Breast Augmentation Care Guide: Before & After, Step by Step

What this guide is (and isn’t)

This is a patient-education guide you can hand to someone considering breast augmentation (“가슴성형”) or getting ready for surgery. It explains typical timelines and habits that protect results and comfort. It does not replace your surgeon’s instructions. If your surgeon’s plan differs, follow theirs.

One-page summary you can share with patients

• Prepare early: support bras, easy meals, help for 2–3 days.
• First 72 hours: support, rest, short walks, pain control, back-sleeping with your torso elevated.
• Week 1–2: light activity only, keep support bra, no heavy lifting or chest strain.
• Weeks 3–6: add cardio and lower-body work first; chest exercises last.
• After week 6: many return to full training if cleared; increase loads slowly.
• Watch for red flags: one-sided rapid swelling, fever, spreading redness, shortness of breath, calf pain.
• Keep long-term follow-ups. If you have silicone implants, many surgeons schedule imaging around years 5–6 and then every few years.

Before surgery: set up your body, home, and calendar

3–4 weeks before

• Line up practical help. Plan rides, meals, pet or child care for the first 48–72 hours.
• Build a “recovery nest.” Use a recliner or wedge pillows to keep your upper body slightly elevated. Add a small side table for water, meds, and a phone timer.
• Clean habits now. Stop nicotine, cut alcohol, prioritize sleep. If you take supplements that thin blood (like high-dose vitamin E or fish oil), ask whether to pause.
• Food plan. Stock protein (eggs, yogurt, tofu, chicken, beans) and gentle snacks (bananas, crackers, broth).
• Questions for your surgeon. Incision location, implant type and placement, bra protocol, driving and work timing, and your personalized exercise timeline.

7 days before

• Pick up supplies. Front-closure soft bras (two or three), loose zip-front tops, a thermometer, fiber or a gentle stool softener, lip balm, saline wound rinse (if recommended), and prescribed meds.
• Prep your phone. Add alarms for medication times and a simple walk checklist (morning, afternoon, evening).

24–48 hours before

• Hydrate and rest. Eat lightly salted broths and lean protein.
• Double-check your discharge ride and first follow-up time.
• Remove jewelry; choose easy clothes. Think: soft leggings and a front-opening top.

The first 72 hours: protect the pocket, move a little, stay ahead of symptoms

• Support matters. You’ll leave with dressings and either a surgical/support bra or an elastic band. Keep them on as directed. Early support reduces movement and helps comfort.
• Pain and tightness are normal. Take medications as prescribed, on time. Set alarms so you don’t “chase” pain.
• Hydration + protein. Small, frequent sips plus light, protein-forward meals help your body heal and reduce nausea.
• Prevent constipation. Use the stool softener your team okays, hydrate, and take short walks.
• Early movement, not exercise. Walk a few minutes several times per day. Avoid raising elbows high, pushing, pulling, or lifting.
• Sleep like this. On your back with your chest elevated 30–45°. Side-sleeping usually comes later.
• Keep incisions dry until cleared. Showers only when your surgeon says it’s safe. No baths or soaking.

Days 4–14: routine builds confidence

• Swelling eases; shape evolves. Height and upper-pole fullness may still look “too high.” That is expected early as tissues relax.
• Work and driving. Many people return to desk work within a week if they are off prescription pain meds and can turn the wheel comfortably. Your surgeon will set the rule for you.
• Activity. Keep up gentle walks. Avoid heavy housework, overhead reaching, and anything that bounces the chest.
• Bra plan. Most patients stay in a soft, non-underwire support bra day and night in this phase, unless told otherwise.
• Incision care. Follow your team’s plan for tapes and cleansing. Do not soak, scrub, or apply creams unless you’re told to.

Weeks 3–6: more life, still smart

• Cardio first. Add low-impact cardio (incline walking, bike, elliptical) and lower-body strength.
• Delay chest strain. Push-ups, bench press, dips, and deep planks load the pocket and should wait until you have explicit clearance.
• Scar care (when fully closed and approved). Start daily SPF on scars. If your team recommends silicone gel or sheets, use them consistently for several weeks. Expect gradual, not dramatic, changes.
• Underwire bras. Many surgeons avoid underwire until tenderness resolves and incisions are fully comfortable, especially if the wire would sit on an inframammary incision.

Weeks 6–12 and beyond: back to full activity (with judgment)

• Return to sport. Many uncomplicated cases resume full training around week 6 with surgeon approval. Add chest work last and progress slowly (lighter loads, higher control, watch next-day soreness).
• Support for performance. A high-support sports bra remains helpful for running or high-impact work even after you are “cleared.”
• Shaping over time. Implants often “settle” over weeks to months as swelling fades and the lower pole softens.
• Scar maturation. Color and texture evolve for many months. Keep sunscreen on the area for at least a year whenever it could be exposed.

Long-term follow-up: a plan you can actually keep

• Keep your implant details. Save your implant card or record (brand, size, lot) with your medical documents.
• Routine checks. Annual clinical exams and symptom-based visits are standard.
• Imaging cadence. For silicone implants, many surgeons schedule an ultrasound or MRI around years 5–6, then repeat every few years to look for silent issues. Ask your surgeon which schedule they prefer and set reminders in your phone today.
• Breast cancer screening continues. Follow age-appropriate guidelines and tell the imaging center you have implants so they can use the right technique.

Red flags: don’t wait, call

• One-sided rapid swelling, severe or worsening pain, or deep purple bruising.
• Spreading redness, warmth, fever, chills, or foul-smelling drainage.
• Shortness of breath or chest pain. Go to emergency care.
• Calf pain or swelling. Possible clot; urgent check needed.
• Months to years later: new breast swelling, a mass, persistent rash, or fluid around the implant. Rare conditions exist; earlier evaluation is safer.

If you’re unsure whether a symptom “counts,” call your surgeon’s office. It’s always okay to ask.

Patient routine checklist (copy/paste friendly)

Week 1

• Morning: sip water → short walk → medications on schedule → light, high-protein breakfast.
• Midday: 5–10-minute walk → rest with torso elevated → simple lunch.
• Evening: short walk → gentle shoulder circles within pain-free range → back-sleeping setup.
• All day: support bra on, no lifting >2–3 kg, no overhead reaching, no soaking.
• Daily: check dressings as taught; keep incisions dry.

Week 2

• Add a few minutes to each walk.
• Consider desk work if cleared and comfortable; skip long commutes at first.
• Keep support bra; taper pain meds as advised; keep bowels regular.

Weeks 3–4

• Low-impact cardio 20–30 minutes most days.
• Lower-body strength without chest load (e.g., bodyweight squats, glute bridges).
• If incisions are fully closed and you’re cleared, begin scar care and daily SPF.

Weeks 5–6

• Gradually increase cardio intensity.
• Start upper-body work that avoids heavy chest strain (e.g., light rows).
• Discuss underwire timing, travel, and sport specifics at your check-in.

After week 6

• Introduce chest exercises cautiously; prioritize form over load.
• Keep SPF on scars for 12+ months.
• Add calendar reminders for long-term follow-ups; if silicone implants, include an imaging reminder around year 5–6.

FAQs (clear, short answers patients remember)

1.When can I drive?
After you’re off prescription pain meds, can perform an emergency stop, and turning the wheel doesn’t hurt. Your surgeon will ok the timing.

2.How long do I wear a support bra?
Usually full-time for the early weeks, then daytime support as swelling settles. Underwire waits until you’re fully comfortable and cleared.

3.Can I sleep on my side?
Most surgeons prefer back-sleeping at first. Side-sleeping often returns after a few weeks if comfortable and approved.

4.Do scar products really help?
Sunscreen helps the most. Silicone gel or sheets can provide modest improvements for many when used consistently on closed incisions.

5.Can I fly soon after surgery?
Short flights may be okay once pain is controlled and you have a green light. Hydrate, walk the aisle, and avoid heavy overhead lifting.

6.Do implants last forever?
No device is truly “lifetime.” Plan regular check-ins. If you have silicone implants, ask your surgeon about imaging around years 5–6 and beyond.

Bottom line for patients

Recovery isn’t a sprint. Protect the pocket early. Walk a little every day. Use support garments. Add activity in layers, not leaps. Keep every follow-up. If something feels off, call. If you have silicone implants, set a reminder now for imaging down the road. These small habits protect both your results and your health.