Recovery Timeline (Q&A) Started by: Violet

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  • Violet 22
    22p
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    +4

    How many days/weeks/months approx. after surgery:

    (Copy & paste / put ‘NA’ if doesn’t apply to you)

    Used the toilet by yourself?
    Out of bed all day?
    Shower/bathed (body)?
    Went for a walk?
    Picked up a light object (e.g. Phone)?
    Prepared a meal?
    Washed your hair?
    Moved a heavy object (e.g. Chair)?
    Lower body exercise?
    Upper body exercise?
    Used weights?
    Went to someone’s house?
    Stopped taking medication?
    Returned to work (include type of job)?
    Drove your car?
    Had sex?
    Went to a party/social gathering?
    Bra shopping & try on?
    Lifted your arms above your head?
    Drank alcohol?
    Began scar care?
    Breasts were settled enough to look normal in cleavage clothing (V-necks, fitted dresses, etc)?
    Healed scars?
    Nipple sensitivity back to normal?
    Able to handle breasts without pain?
    Went braless?
    Breasts finally felt like part of you?

    Natasha 36
    36p
    Menu
    +3

    Used the toilet by yourself? Straight away
    Out of bed all day? Day 5. Went back to work day 7.
    Shower/bathed (body)? Bathed day 4 and from then until day 13 then showered from 14 onwards.
    Went for a walk? 5km on day 4
    Picked up a light object (e.g. Phone)? You can pick things like phones up straight away. Heavier lifting slowly from day 7 onwards.
    Prepared a meal? Around day 10 – would’ve been able to do it before but didn’t need to.
    Washed your hair? I could do this by myself day 5 over the bath.
    Moved a heavy object (e.g. Chair)? Day 7
    Lower body exercise? Not tried until I get the all clear at 6 week appointment
    Upper body exercise? NA
    Used weights? NA
    Went to someone’s house? Day 18 but only because of work commitments
    Stopped taking medication? I took ibuprofen regularly for 7 days to help with swelling but day 6 for stronger medication which I was taking at night.
    Returned to work (include type of job)? Day 7 – high school teacher
    Drove your car? Day 7. 5th gear is very uncomfortable
    Had sex? NA
    Went to a party/social gathering? Day 24
    Bra shopping & try on? Bought an underwired one on day 20 and tried it on but going to wait until after 6 week appointment to wear
    Lifted your arms above your head? Day 5
    Drank alcohol? Still haven’t
    Began scar care?
    Breasts were settled enough to look normal in cleavage clothing (V-necks, fitted dresses, etc)?
    Healed scars? Not allowed to until after 6 weeks
    Nipple sensitivity back to normal? Nipples are so sensitive
    Able to handle breasts without pain? Straight away but from 10 day without scar pain
    Went braless? Only in shower as it still feels heavy and like they are going to fall off
    Breasts finally felt like part of you? Day 16-18 is when it started. Still not there though.

    Elle 73
    73p
    Menu
    +3

    Used the toilet by yourself? Straight away
    Out of bed all day? Day 4
    Shower/bathed (body)? Bathed like flannel wash day after had to wait til day 14 for a shower due to one of my incisions
    Went for a walk? Day 4
    Picked up a light object (e.g. Phone)? Straight away
    Prepared a meal? Day 3
    Washed your hair? Over the bath with help day 3
    Moved a heavy object (e.g. Chair)? About 2/3 weeks
    Lower body exercise? Week 6
    Upper body exercise? Week 10, feels strange but okay
    Used weights? ^ as above
    Went to someone’s house? Day 4
    Stopped taking medication? Day 4 i just did as an when i needed after that
    Returned to work (include type of job)? Day 10 office job
    Drove your car? N/A
    Had sex? N/A – single AF
    Went to a party/social gathering? Week 2
    Bra shopping & try on? Week 6
    Lifted your arms above your head? About day 7
    Drank alcohol? Week 2
    Began scar care? Week 6
    Breasts were settled enough to look normal in cleavage clothing (V-necks, fitted dresses, etc)? Week 6
    Healed scars? I cant remember, week 6/7 ish?
    Nipple sensitivity back to normal? Week 10 ish?
    Able to handle breasts without pain? Week 3/4
    Went braless? Properly week 6, it feels weird til you get used to it
    Breasts finally felt like part of you? Probably like month 3 is where i stopped faffing and panicking about them all the time. Im 5mpo now and i forget they arent real most of the time

    Amanda 15
    15p
    Menu
    -1

    @Elle what type of exercise did you participate in? I’m an avid CrossFitter and I know I’ll be desperate to getting back to lifting weights etc

    Beth Pugh 41
    41p
    Menu
    +3

    Used the toilet by yourself? Straight away
    Out of bed all day? I think about day 4 or 5
    Shower/bathed (body)? First 2 weeks washed my top half with a flannel and had shallow baths
    Went for a walk? Took a good week for me to have a proper walk without feeling exhausted
    Picked up a light object (e.g. Phone)? Straight away
    Prepared a meal? Day 7
    Washed your hair? My mum helped me day 3 and i washed my own hair over the bath on day 5
    Moved a heavy object (e.g. Chair)? 2 weeks
    Lower body exercise? NA
    Upper body exercise? NA
    Used weights?NA
    Went to someone’s house? Day 7
    Stopped taking medication? Day 4
    Returned to work (include type of job)? 2 weeks, carer
    Drove your car? NA
    Had sex? Day 7
    Went to a party/social gathering? Week 2
    Bra shopping & try on? 5 weeks but didnt start wearing them till week 6
    Lifted your arms above your head? I could do it comfortably by day 3
    Drank alcohol? Week 2
    Began scar care? Week 6
    Breasts were settled enough to look normal in cleavage clothing (V-necks, fitted dresses, etc)? Id say week 8 they really started looking more settled and in place
    Healed scars? Judging by my pictures week 10 they were completely healed
    Nipple sensitivity back to normal? Honestly one of mine is still numb 8 months post op
    Able to handle breasts without pain?3 months
    Went braless?6 weeks
    Breasts finally felt like part of you? 3 months

    Violet 22
    22p
    Menu
    +1

    @snowflake93 @ellet0204 @bethpugh
    So interesting reading these responses!! ❤️

    Elle 73
    73p
    Menu
    +2

    Amanda i started really light with a PT friend of mine, body weight and resi bands mostly, then moved to small weights for your bog standard overhead presses, rows, lat raises, ect. I really recommend starting light and focusing on your form because i wont lie it does feel weird with unders.. you can feel the implant move/constrict under the muscle, id say if youre fit and healthy anyway probably more so as you will have more muscle mass than someone not into fitness and lifting.
    I do pole fitness too, but im still too chicken to get back to that yet because its so much more bendy and stretchy lol!

    Rc 8
    8p
    Menu
    +5

    Used the toilet by yourself? Within the hour
    Out of bed all day? Day 1 lol I have a toddler so😂
    Shower/bathed (body)? After 2 weeks, I obviously washed but not allowed shower until bandage bits are off
    Went for a walk? Day 1
    Picked up a light object (e.g. Phone)? Day 1
    Prepared a meal? Day 5( milked it and partner made the meals 😂😁)
    Washed your hair? Day 3
    Moved a heavy object (e.g. Chair)? About a week.
    Lower body exercise? Not done yet( 4 weeks post)
    Upper body exercise? Not done yet( 4 weeks post)
    Used weights?na
    Went to someone’s house? On the day of surgery to pick my son up
    Stopped taking medication? Day 6
    Returned to work (include type of job)? After just over a week, warehouse operative
    Drove your car? Na
    Had sex? Day 3-4
    Went to a party/social gathering? Day 6
    Bra shopping & try on? 4 weeks
    Lifted your arms above your head? Roughly week 2 I’d say
    Drank alcohol? Day 5. Not lots, just a glass
    Began scar care? Haven’t yet
    Breasts were settled enough to look normal in cleavage clothing (V-necks, fitted dresses, etc)? I’d say now to be honest! Hence why I’m going shopping tomorrow 😁
    Healed scars? After a week if you limit your movement
    Nipple sensitivity back to normal? Oversensitive at the minute! But was after 2 weeks ish
    Able to handle breasts without pain? Still feel bruised 4 weeks post
    Went bra less? Week 3, only for a few hours a day, still wore sports bra 90% of the time
    Breasts finally felt like part of you? 4 weeks, still feel bruised but they feel natural now. Before they felt like they were stuck on lol

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by Rc 8.
    Mel -3
    -3p
    Menu
    -2

    Used the toilet by yourself? – straight away
    Out of bed all day?- day 4
    Shower/bathed (body)? – sponge bath the same day and up until day 7 when could shower properly
    Went for a walk? – day 4
    Picked up a light object (e.g. Phone)? – straight away
    Prepared a meal? – day 2
    Washed your hair? – with help day 3, on my own day 7
    Moved a heavy object (e.g. Chair)? – day 8
    Lower body exercise? – not yet im only 4wpo
    Upper body exercise? – not yet im only 4wpo
    Used weights? N/A
    Went to someone’s house? – day 2
    Stopped taking medication? – day 2 , couldnt stand the bloating so just suffered with the pain instead
    Returned to work (include type of job)? – they made me go back day 4 for a few shifts because couldnt find cover but then i had a week off – dental nurse
    Drove your car? – day 5 but it hurt trying to get into 5th gear or going over bumps so i gave up and tried again day 9
    Had sex? – 3wpo
    Went to a party/social gathering? – not yet
    Bra shopping & try on? – not yet still have to wear macom till 6 week review
    Lifted your arms above your head? – day 7
    Drank alcohol? – not yet
    Began scar care? – not yet
    Breasts were settled enough to look normal in cleavage clothing (V-necks, fitted dresses, etc)? – not yet unfortunately
    Healed scars? – week 1 i had dressings removed and they looked healed but are getting better each week
    Nipple sensitivity back to normal? – had no feeling in them for a week then they were hypersensitive and now i get a bit of sensitivity every now and then
    Able to handle breasts without pain? – 2wpo
    Went braless? – not yet other than to shower
    Breasts finally felt like part of you? – they feel less stuck on now and like they are going to fall off 😂

    Charley 8
    8p
    Menu
    +2

    Used the toilet by yourself? Day 2
    Out of bed all day? Day 15 days post op (I caught Covid 6 days post op)
    Shower/bathed (body)? 2 weeks post op
    Went for a walk? 18 days post op
    Picked up a light object (e.g. Phone)? Straight away
    Prepared a meal? 4 days post op (with great difficulty but my husband caught Covid first so I had to cook for the kids)
    Washed your hair? Washing my hair myself was 21 days post op.
    Moved a heavy object (e.g. Chair)? 4 days post op (not recommended 🙈)
    Lower body exercise? N/a
    Upper body exercise? N/a
    Used weights? N/a
    Went to someone’s house? 18 days post op
    Stopped taking medication? Still taking at 29 days post op
    Returned to work (include type of job)? Midwifery – currently on annual leave but no where near ready to return.
    Drove your car? 18 days post op
    Had sex? 28 days post op
    Went to a party/social gathering? 22 days post op
    Bra shopping & try on? 25 days post op
    Lifted your arms above your head? 3 weeks post op
    Drank alcohol? N/a
    Began scar care? 3 weeks post op
    Breasts were settled enough to look normal in cleavage clothing (V-necks, fitted dresses, etc)? 4 weeks post op
    Healed scars? Healing well at 29 days post op
    Nipple sensitivity back to normal? No still hyper sensitive 4 weeks pos op
    Able to handle breasts without pain? No
    Went braless? Yes.! Only for an hour a day as the swelling feels so compressed in my bra
    Breasts finally felt like part of you? No.!

    Bee 41
    41p
    Menu
    +1

    Used the toilet by yourself? Day 1
    Out of bed all day? Day 3/4
    Shower/bathed (body)? Day 2 with help into the shower by my boyfriend, could only shower my lower body
    Went for a walk? Day 4
    Picked up a light object (e.g. Phone)? Day 1
    Prepared a meal? Day 13/14
    Washed your hair? Day 4 over the bath
    Moved a heavy object (e.g. Chair)? Not until around 2 weeks
    Lower body exercise? More than 6 weeks
    Upper body exercise? More than 6 weeks
    Used weights? More than 6 weeks
    Went to someone’s house? 1 week
    Stopped taking medication? 1 week
    Returned to work (include type of job)? 11 days or so – working from home
    Drove your car? Day 7
    Had sex? Day 6/7 very carefully!!
    Went to a party/social gathering? 2 months
    Bra shopping & try on? One month
    Lifted your arms above your head? Few days
    Drank alcohol? 1 week or so
    Began scar care? 6-8 weeks
    Breasts were settled enough to look normal in cleavage clothing (V-necks, fitted dresses, etc)? 4 weeks
    Healed scars? Still healing now but have basically turned white after 6 months
    Nipple sensitivity back to normal? Only in the left
    Able to handle breasts without pain? 2/3 weeks
    Went braless? 8 weeks onwards sometimes
    Breasts finally felt like part of you? 3 months onwards

    Birgit 10
    10p
    Menu

    Used the toilet by yourself? Hour after
    Out of bed all day? Day 2
    Shower/bathed (body)?day 4
    Went for a walk?day 3
    Picked up a light object (e.g. Phone)? Hour after
    Prepared a meal?week after
    Washed your hair? Week after
    Moved a heavy object (e.g. Chair)? Day 4
    Went to someone’s house? Day 2
    Stopped taking medication? Day 3 painkillers, day 5 Antibiotics
    Drove your car? Two days post op
    Had sex? Week after
    Bra shopping & try on? 4w after
    Lifted your arms above your head? 4w after
    Breasts were settled enough to look normal in cleavage clothing (V-necks, fitted dresses, etc)? 3 Weeks after
    Nipple sensitivity back to normal? 2 Weeks i thinka
    Able to handle breasts without pain? Three Weeks
    Breasts finally felt like part of you? Day one!

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