Recovery

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16. My nipples are too sensitive and are constantly erect? What can I do to ease this?

Many women complain of very erect and sensitive nipples. It happens, often. It feels very sensitive when even your clothing rubs up against them. You may try using those round Band-Aids, large corn pads or nursing pads to cover your nipples. These pads will protect your overly-sensitive nipples from the abrasiveness of your clothing as well as shield your erect nipples from the wandering eyes of the public.

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17. My nipples are pointing at the floor (or up or outwards, etc.), does this mean I needed a lift or I have been "botched"??

This is normal at first, don't worry. Your implants are usually high up on your chest at first (especially with unders) and this points your breasts to the floor, including the nipples of course. Hang in there, you are just healing!

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18. I hate my new breasts they are ugly and bruised and aren't big enough! Am I going crazy?

As I have said before, if you are wondering why your breasts may be odd looking, it is because of your skin being stretched over them; the implants may be very firm and high and your muscles are traumatized and tense. You may think they are too big, too small, too round, not round enough, too jellybean shaped, too square, too itchy, too high, too low, too ugly, too sensitive, too this and too that. This will pass, remember your results aren't near being seen. Give it time .If you got unders (either sub-pectoral only or full sub-muscular) it may take a bit for the muscles to relax. Especially on your dominant side. For instance, if you are right handed, your right breast may not fall as fast as your left one. Don't worry though, it will, and if it doesn't due to the pocket not being made low enough, your surgeon can correct it later on.

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19. My breasts are too big! I hate them! When can I have a redo?

Patience is a virtue. Your breast are swollen and you haven't become accustomed to them yet. They are also probably high up on your chest and you feel as if they are right under your chin. Give it some time so the swelling goes down. You will more than likely think that they get too small as the swelling subsides.

If after 6 to 9 months and you don't like them, then you can think of a redo but give it some time. You are going through a lot, having a small chest to a larger one overnight can be distressing. Be patient, grasshopper.

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20. I feel so depressed - is this normal??

Many times patients, including me, experience times of sadness or anxiety in the recovery period. We begin to second guess ourselves and wonder truly if we ever should have had the surgery in the first place. We begin to think we are "ugly" and that the bruising and swelling will never go away. You are not alone. In fact, you're quite normal!

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21. When can I start jogging again?

You need to be fully healed before you subject your breasts to that kind of activity. The jumping up and down without a proper support can also really cause all kinds of damage, and cause you to sag. You need to be released by your surgeon for activity such as this because your case my be very different from the next. Regardless of WHEN you start, wear a support bra.

This goes for jumping rope, trampoline, horseback riding, etc.

When you are allowed to do the above, it is heavily advised to use a great support. Sports bras, such as the Shock Absorber: Impact Level 4 sports bra, assist in proper support during rigorous exercise and activities. Please see our store for more sportsbra choices.

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23. When can I go swimming or water skiing again?

These are an activity that you will have to wait to be released by your surgeon to participate in. Swimming in general is an activity which varies with implant placement. With overs, there isn't much to worry about regarding this aspect pother than general healing times. But with under placement you are going to have problems, run the risk of displacing the implant with your swimming movements. Swimming involves the pectoral muscle a great deal and I have spoken with several women who went swimming too soon after and wound up with their implant too far up under the pectoral or in their armpit. Be careful.

Water skiing and even snow skiing involves possible injury due to falls, of course the water skiing will involve swimming and the above applies to you.

Bottom Line: Ask your surgeon if you are healed enough to swim. Even if you are getting used to swimming with unders is a new experience.

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24. Roller coasters: Are they dangerous after surgery?

Roller coasters aren't taboo once you get implants, they are perfectly okay once you are healed. Any type of serious surgery recovery needs to wait out the healing phase because the G-forces of today's popular roller coasters can tear newly healed tissue back open and cause either hemorrhaging or other types of problems.

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25. My surgeon has me wearing underwires and I have had an inframammary incision - what can I do to lessen the irritation?

We answered this question earlier: If your incisions have closed you can either wear an ACE® bandage around the bottom of your breasts and then wear the bra on top of it all, or use non-stick wound pads with paper medical tape, surgical paper tape over the incision (Steri-Strips™) or foam padding like EPIfoam™ from BioDermis. EPIfoam™ has an adhesive silicone sheeting side and a foam pad so that your underwires or bra band does not cause irritation. Plus the silicone sheeting helps fade and flatten your scars.

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26. What can I do about my scars? What treatments lessen the appearance of them?

There is prevention and treatment. For prevention, rather, lessening, some surgeons use tissue sealant (like fibrin glue) or use Steri-Strips™ or other types of medical paper tape. For treatment, there are options like Mederma® , BioDermis' Xeragel® and silicone sheeting, etc.