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Breast Lift: Postoperative Healing Strategies

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Pregnancy, genetics, age, weight gain, and breastfeeding can lead to sagging breasts. A breast lift is a surgical procedure that raises the breast tissue by excising excess skin and reinforcing the surrounding structures.

Often performed as a standalone procedure, breast lifts are sometimes performed in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentations and breast reduction surgeries. While most people enjoy event-free recovery periods following their breast lift surgeries, the following postoperative healing strategies should be followed to further ensure a speedy recovery. 

Wearing Compression Garments

Your surgeon will advise you to wear a compression garment or a stretchy sports bra following your breast lift procedure. Compression garments provide breast support, enhance circulation to your breast tissue to help promote healing, minimize inflammation, and help reduce fluid retention.

You should wear your compression garment all day and night unless you are taking a shower. You will need to wear your compression garment or sports bra continuously for up to a few weeks or more.

Once you no longer need to wear your garment, your doctor may tell you that you can replace it by wearing a soft bra without an underwire. You should not wear an underwire bra for at least a month after surgery to allow proper healing of your blood vessels, soft tissues, and nerves.

Avoid Smoking

Cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoking can delay healing after your breast lift surgery by constricting your blood vessels. It can also damage the small blood vessels in and around your breasts, raising the risk for slowed healing and infection.

Vaping and chewing tobacco may also have the same effect on your blood vessels, and because of this, they should also be avoided while you recover from your procedure. Brisk circulation and blood flow to your breasts are important in the healing process, and while quitting smoking may be challenging, you may enjoy a faster postoperative recovery if you quit.

If you are struggling with quitting smoking, talk to your physician about smoking cessation treatment options such as nicotine replacement patches and chewing gum, biofeedback, support groups, and certain oral medications that can help dampen your urge to smoke. 

If you are anticipating breast lift surgery, consider the importance of the above interventions. When you follow these and the other healing strategy interventions recommended by your surgeon, you are more likely to enjoy a fast and uncomplicated recovery after your breast surgery. 


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