Breast augmentation can be an incredibly satisfying procedure. Women who have this surgery to create the curves that feel more aligned with their body frame and their vision of themselves typically report an immense shift in how they feel about their bodies. It isn’t that breast augmentation can make you love your body if you don’t already have a healthy body image (it can’t), it’s that the procedure that brings a woman’s healthy image of herself to life gives her heart and mind a boost. That said, if you’re considering breast augmentation, we anticipate you’ll have the same question most of our patients have: does breast augmentation hurt. We’ll discuss that here.
Breast Augmentation: What Should I Expect?
Does breast augmentation hurt? This question deserves a thoughtful response because it’s not as simple as “yes” or “no.” The most honest response is that breast augmentation surgery does not hurt. The reason is that patients are under general anesthesia for their procedure. General anesthesia creates a sleep-like state in which the brain cannot register pain signals from the body. So, this part of the answer is pretty simple. When you’re having breast augmentation, you will not feel anything. You won’t be aware of what is going on around you. Now, let’s go to the next step, recovery.
What About Post-Operative Pain?
When you have breast augmentation, the surgeon will insert breast implants beneath your skin, connective tissue, and, possibly, beneath part of a muscle. The movement of these tissues causes them to stretch. The placement of the breast implants beneath them causes them to stretch to their new form. Therefore, the body will experience some inflammation. This isn’t a bad thing, though. Inflammation and the pain the results from it tell the brain that healing is needed. In response to pain, the brain tells the pituitary gland to produce endorphins, which act as natural painkillers. Don’t worry though, you won’t have to rely only on your endorphins to feel comfortable after surgery. For the first few days, you will take prescription painkillers as directed by the surgeon.
Pain after breast augmentation surgery is expected. However, this is a subjective term. The most common word that patients use to describe post-operative pain is “heavy.” Some say they feel like a baby elephant is sitting on their chest. Some say that their chest feels tight. Soreness and tenderness are also normal sensations after breast augmentation. With rest, medication, and prescribed wear of the postsurgical compression garment, patients can stay more comfortable than they had thought they could.
Breast augmentation surgery is one of our most popular procedures. To learn more about the treatment process and recovery, contact us at 440-459-0007 and schedule a visit to Cleveland Plastic Surgery Institute.