A breast augmentation surgery can be a bold way to change the way your body looks, but when the surgery is over you may feel weak and uncomfortable for a while. Your discharge notes might have outlined recovery in terms of monitoring yourself for problems and administering medications for pain relief, but there are additional things you can do to get yourself on your feet and back to your best. Use the pointers below to encourage healing.
Use Cold Compresses and Nursing Pads
One of the reasons you feel sore is that there was some trauma to the breast tissue, which causes swelling. To bring that swelling down, cold compresses can help you to feel a lot better. You can use regular cold packs all around the breast area, but you might want to look into bra-like cold packs that come with straps.
Another reason for discomfort is that you will likely feel heightened sensitivity for a while. Interestingly, pads made for nursing mothers can offer some relief.
Sleep with a Wedge
Waking up in the middle of the night to find that you're laying on an incision site can be painful. To avoid this, consider getting a sleeping wedge. The wedge will support your upper body so that you can sleep without worry.
You may think of stacking a lot of pillows, but while that might work for a while, as you sleep the pillows can slip out of place and you'll find yourself uncomfortable again. The sturdiness of the sleep wedge will help your upper body remain elevated and unlikely to move around too much.
Pay Attention to Your Diet
When you're not feeling so hot, it can be hard to pay close attention to what you're eating and drinking. In fact, you might not be eating or drinking much at all. However, it is vital to realize that your diet can give your body the power to start feeling better. Eat healthy foods, and, in particular, avoid high-salt items. Too much salt in your body can cause you to retain water, which may mean prolonged periods of swelling. Drink a great deal of water all day long to flush your body and remain hydrated.
There is no set time after your surgery when you should feel completely better. Be patient with your body and use the information here to help your recovery happen more quickly. Ask your surgeon for additional suggestions that may help.
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