Breast augmentation does indeed allow for a rapid recovery, but with the evolution of surgical techniques we can now have a practically painless and haematoma-free post-operative period, with full mobilisation of the arms in the first 48 hours.
Taking into account that not all operators use modern techniques and methodologies capable of guaranteeing a rapid recovery, and also taking into account the tendency towards tradition and the difficulty of opening up to new concepts on the part of operators, especially those of the old school, I will try to explain what are the latest tricks used by some operators in breast augmentation surgery to guarantee a rapid recovery after the operation.
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Post-operative breast augmentation
Let’s start with the scar. It is preferable that the incision area is as far away as possible from the part subject to stretching for the insertion of the breast implants. This guarantees a smoother healing because it is not subject to tension and also avoids a possible pressure of the prosthesis from the inside on the incision, with a possible dehiscence and opening of the surgical wound. From this point of view, the axillary incision is the best choice and the submammary incision the worst. Furthermore, at the end of the operation, the incision area is medicated in the operating room in a sterile environment. From a modern point of view, fully absorbable internal sutures and biological skin glue can be used. This allows the patient to shower the same day or the day after the operation. The breasts are compressed at the end of the operation to limit post-operative swelling and the formation of any fluid collections (haematomas) by the use of dressings or a support bra in the traditional technique. In a more modern perspective, a simple postoperative bandage is used, which allows the patient greater freedom of movement in the days following the operation itself. Suction drains are still used by many surgeons, but their presence requires special attention to avoid unintentional traction or tearing in the postoperative period. The choice of whether or not to place drains depends on the surgeon and the condition of the tissue. Operators who use non-traumatic techniques typical of cosmetic plastic surgery, i.e. the use of dedicated instruments such as blunt and non-cutting scleroses, a « light » surgical technique and a maniacal attention to internal coagulation, generally do not use drains in the post-operative period, especially in the case of patients undergoing breast augmentation for the first time.
Breast Augmentation Geneva
After an operation performed with modern techniques, the patient is usually immediately returned to his room, already awake. This is due to the type of anaesthesia. The use of sedation with anaesthetics, which do not leave any after-effects once the administration has been stopped, combined with local anaesthesia allows these advantages. Local anaesthesia applied to the patient’s breasts after sedation is also important after the operation as it is responsible for analgesia in the immediate postoperative period, since peak reabsorption of the local anaesthetic is reached a few hours after administration, when the patient is already in the room for postoperative recovery. Another advantage of local anaesthesia and sedation is the possibility to drink water immediately and to eat after about 2-3 hours.
After the operation, the patient will necessarily have to remain under observation in the clinic for at least 5-6 hours. Leaving earlier, after 2-3 hours, does not mean that we have managed to get the patient back on her feet and back home in record time, but it does mean that we have ignored the period during which the most serious complications can occur, such as active postoperative bleeding (known as haematomas), which can result in immediate surgical revision.
After 6 hours of surgery and after further examination, if there are no specific problems, the patient can be discharged as an outpatient or after a day in hospital with discharge the following day. This second option is usually chosen for logistical reasons or for patients who live far away from the place where they undergo the operation.
The patient goes home
After returning home, the patient remains with the dressing made in the operating room for about a week. The use of biological glue means that no dressing is needed in the post-operative period, that there is no need to dress the wound yourself between check-ups and that the possibility of wound infection is reduced to almost zero.
The bandage or anatomical bra will be worn on the breast for approximately 20-30 days. These are also intended to keep the implants in the correct position. No restrictions are required for normal activities from one week after the operation, such as driving a car. Instead, mobilisation of the arm can be performed from 48 hours after surgery with specific stretching exercises that can speed up postoperative recovery.
Post-operative breast augmentation checks
Further check-ups are usually performed after 4-8 days, after 30 days and after 3 months. The first month’s check-up is important for the smoothing of the breasts, while in subsequent check-ups the focus is on the stabilisation of the results and the disappearance of post-operative scars. In the case of subglandular breast augmentation, moderate exercise can be resumed about 20 days after surgery. However, in the submuscular technique, special attention is paid to physical exercises involving the pectoral muscle, which can only be performed two months after the operation. In both techniques, patients are advised to have early postoperative massages to accelerate the softening of the breasts, which are hard to the touch in the first few weeks after surgery. The patient is encouraged to massage daily for at least three months.
