Are you considering breast augmentation but wondering about the pain involved?
If you’re like most patients at our San Francisco practice, the following questions are probably shuffling back and forth your mind:
- How painful is it really? I need specifics!
- What if the pain's too much for me to bear?
- Are the results worth it?
- What can I do to minimize the pain as much as possible?
The truth is, breast augmentation is surgery, so there is an element of healing involved, which includes varying levels of discomfort. In this article we're going to talk about breast augmentation and how to minimize your discomfort and increase recovery time.
How Painful Is Breast Enhancement, Really?
As pain intensity itself is subjective, it is difficult to make a generalized statement about the specific level of pain you will experience. The majority of our patients often report that breast augmentation was less painful than they expected.
But, we're not going to pretend it doesn't hurt a little.
You will be prescribed with pain relievers, and possibly muscle relaxants, for the first few days. Some patients opt for milder, over-the-counter meds while others may need stronger pain relievers. Either option will help manage any discomfort you feel following your surgery.
Reduce Pain with the 24 Hour Rapid Recovery Technique
Women who opt for surgeons who are proficient in the 24 Hour Rapid Recovery Technique in breast enhancement surgery are more likely to experience less pain following surgery.
This technique employs precise implant pocket dissection. As a result, there is minimal tissue trauma and less bleeding.
Dr. Fan is one of a few surgeons in the U.S. who performs breast enhancement surgery using the 24 Hour Rapid Recovery Technique. For this reason, 85 percent of our patients are able to resume their normal routine within 24 hours and experience fewer side effects—including less pain.
What You Can Do to Lessen Discomfort and Speed Up Healing
Dr. Fan has performed thousands of breast augmentations. He believes pain shouldn't be a matter of anxiety when considering plastic surgery. Often, the pain associated with breast augmentation is more of a result of fear than the actual procedure.
The good news is you can learn how to lessen the impact of pain after breast augmentation!
Besides choosing a surgeon who is adept in the 24 Hour Rapid Recovery Technique, you can take the following steps to reduce discomfort and make your surgery a positive experience:
- Choose your implant size and placement carefully.
- It’s a common pitfall to choose breast implants that are fairly large than what you ought to have based on your existing body type and frame size.
- While implant size itself should not be a pain factor, opting for overly large breast implants can be a source of discomfort because the implant can possibly expand and stretch the implant pocket too tight.
In addition to size, consider implant placement too. In contrast to other placement options, implants positioned under the muscle may result to more discomfort as it requires severing several muscle fibers (and possibly sensitive nerve endings). - For these reasons, it's always best to work with a surgeon who is equal parts experienced and adept in breast augmentation surgery. Your surgeon should help you understand how large is too large.
- Choose your surgeon well.
- Your surgeon's technical skills and precision can have a direct impact on the degree of pain you will experience. Finding a surgeon with solid experience, qualifications, and proven results with happy patients is one great way to reduce the risk of a more painful recovery.
- Adhere strictly to post-surgery instructions.
You will be instructed to limit your activities for a few days and to limit direct breast contact for several weeks. You will also be asked to restrict arm movements and keep your upper arms by your chest for the first week until significant healing has taken effect.
Talk to Dr. Fan about his recommendations based on your personal needs and be sure to follow them to a tee. - Take care of yourself by staying healthy and fit.
- Being in good shape prior to your breast augmentation will benefit you as you recover from surgery — your pain threshold included. All the more reason to go for a run regularly or resume your evening yoga classes months before surgery.
Bring on the Positivity!
Do you see the glass half full? Or half empty?
Your overall outlook leading up to your breast augmentation procedure plays a role in the level of pain you'll experience. Patients who are excited about the procedure and have a positive attitude generally experience less pain and only express feeling mild discomfort or pressure. On the other hand, individuals who are anxious and lack a positive outlook usually experience more discomfort and stress following the surgery.
To maintain an optimistic outlook on your breast augmentation procedure and potentially reduce the level of pain, surround yourself with family and friends who are as excited as you are about your surgery. This will help create a positive environment leading up to and following your procedure.
Feel free to ask questions until you are confident in your breast augmentation procedure so you can focus on having a positive experience!
