A breast lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that aims to address sagging (ptotic) breasts. During surgery, the surgeon aims to elevate and reshape the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening loose tissue.
If you’re interested in this procedure, it’s important to understand the recovery process so you can plan, prepare, and give yourself the recovery time you need. Understanding what’s involved will also help you better care for yourself and minimise the risk of complications. You’ll also feel more mentally and emotionally prepared for your recovery journey.
While recovery periods vary, it typically takes 6 weeks. Your initial recovery occurs within the first two weeks, and most people can return to light activities at that point. Your full recovery, however, will take about 6 weeks. At this stage, you can return to almost all activities, including (slowly) returning to the gym.
Before surgery, you’ll need to organise time off work, freshly launder your sheets, towels and plenty of clothing and sleepwear, clean your house, and stock up on meals, medications and anything else you may need after surgery. If you live alone, it’s recommended that you have someone with you for the first week. If you have small children, you must arrange for someone to help with daily activities during the first week.
General Dos & Don’ts after surgery
DO:
- Carefully follow your surgeon’s instructions and contact the clinic if ever you are unclear about anything
- Keep your head and upper body slightly elevated (by approx. 30–45 degrees) to minimise swelling.
- Take regular, short walks to encourage circulation, but rest often.
- Stay hydrated and take small, healthy, regular meals.
DON’T
- Engage in strenuous activities or heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks
- Bathe or swim for the first 4 weeks
- Wear underwire bras until cleared by Dr Attalla
- Sleep on your stomach or side (instead, sleep on your back only)
- Drink or smoke – both activities impede the healing process by constricting blood vessels and impairing immune function.
An important note on sleep in recovery
We all know that getting enough sleep is important for our health, but it’s particularly important after surgery. It may feel like when you close your eyes and drift off to sleep, your body is doing little at all, but it’s actually at its busiest, rejuvenating and repairing. Your brain knows what to do and will trigger certain hormones that promote tissue growth and repair blood vessels. This allows damaged tissues to repair and helps to heal faster.
Sleep is also good for your immune system, so it will help you avoid infections. While you’re sleeping, your body will also release hormones that slow down breathing and help relax your tight muscles, which will also help with healing.
Sleeping well allows your brain to focus on areas in your body that require healing, including your incision sites.
Breast lift surgery (mastopexy) recovery timeline
Day 1
Immediately after surgery, it’s normal to experience swelling, discomfort and pain. However, your anaesthetist will give you pain medication to help alleviate this. (Usually, pain medication is no longer required after the first week.) You’ll be instructed to rest as much as possible, minimising movement, to allow your body to recover.
Avoid any activities that could increase your heart rate or raise blood pressure.
You’ll be fitted with a cotton bra and a compression garment that you must continue to wear for at least the first six weeks. This compression garment holds your breasts in their new position and helps to minimise swelling and promote healing.
Days 2 to 5
Swelling and bruising will become more noticeable. To encourage circulation, we recommend taking short, regular walks around your home. (Walking will also help you rest and even sleep better.) For the rest of the time, rest and allow your body to heal.
Elevate your bed slightly so that your head and shoulders are elevated to help minimise swelling.
Keep your wounds dry, but take a warm, soothing shower in the evening (or morning) to freshen up and feel more comfortable and relaxed in bed.
Week 1
Your pain will begin to subside, while swelling and bruising will also begin to settle. Continue to take short walks to encourage circulation, but avoid all strenuous activities. Depending on comfort levels, light household activities should be fine.
After one week, if you have a home office, you can consider working behind a desk, provided you feel comfortable. You can also consider driving, provided you feel comfortable (and confident enough) doing so.
Weeks 2- 4
If you have a sedentary job, you can consider returning to work after two or three weeks.
If your job is more active, you may have to wait 4 to 6 weeks before returning to work.
Continue to take care of yourself during this time, avoiding strenuous activities and making time to rest often.
Week 4
Most of your swelling and bruising should have subsided. You will also be able to resume most light activities. It’s also important to keep wearing your compression garment at this time.
Week 6
If your job is physically demanding, you can now return to work, provided you feel comfortable doing so.
You will now be able to sleep in any position that’s comfortable, not just on your back.
Your scars will be noticeable, but they will fade over time. It usually takes 12 or more months for scars to fully mature and fade. If you have dark skin, your scars may be more noticeable but will fade over time. However, if the darkness persists, we can treat your scars with a Q-switch laser.
You can consider returning to the gym and other vigorous activities, provided you recommence slowly. It’s important to remember that you’ve been away from exercise for a considerable time, so your body has deconditioned.
After six weeks, the majority of swelling would have subsided, and you’ll be able to be refitted for new bras and clothing.
In the future, it’s important to remember that while your breasts have been surgically lifted, they are not immune to the ageing process (as well as gravity, hormones, weight fluctuations, breastfeeding and genetics). Therefore, always make sure you’re wearing a good, supportive bra.
How to reduce the appearance of scars after surgery
A breast lift typically has three scars. There is a horizontal incision at the base of the breast that sits in the breast fold, a vertical incision from the horizontal scar leading up to the areola, and a circumferential scar around the areola.
As we’ve mentioned, these scars will be red or dark at first and quite noticeable. It usually takes over 12 months for them to fade slowly. However, during this time, there are some things you can do to optimise healing and make it less noticeable.
Scar Care: Silicon-based sheets or creams can help minimise the appearance of scars.
Sun protection: Avoid exposing your breasts to the sun at all costs. Always wear protective clothing, and if swimming or at the beach, ensure you are also wearing high SPF sunscreen.
Nutrition: Good nutrition helps collagen production, allowing the skin to heal more effectively, so adhere to a healthy, well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
Avoid smoking: Smoking impairs the healing process and can worsen scarring.
Potential risks & complications to look out for
Strictly following your aftercare instructions and adhering to your recovery timeline will help minimise the risk of complications. However, sometimes these can occur even with the best of care.
For a full list of potential risks and complications, please visit our breast lift surgery (mastopexy) procedure page here.
In particular, though, keep a careful eye out for the following:
- INFECTION: An infection can occur after surgery, with symptoms such as redness, swelling, increased pain, or the presence of pus. Please get in touch with the clinic immediately if you notice any of these signs.
- POOR HEALING OR SCARRING: Some individuals, particularly those with darker skin types, are more prone to keloid or hypertrophic scarring. This will be discussed with you before surgery.
- HAEMATOMA OR SEROMA: These are collections of blood or fluid that can accumulate under the skin. If they occur, they may need to be surgically drained.
- NUMBNESS OR TINGLING: These symptoms usually occur due to temporary nerve damage during the procedure and usually settle over time. In rare cases, this can be perma There are other complications for Mastopexy, such as pseudoptosis (tissue hangs below the fold while the nipple stays above it.), bleeding, DVT (deep vein thrombosis), PE (pulmonary embolism), and nipple and areola necrosis.
