Regular exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle — with benefits including weight management and reducing your risk of disease. But if you have recently undergone a breast augmentation, there are certain precautions you should take before getting back to the gym.

Follow this post-breast augmentation exercise guide from Board-Certified plastic surgeon William Franckle, MD, FACS to help ensure you’re safe and healthy.

Five Days to Six Weeks After Breast Augmentation Surgery

The first five days after your breast augmentation procedure are all about getting enough rest. Follow these breast augmentation recovery tips to aid in your recovery:

• Sleep in an elevated position after the surgery to reduce swelling
• Should you move, limit yourself to short-distance walking, such as from your bedroom to the bathroom
• Eat foods rich in nutrients like calcium, magnesium, zinc, iodine, and potassium

After your first few weeks of recovery, you will probably be itching to get back to your old exercise routine, but patience is necessary to recover fully. Dr. Franckle recommends that patients wait to return to their usual exercise regimen until about six weeks after surgery.

While this may be difficult, this time could be your opportunity to start that book you’ve been meaning to read or that show that’s been calling your name. Properly resting now will allow your body to recover correctly, thus helping you to achieve the results you’re after.

Six to Eight Weeks After Breast Augmentation

Finally, after weeks of breast augmentation recovery, you can start to return to your regular exercise routine. You likely lost some of your pre-breast augmentation strength in the time you took off from your regular workout routine, but don’t feel discouraged — this is to be expected.

Gradually work your way back into your regular routine — start with lighter weight, fewer reps, and less frequency. After a few weeks back at the gym, you will regain your pre-operation strength. Still, speaking with your New Jersey plastic surgeon if you feel any discomfort during this period is essential.

William Franckle, MD, FACS, Offers Breast Augmentation in South Jersey

According to the Aesthetic Society’s annual Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Statistics report, over 350,000 breast augmentations were performed in 2021. While breast augmentation procedures are becoming increasingly common, not all surgeons are created equal. William Franckle, MD, FACS, is a Board-Certified plastic surgeon in New Jersey with immense knowledge and years of experience performing breast augmentations.

Contact us today to learn more about all the breast procedures we offer.