Recovering After Breast Surgery

For any patient planning a breast augmentation surgery with a Honolulu plastic surgeon, it is important to understand what you should expect for the recovery process. Taking the time to plan for your recovery process will ensure that you enjoy the fullest benefits from your breast implant surgery.

Postoperative Recovery from Breast Augmentation
Before you schedule your breast augmentation surgery, realize that it is a form of surgery that requires a period of healing and recovery, making it no different from any other kind of surgery. Make sure you discuss with your Hawaii plastic surgeon what the appropriate treatment will be in the event that you experience pain and/or nausea after the procedure has been completed.

In most cases, the rest and recovery period that is required after breast implant surgery usually encompasses three to four weeks. During this period, it is expected that you may face some pain and discomfort, as well as tenderness and swelling.

It is critical that you exercise great caution during your recovery period, taking care not to exert your body too soon. If a patient attempts to resume her normal activities too quickly, this can lead to internal bleeding, which could necessitate an immediate second surgery. To avoid this unnecessary complication, always follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions, and call your Honolulu plastic surgeon if you have any questions or doubts whatsoever.

Potential Scarring from Breast Surgery
Depending upon the type of incision used for your breast augmentation surgery, you may experience scarring. However, if you choose to work with the best Honolulu plastic surgeon that uses a transaxillary incision, which inserts the breast implant through an incision underneath the armpit, then this leaves you with breasts without any scars.

If you work with a Honolulu plastic surgeon that chooses an incision site on the breast itself, then you will experience visible scarring near your breasts. The uplifting side to this is that scars do have a tendency to fade with the passage of time. If the scars are cared for in the manner that the plastic surgeon instructs, then they should fade to the point where they appear to be a thin pale line that only the individual is likely to notice.

Other Important Points to Consider
Your Honolulu plastic surgeon will present you with a set of instructions to take home with you, outlining postoperative essentials. When in doubt about any activity or instruction, call the plastic surgeon’s office to verify. Keep in mind that the healing process will go smoothly if you closely follow your doctor’s instructions.

In order to avoid swelling or bleeding that is unnecessary, avoid ANY activities that could lead to pressure being placed on the surgical site. This includes activities such as strenuous exercises, bending over, lifting heavy objects such as grocery bags, carrying a child, and straining yourself in any way.

Leave the dressing that has been placed over the breast augmentation incision site alone; remember, you should not touch your breasts immediately after the breast implants surgery. If your dressing bothers you in any manner, get in touch with your Honolulu plastic surgeon immediately.

While you are recovering, always sleep in an upright position. Refrain from sleeping on your stomach for the first two weeks after the surgical procedure.

Wear a sports bra while you are recovering from your breast augmentation surgery. Refrain from wearing a bra with wires, which will press into your breast implant. Ask your plastic surgeon when it is safe for you to go back to wearing a bra with a wire if you favor that type.

If you like to sun bathe, do not do so for a period of three to four weeks. Before you decide to go ahead and indulge in the sun again, speak with the plastic surgeon to be sure that the time is right.

These are general guidelines for the recovery period after having breast surgery. The plastic surgeon knows your individual case the best, so all postoperative questions and concerns should be discussed with him. Referring to your Honolulu plastic surgeon’s recovery instructions diligently will ensure that your recovery period provides you with optimal breast surgery results.

How to lose weight

Dissatisfied with your weight?
We’re bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity ‘epidemic’. But a healthy weight is determined by different factors for each of us. Our expert advice is designed to help you achieve and maintain a healthy, life-enhancing weight.

Overweight or underweight?
Being the right weight has a positive effect on wellbeing but also on our health, as being the wrong weight can cause a range of medical problems.Take a long, hard look at what you eat and how active you really are, work out what you need to change and use the following principles to adapt your lifestyle.

Cut calories
A gram of fat contains twice as many calories as a gram of carbohydrate or protein. Reduce high-fat foods in your diet, choose lower or fat-reduced options, use cooking oil and spreads sparingly and remove excess fat from meat.

Include lower calorie options in your diet, such as fruit and vegetables. Bulky fibre-rich foods are also a good choice.

Try switching from white to wholemeal bread, or choose a wholegrain breakfast cereal.

Think about portion sizes
Portion sizes have increased over the years, especially when it comes to ready meals and snack foods. This means we’re consuming extra calories, but we adapt quickly to eating bigger portions and don’t tend to feel fuller as a result.

Downsize potatoes, pasta, rice and fatty and sugary foods, and super size fruit and vegetables.

Watch what you’re drinking
Cut sugar-rich drinks and alcohol, and instead choose water, tea, coffee or artificially sweetened drinks.

Sugary drinks add extra calories to your diet but don’t make you feel full or satisfied.

Keep a balanced diet
Remember the principles of a balanced diet – include plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five portions a day), unrefined foods with more fibre, lean meats and low-fat dairy products.

Get active
Becoming more active doesn’t necessarily mean sweating it out in a gym. Instead, try the following:

Choose activities you enjoy and try to spend more time each week on these
Incorporate more activity into everyday life
Buy a pedometer and increase the number of steps you take each day

Another good way to become more active is to focus on spending less time sitting down. At home, limit the time you spend watching TV or in front of a computer screen. At work, take regular breaks and if you want to talk to a colleague, walk to their desk instead of sending an email.

Fad diets don’t work
Diets that promise quick, effortless weight loss are best avoided. You may lose weight initially, but they’re often difficult to follow in the long term. Often they’re also very restrictive and may not provide all the nutrients your body needs.

Fad diets are those that:

Promise a quick, easy fix with rapid weight loss
Suggest that certain foods ‘burn fat’
Promote the eating of just one of two foods
Have lots of rules about how to eat
Sound too good to be true

Yo-yo dieting
Many people who lose weight tend to regain it over time. You can minimise the chance of this by making permanent changes to your lifestyle – by switching to low-calorie drinks and low-fat spreads, for example, or by eating smaller portions. Regular physical activity appears to be especially important in maintaining weight loss.

The following factors are important for maintaining weight loss:

Small, permanent dietary changes
Regular physical activity
Realistic goals
Regular weighing
Support from family and friends

Although no one would suggest yo-yo dieting is a good thing, there’s little evidence it’s harmful to health. However, it’s disappointing and can reduce your confidence and motivation.

Recognise that in the period immediately following a diet you’re at high risk of weight gain and you need to take specific steps to avoid it.

Remember to weigh yourself regularly. If you notice your weight increasing, take action immediately. Don’t let a minor lapse become a major problem.