Exercising After Breast Surgery

Undergoing a major surgery can put a halt to your physical activity as you recover. It’s not uncommon to feel the urge to keep up your active lifestyle post breast surgery. We promise you will get back on track following your procedure(s). You need to heal, which involves slight movement as well as taking the necessary time to rest.

But how long after breast surgery can you exercise? Our board-certified plastic surgeon is here to answer a few exercise rules to follow after breast surgery. 

How Long After Breast Surgery Can You Exercise? 

Many patients want to know when to exercise after a breast augmentation, a breast lift, a breast reduction and other breast surgeries, but it’s important to note that patients cannot resume strenuous physical activity right away post-surgery. What you can do immediately after surgery is light walking to get the blood flowing, prevent blood clots and improve circulation and overall mood. 

Two weeks post-op you may add more intense cardio into your workout routine. This includes walking on a treadmill and walking uphill. After about a month, patients should be able to resume most exercise after breast surgery except for heavy lifting. Patients should be fully healed and ready to resume all exercise after six weeks.

Please note: patients, especially those with implants underneath muscles, should avoid strenuous physical activity that involves the chest, for example, push-ups, bench press and cable fly to avoid swelling and discomfort. 

What Exercises Can I Do After Breast Surgery?

Post-breast surgery is going to involve plenty of rest while also incorporating light movement. Make sure you hold off on strenuous activities for at least 6 weeks, or even longer depending on how your body feels. A few exercises you can do after breast surgery are walking and range-of-motion exercises. 

As a reputable plastic surgeon in Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Zoran highly recommends you ease back into your normal workout routine. In the first week post-surgery, you should be walking for 10 minutes a few times a day to get more circulation and reduce the odds of developing a blood clot. Getting your steps in is one of the most important exercises you can do after breast surgery. 

Patients can also incorporate range-of-motion exercises that should be completed in the first month of recovery. 

1. The first exercise involves raising your arms and resting them on your head. 
2. Another exercise you can do after breast surgery is stretching the front of your pectoral muscle gently by lying on your back on the edge of the bed and letting your arms hang off the side for a few seconds. 
3. The final exercise is called walking the wall, which simply involves facing a wall and slowly crawling your fingers upward as your hands extend.

Please note: Make sure you are being gentle and not straining yourself when completing these exercises. Listen to your body and rest when needed. 

Recovering Post-Breast Surgery

Our team wishes you a speedy recovery post-breast surgery. Be careful when working out and make sure you are not feeling any discomfort or swelling. It’s also highly recommended you always wear a supportive bra whenever you begin exercising. Your bra is going to minimize pain while also reducing any breast movement. Please contact our board-certified plastic surgeon today for any further questions or concerns.  

Related Reading 

Perk Up with a Breast Lift

What to Know Before Considering Breast Reduction Surgery

What Men Think of Breast Implants – Can Men Tell and Do They Care?

Faith

Dr. Zoran Potparic is a board certified plastic surgeon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, committed to performing surgery of the highest quality, safety, and artistry. He applies his years of global study and research, as well as more than 30 years of hands-on experience performing reconstructive and cosmetic surgery for patients coming from all over the United States.