Discover our technical expertise and creativity dedicated to breast augmentation surgery in Switzerland.

   On this page you will find useful information on breast aesthetic operations andrecovery after breast augmentation. We then invite you to discuss your project during a medical consultation at Quai Perdonnet 3 – 1800 VEVEY or at Avenue Mon-Repos 14 – 1005 LAUSANNE.

   In consultation with Doctor Stéphane Smarrito, time will be taken to answer all your questions, with professionalism and kindness! We can then consider together the implementation of your breast augmentation operation.

What is the recovery like after breast augmentation?

Breast augmentation surgery is a procedure that uses breast implants to make the breasts larger. A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with salt water, saline solution or silicone gel. A breast implant can be placed under the pectoral muscle (subpectoral) or above the pectoral muscle (inframammary).

“Breast augmentation surgery requires recovery time before resuming your usual activities. »

The length of this period depends on what you are doing; if you only work in an office, therefore activities with limited physical effort, after 7/10 days you will certainly be able to return to work. If, on the contrary, you practice an activity that is a little more intense from a physical and muscular point of view, in this case I recommend that you rest for at least 2-3, or even 4 weeks. If you are part of that group of women who are super active and spend most of their time at the gym, then I recommend at least 6 weeks of rest.

How long is the recovery time after breast augmentation?

Breast augmentation is perhaps “the” plastic surgery par excellence. It is the first surgery that we think of when we enter the subject and also the most performed. Needless to say, it mainly concerns the female world. Women's breasts have a strong meaning in the common imagination: they represent femininity, but also motherhood.

Of course, not everyone likes large breasts and not all women would want them. Most patients who come to see me to request this procedure simply want to have a breast in which they feel good. Very large breasts involve a series of problems, so I listen patiently to the patient and then give my opinion. If the patient requests shapes that are not in harmony with her body, I prefer not to start the procedure.

I always see my patients the next day to remove the dressing and put on the bra. Doctor Stéphane Smarrito

To be natural and therefore optimal, breast augmentation must meet specific rules:

• The prosthesis must be the right size, so that the edges are not visible under the skin;
• The breast must have the right shape. Of course, every woman has a different breast shape and hairline, but we can say that in general the lower part has a slightly greater volume than the upper part. The nipple should face forward;
• The prosthesis must be well covered and is therefore most often placed in a submuscular pocket. Unless the woman's tissues located above the muscle (mammary gland and adipose tissue) provide adequate coverage.
• The implant itself must be a great product.

In some cases, in order to further increase the naturalness of the result, it may be recommended to use fat at the same time as the prosthesis (hybrid or composite breast augmentation), which not only allows very natural, but also to modify the shape of the breast in a sectoral manner, if this proves necessary due to a naturally unbalanced breast shape. The procedure can be performed under general anesthesia or deep sedation with local-regional anesthesia. In both cases, we are talking about an intervention of about an hour between each thing.

We have therefore seen that today a woman who wants to enlarge her breasts has several possibilities, but they all have a common period... convalescence. Doctor Stéphane Smarrito

When you return home, all you have to do is rest for at least two days. When I say rest, I mean active rest, consisting of a few walks outside and slow, controlled movements with the arms and shoulders. From the third day, you can, and I recommend it, begin to gradually resume your daily activities.
It is essential to move after an operation to facilitate the convalescence and recovery and avoid possible problems.

When resting, it is good to always lie on your back, possibly with your head slightly raised to make breathing easier.

Your new breasts, to remain high and full, need, now more than before, to be supported. The breast prosthesis weighs more than the fat, so the skin around it will be more stressed for the same volume as a natural breast. You can abandon the sports bra for a classic one after a month, provided that it has good support and support capacity. Another tip is to always use a soft bra, even at night.

After a week, you can return to your work, provided that it is not too demanding on your body and especially on your arms. On the contrary, I would ask you to postpone it for a week or more, depending on the intensity of the physical effort provided with your arms during work. During this first period, you may feel some discomfort or pain. It is not uncommon to hear a few gurgling sounds inside the breast: nothing insurmountable or worrying. The pain can be controlled with the most common painkillers, while the gurgling is simply due to the fluids created during the operation and which the body will absorb naturally.

During the first week, from the third day exactly, you can take a shower, I recommend it.
The shower has a dual purpose: functional and psychological. Water flowing over the wounds in the surgical areas, after 48 hours, now well sealed, helps clean the skin around the wounds keeping the area cleaner. That the shower has a relaxing effect is a common experience. You probably agree. After an event full of stress and tension, such as a surgical operation, the beneficial effect mentioned above takes on even more importance. So, from 48 hours after the operation, going to the shower is essential. The water should be lukewarm. A neutral soap will do the trick, obviously used with delicacy. Let the water run over the injured part which, obviously, should never be rubbed with particular energy. The same goes for drying: a light dabbing is enough. A good rule of hygiene then consists of first drying the surgical area with a clean towel (each time), then the other parts of the body without returning to the wound. I say shower, because the bathroom is not recommended, because stagnant water touching the wound would be less clean than running water from the shower.

Once these cleaning operations have been carried out, you will need to redo the dressings and put the bandage back on the breast removed for the occasion.
At the end of the first week we will meet for the first postoperative check-up. The second, a week later, will consist of removing the stitches.

From there, your recovery will be steady and gradual. You will feel better and better, the bruising will disappear and the swelling will gradually decrease.

The fact that you feel better does not give you the right to engage in intense sporting activities. I recommend only returning to muscular activities that are demanding on the upper body (e.g. gymnastics) or situations of high stress and strain on the breast skin and wound (e.g. running, jumping, dancing) 'after 6 weeks. Provided that the healing went smoothly. Otherwise, this period of abstention from physical activity could be extended.

In summary, it is only after six weeks that you will be able to fully devote yourself to a sport again and resume your life.

There will then be other control visits during the first year, but more delayed in time.

The final result in terms of volume, shape and smoothness is achieved after approximately four to six months, but for total stabilization and installation of the scars it can take up to a year. During this period, it will be possible to regain the sensitivity that may have been lost during the operation. To choose your plastic surgery expert, do not hesitate to look at photos like on the breast augmentation before and after page!

Objectives of your breast augmentation in Switzerland

You may have various reasons to consider breast augmentation. So, your breasts may be too small, too big, or your nipple position isn't quite right. You may want to correct an asymmetry that appeared after pregnancy or weight loss, restore volume lost after pregnancy, or improve self-esteem following the natural aging process. Whatever the reason(s) for your procedure, the goal is to improve the size and shape of your breasts by moving fat from one area of ​​the body to another, or by adding a silicone gel implant or in saline solution.

Surgical procedure

You will have this procedure under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep and pain-free during the operation. Before breast augmentation surgery, Doctor Smarrito makes incisions in the breast tissue and around the areola (dark area surrounding the nipple) to insert implants or remove fat for contouring purposes. The silicone implant is then inserted through an incision made in the breast tissue, usually under an armpit crease or in the fatty tissue near a rib or pectoral muscle.

Preparing for your breast augmentation in Switzerland

Before your breast augmentation operation, it is important to follow the instructions of Doctor Stéphane Smarrito and prepare yourself for the recovery and convalescence period after breast augmentation. 

If you are taking blood thinners, such as heparin, you will need to stop them a week before the operation. Doctor Smarrito will tell you when you can start eating and drinking after the procedure, but generally you can do so before. You may be asked not to smoke two days before and two weeks after the procedure because nicotine can reduce blood flow to the breasts. If possible, avoid caffeine products for about 24 hours before the operation as well as six hours after the procedure is finished; Caffeine may interfere with numbing medications.

You should also get enough rest before the day of the operation to feel more relaxed on the day. You won't be able to sleep much on the day anyway! Also be careful not to drink a lot of fluids during this time: too much water can cause vomiting due to nausea caused by the medications taken in advance (this rarely happens). 

Recovery

The duration of convalescence varies depending on your procedure. Doctor Stéphane Smarrito will tell you about it in detail.

A surgerymammal augmentation is an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home the same day as your procedure depending on the procedure and your particular case.

• You will need to wear a support bra for 3 weeks after the procedure. Doctor Stéphane Smarrito will tell you how long you will have to wear it and when you will have to stop it.
• Do not stand as much as possible for 24 hours after the procedure (except for going to the bathroom) to allow swelling and bleeding from the surgical site to subside as much as possible before returning home to your family members. or your friends who agreed to drive you home. Avoid strenuous activity until your surgeon gives you permission, which can vary between patients. Avoid consuming alcohol for at least one month before the procedure and until healing is complete. Do not lift anything heavier than 2 kg while you recover. Follow all other post-operative instructions given by your Doctor Smarrito.

Risks

It is important to understand the risks of breast augmentation surgery. The most common complications are:

• Infection of the surgical site or breast pocket (capsular contracture).
• Bleeding and accumulation of fluid (hematoma) under the skin of the breast, which may require drainage.
• Breast asymmetry with one side being larger than the other, either in size or shape.
• Incision scarring can occur with any type of surgery, but it is usually mild and fades over time. Some people have a lot of scar tissue under their breasts, leading to less natural-looking breasts after augmentation surgery. If you are prone to keloids (thick scars), the risk is increased with implants because of their tendency not only to form keloids but also because they tend not to heal well over other types of scars. implants in case of subsequent need due to rupture, etc. Once you are ready to schedule your breast augmentation, Doctor Smarrito will make sure you know exactly what to expect.

The message from Doctor Stéphane SMARRITO

Article written by the Doctor Stéphane Smarrito cosmetic surgeon in Switzerland