Women who undergo breast augmentation surgery with Dr Norris are understandably eager to take their beach-ready bodies to the shore. Hold on a minute! It’s one thing to dive into a nifty new swimsuit after breast implant surgery, but quite another to actually dive into the water.
In this article, Dr Benjamin Norris explains the prudence of avoiding the sea, surf…and sun…and breast surgery!
Why Water & Breast Surgery Stitches Don’t Mix
Keeping stitches dry reduces the risk of infection and Dr Norris recommends that patients avoid showering for the first 48 hours after breast surgery. “Don’t be too alarmed if you accidentally wet your stitches,” reassures Dr Norris. “All you have to do is act quickly and soak up any moisture around the area with a clean towel.”
After 48 hours, it is generally safe to remove the dressing around their incision and expose the wound to a light shower spray. Showering is fine, but “I have patients avoid full submersion in a bath for at least three weeks as submerging the wound can be detrimental to healing.” The same is true for swimming.
Swimming after Implants: 3 Weeks & Counting
Swimming is a wonderful aerobic exercise, just not immediately following a breast augmentation. “After surgery, it takes time for the skin to regain its natural water-resistant nature,” says Dr Norris. “Swimming also puts undue stress on the skin around the incision area.” For these reasons, he tells patients to:
- Wait a minimum of three weeks before going into the water above the waist.
- Avoid submerging your breasts in water until all incisions are completely healed, however long that takes.
- Take care to dry off your breasts and change out of your wet swim top immediately after you’ve finished your swim.
Same Can Be Said for the Sun…
“The sun is a menace under the best of circumstances,” says Dr Norris, referring to skin health and skin ageing. If you expose fragile tissue to the sun too soon after breast augmentation surgery, you put yourself at higher risk for
- Raised scars
- Reddish scars
- Wide scars
Individuals heal at different rates, so there is no timetable for heading into the sun. Instead, wait until the incision marks are flat and soft, and the colour has become pale rather than red. This process may take anywhere from a few months to a full year.
Dr Norris has a special tip for keeping breast implant incisions as unnoticeable as possible: “In many cases, damaging UV rays can penetrate swimsuit material, putting your skin at risk,” he says. “Put sun block on your incision before you put on your swimsuit for maximum protection.”
Get New Breasts & Lots of Advice
The bottom line on beach-ing and pool-ing post breast augmentation surgery: “It’s okay to go underwater, just don’t go overboard with strenuous activity,” says Dr Norris. Now is a wonderful time to get your body ready for the Summer. To learn more, we invite you to reach us on 02 9387 3800 or use our online enquiry form.