If you are contemplating breast augmentation surgery, or have already had breast implants and want to know how you can continue exercising as you heal, first consult your doctor to see whether you are ready to resume a routine. Individual recovery times vary for those who have had this surgery. Breast augmentation surgery is performed using silicone or saline implants that are placed under the chest muscle or above it. Although procedures vary, most doctors recommend doing light exercises or simply abstaining from exercise the first few weeks after surgery.
Arm Exercises
Chicago plastic surgeon Otto Joseph Placik, M.D., recommends that those who have had breast augmentation surgery do light arm exercises, including arm circles and shoulder rolls. For the arm circles, do 10 to 15 circles in each direction, with your arms outstretched from the shoulder in steady, smooth rotations. To perform shoulder rolls, keep your arms straight at your sides and lift the shoulders up toward your ears, then push the shoulders back and roll them down in a circular motion. Repeat for 10 to 15 times going backward, then do the same with your shoulders rolling forward.
Low Impact Exercises
Once you can start exercising again after surgery, avoid heavy weightlifting and strenuous arm movements. According to Dr. Joseph A. Mele, III, M.D., F.A.C.S., chairman of the Division of Plastic Surgery at John Muir Medical Center in the San Francisco Bay area, most athletes adjust well to breast implants, but the sport and size increase of the breasts can come into play. Sports with a lot of lateral arm movement, such as tennis and golf, are more stressful on the chest muscles, Mele says, so avoid these sports until you have your doctor’s clearance. When you do perform them, start slowly and work back up to your former level of fitness. In general, it’s best to choose low-impact fitness routines at first, such as walking.
Aerobic Exercise
According to Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Edwin C. Pound II, M.D., exercises that do not include strenuous arm movements or physical contact are the best initial choices for post-surgery patients. If you start working out too soon with aerobic exercise, you may cause internal bleeding. Ease back into working out by walking, slow jogging or cycling. Pound advises patients to avoid weightlifting for an additional two to four weeks after they begin exercising, as weights can cause muscle tears and put strain on healing tissue in the chest. Pound says that most patients are able to exercise within two to four weeks after surgery, but healing times vary, so a post-operative checkup is essential to determine whether you are fit to begin working out again.
About this Author
Marnie Kunz is an award-winning writer and editor who writes about fitness, pets, lifestyle, entertainment and health. She has been writing since 2004. Her articles have been published in “Alive,” “The Marietta Daily Journal,” “The Hillsborough Beacon,” “Webster-Kirkwood Times” and “The Paper.” She also writes for eHow.com and Trails.com. Kunz holds a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from Knox College.
