After breast augmentation, most women feel more confident, feminine, and sexy. With your newly enhanced figure, it is completely natural for you – and your partner – to be anxious about getting intimate again. In fact, many women report a better sex life than ever, thanks to their breast implants! While it can be tempting to resume intimacy right away, you may be surprised to learn that having sex too soon after breast augmentation carries risks. The caring team at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery, led by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. James Romanelli and Dr. John Layliev, is dedicated to helping Long Island, NY breast augmentation patients ensure as quick, complete, and comfortable of a recovery as possible so that they can get back to doing all the things they love!
What to expect after breast augmentation
The details of recovery after breast augmentation will depend on a variety of individual patient factors, including what kind of incision was used, the placement of the implant (above or beneath the muscle), whether or not any additional procedures – such as a breast lift – were performed simultaneously, and others. In general, patients should expect some level of discomfort, swelling, and limited upper-body mobility following breast augmentation. Most of these symptoms can be relieved with medications and, typically, resolve relatively quickly.
Many patients feel much more like themselves after about a week and are able to return to work within 7 – 10 days, depending on the physical demands of their job. It is important to note that heavy lifting will be strictly off-limits for several weeks, meaning women with young children or housework should plan to have help.
Some symptoms, including swelling, numbness, and loss of nipple sensation, can last for several months. The majority of breast augmentation swelling should go down after about 3 – 4 weeks, with the visible results continuing to improve as the implants settle, the incisions heal and fade, and the remainder of the swelling subsides over the next few months.
Breast augmentation aftercare is vitally important for ensuring proper healing and stunning, long-lasting results. Above all, patients should follow their surgeon’s postoperative guidelines closely and completely. These will likely include:
- Getting plenty of rest
- Keeping circulation going with short, light walks around the room
- Eating a healthy diet
- Limiting sodium intake
- Staying hydrated
- Avoiding alcohol and nicotine
- Refraining from exercise, straining, and lifting
- Wearing supportive medical undergarments
- Taking prescribed medications as directed
- Attending all follow-up appointments
- Avoiding swimming, taking baths, or otherwise submerging incisions
During your preoperative appointment at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery for breast augmentation, your surgeon will provide you with comprehensive postoperative guidelines both verbally and in writing to ensure that you and your partner or caretaker fully understand what to expect during recovery.
When can I have sex after getting breast implants?
In addition to heavy lifting, strenuous physical activity and exercise should also be avoided for several weeks – or sometimes longer – following breast augmentation. Unfortunately, this includes sex. Drs. Romanelli and Layliev fully understand the important role that intimacy can play in a patient’s life, relationship, and emotional well-being and make every effort to ensure a speedy and efficient recovery so that normal sexual activity can be resumed as soon as possible. However, it is critical for Long Island, NY patients to remember that they are still healing and that having sex too soon may compromise their results or lead to complications and the need for a subsequent procedure. Some of the potential risks associated with sex too soon after getting breast implants include:
- Improper healing
- Hematoma
- Pulling out sutures
- Implant displacement
- Implant rupture
- Infection
- Unplanned pregnancy (antibiotics can sometimes interfere with birth control pills)
On average, patients should be able to resume some level of sexual activity 2 – 3 weeks after breast augmentation. This may seem like a long time to wait, but most women find that they are still sore from surgery, tired, or nauseated from medication, or simply not comfortable enough to have sex until then anyway.
At your one-week follow-up appointment, you can talk to your doctor in more detail about your current healing progress and when it may be safe to resume sex. Some gentle sexual activity may be possible after the first couple of weeks, though you and your partner should be careful not to directly touch the breasts or incisions. It is also important to avoid letting the breasts bounce up and down.
Feel sexier than every with breast augmentation in Long Island, NY
If you’re looking for a way to spice things up in the bedroom and feel more feminine, confident, and beautiful than ever before, then breast augmentation may be right for you! Call the friendly team at Romanelli Cosmetic Surgery in Huntington, NY to schedule your confidential and private consultation with one of our highly experienced board-certified Long Island plastic surgeons, Dr. James Romanelli or Dr. John Layliev, and take the first step toward achieving – or restoring – the body of your dreams!
