Do you know how popular breast implants are?
In 2020 alone, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported a total number of 193,073 women undergoing breast augmentation. Though this is lower than previous years because of the pandemic, breast augmentation remains one of the top five cosmetic procedures across the board.
Breast implant surgeries are one of the most common procedures women rely on to improve their physique. Aside from that, breast implants also help boost your confidence.
If you recently had breast implants, you might be wondering how to take care of them and maintain them in their optimal shape.
In this article, we’ll give you a run-through of how to take care of your new breasts during recovery. Plus, we’ll give you a quick guide on when to remove, replace, or leave your implants alone.
Breast Implants Recovery Timeline: What to Expect
After going through breast augmentation, it is safe to assume that half of the process is complete. However, recovery is just as essential as the surgery itself. The success of the procedure equally lies in the execution and recovery.
This is the reason why Dr. Nick Masri plastic surgeon, provides a lot of instructions to guide your recovery.
In the first few days, he recommends resting and avoiding strenuous activities. If you are told by Nick Masri MD to come to an appointment, make sure to show up.
Here’s what to expect during your recovery:
1-5 Days After Surgery
During these days, you are likely to experience soreness and fatigue.
Showering can be an option two days after your surgery. But use only lukewarm water and avoid facing the showerhead directly.
1-2 Weeks After Surgery
You may return to work or school usually in less than a week depending on your specific type of work.
Similarly, avoid lifting objects heavier than five pounds. Strenuous activities that raise your pulse and blood pressure may interrupt your body’s natural course of healing.
At the same time, look out for signs of infection.
3-4 Weeks After Surgery
At this point, you can go back to your normal activities with caution.
Dr. Nidal Masri, plastic surgeon, may also recommend light exercises to encourage blood flow, such as walking or light chores.
Moreover, wearing underwire bras must be avoided as they can irritate your incision and affect your implants’ position. It takes three months post-op before your breasts’ final position appears.
Aside from following the precautions mentioned above, Dr. Nick Masri may have special reminders for you. After all, each body is unique and reacts differently to medical procedures.
Another technique that may help speed up the recovery process is massaging your breasts. Gently massage the breast tissue and incision around your implants in a circular motion for a few minutes each day.
One overlooked measure that promotes a healthy and speedy recovery is healthy living. Pay attention to your nutrition and hydrate properly.
If you are drinking supplements, make sure to check them with your Dr. Nick Masri of Miami first.
Long-Term Maintenance: Remove or Replace?
Now that you’re fully recovered, you may wonder how long can you truly reap the benefits of a successful breast implant.
You must remember that breast implants don’t last a lifetime.
A silicone or a saline implant can last from 8-10 years. 20% of patients have either removed or replaced their implants within the mentioned timeline due to varying cosmetic or health concerns.
So, how do you know what you should do with your implants? Here’s how to identify whether you need to remove, replace, or leave your implants in place.
Saline Rupture
When a saline breast implant ruptures, the affected breast may appear deflated. But with the quality control of both manufacturers and the FDA, saline ruptures are becoming rarer and rarer nowadays.
Still, if this happens, go to Dr. Nick Masri of Hollywood, FL, to have your implants removed or replaced.
Silicone Rupture
Silicone gel is thicker than saline. The viscous solution of the silicone implant makes ruptures go unnoticed.
Some silicone rupture symptoms are tenderness, pain, deflated breast size, numbness, tingling, or burning in the affected area.
Again, if you experience these symptoms, make sure to go to your plastic surgeon right away. A surgeon like Nick Masri MD would most likely remove and replace your breast implants.
Change in Initial Position
As mentioned earlier, your breast implants will take their final shape three months following the procedure.
If you notice a shift in position after this period, you may want to check it with your plastic surgeon. They might leave the implants in place and make adjustments.
Palpability and Rippling
There are a lot of factors that affect an implant once inside the patient’s body. These factors may contribute to rippling or deterioration.
Rippling occurs when the implants develop wrinkles or ripples. In some cases, this may be unavoidable. Discuss this with your plastic surgeon. Silicone and saline implants may both cause ripples or contour irregularities in certain positions
Capsular Contracture
Capsular contracture occurs when your body formulates a thick scar tissue capsule around the implants. This thick capsule makes the breast hard and firm. These may cause the breast to be hard, painful, and potentially disfiguring.
There are options to treat this. Some are more effective than others. Your surgeon can help you understand the right treatment options for you.
Breast Implant Revision: Can You Update Your Implants?
Sometimes, the discussion regarding breast implants isn’t limited to removing or replacing decisions. There are instances where you might want to keep the effects of the procedure without the implants in your body. Or maybe you are considering a smaller implant in place.
If this is the case, you can always talk to your plastic surgeon. Most probably, Dr. Nick Masri might present you with any of these options:
- Removal of implants and breast lift
- Removal of old implants and replacing them with new ones
- Removal, replacement, and addition of any breast augmentation surgery
The Bottom Line
When it comes to maintaining your implants’ longevity, there are three main things you need to remember.
- Choose a board-certified surgeon with significant experience in breast augmentation surgeries—like Dr. Nick Masri, plastic surgeon.
- Follow the post-operative instructions mentioned above and provided by your surgeon.
- Get tests to check for ruptures.
As medical technologies continue to progress, breast augmentation procedures are becoming safer. What’s more, both saline and silicone implants are regulated by the manufacturer’s quality control and FDA standards.
Breast implants last for about 10 years on average. This has been studied by breast implant manufacturers, who along with the FDA, offer statistics related to implant safety and longevity.
