patients can return to work. If you have a physical job you will need longer. After 8 weeks, you can slowly begin to return to your previous physical activities with your surgeon’s approval.

And finally our team will contact you constantly throughout your recovery and will be with you every step of the way!