There are different steps you can take for pain relief after you have a breast augmentation. Pain may occur in different areas of the body, so it’s important to manage them accordingly. Your surgeon will advise you on the best practices and provide you with the appropriate pain medication for breast augmentation recovery.
Why do you have pain after a breast augmentation?
A breast augmentation is an invasive surgical procedure and involves making incisions into skin and breast tissue. As a result, the breasts need time to heal and patients experience some intermittent pain while they recover. Additionally, tissue, fat and nerves are all moved around during breast augmentation surgery. The body requires time to adapt to these changes and pain may be a side effect of this adjustment period.
What type of pain can you get after breast augmentation surgery?
You can experience pain in different areas of one or both breasts following breast augmentation. Some women even experience pain or discomfort in different parts of the body. Every patient will have their own experience with breast augmentation based on the details of their procedure and their own personal qualities.
Nerve pain
There are many nerve endings in the breasts and they may experience damage during breast surgery. As a result, patients can expect to experience lingering nerve pain while the nerves heal. Generally, damage to the nerves results in shooting pains around the area.
Nerve pain is relatively rare and does not occur after more procedures. But for some women it may last between six and twelve weeks. There are special nerve pain medications available to help with this issue.
Nipple pain
As a knock-on effect from nerve damage, women may also experience nipple pain following a breast augmentation. This can manifest as tenderness, soreness, burning, and discomfort. Nipple pain tends to follow the same recovery timeline as nerve pain, healing along with it. However, in certain cases, it may manifest later on between three and six months after the procedure.
Incision pain
It’s very common to get sharp pain around the incision sites after a breast augmentation. While the cuts made are precise and clean, it still takes a while before the incision sites fully heal and stop hurting. In the early stages, you will likely be prescribed pain medications to help manage breast pain due to incisions.
Back pain
While the back is not directly impacted by the breast augmentation procedure, patients may still experience back pain following the surgery. Pain in the back and shoulders has primarily been attributed to different weight distribution in the body. Another contributing factor may be the tendency of patients to hunch over the area where surgery has been performed. These issues tend to go away on their own after the body has time to adjust.
Rib pain
Rib pain is one potential consequence of breast augmentation surgery. This is because of the increased pressure on the skin to accommodate breast implants. It has the potential to cause inflammation in the lining that surrounds the ribs. Rib pain generally tends to reduce over time and is typically treatable through the use of anti-inflammatories.
How long will you experience pain after a breast augmentation?
Most women will experience noticeable pain for only a few days after their breast augmentation procedure, but for some it could last over two weeks. In most cases, the pain will be due to inflammation and swelling. Longer lasting pain is more likely to settle in patients where the implants are placed under the muscle, as the muscle’s attachment to the ribs has to be released. Usually this will be managed through the use of pain medications. Everyone’s recovery journey will be somewhat different so it’s important to regularly check up with your surgeon to manage your symptoms properly.
How to manage pain after a breast augmentation?
To best manage pain after a breast augmentation, there are a few different methods to keep in mind. One is pain medication, which helps to dull the pain patients experience, particularly in the short term. Another way to help with pain relief is to get the appropriate rest early on. For the first day or two, getting bed rest is extremely beneficial for healing. But after that, it’s important to start mobilising rather than continuing to lie in bed. However, you should still avoid activities that put undue strain on the chest area while you’re recovering. If pain persists and is severe enough to restrict mobility after this, contact your surgeon.
Where can you go for a breast augmentation in Perth?
West Coast Plastic Surgery is one of the premier plastic surgery clinics for breast augmentation in Perth. Dr. Qadir Khan and his team have a wealth of experience and have provided patients with excellent results over the years. We make sure to guide you on your journey from the first consultation and all the way through your aftercare. Contact us today if you’re interested in a consultation.