Is it possible to exercise after the breast operation?

Although it is important to let your body heal after doing a breast operation, exercises and physical fitness are important too. However, many things should be taken into consideration when returning to exercise after doing any breast operation.

We encourage you to do lower body exercises in the next weeks after your breast surgery. You should not involve any weights in your exercises, doing bodyweight lunges or squats is very good. In addition to that, you are allowed to do simple cardio such as walking and stationary cycling, along with sport elliptical without the arm attachments. However, you need a clearness from your doctor to return to any type of upper body exercise, which will be given to you, based on healing and recovery situations.

We know how important it returns to your workout safely is, but should not be on the account of your surgical results. Going back to mild exercises could help you feel better physically and mentally, it could improve your results and prevent blood clots from forming in your veins after surgery. Of course, every patient workout program should be treated differently based on your fitness level and overall health. 

However, there are basic guidelines to each patient’s recovery, in the first 48 hours following breast surgery; you should not be very active. Patients would be able to increase their activity in the next few days. Doctors tell you that it is ok to resume light radio activities such as walking on a very slow setting on a treadmill or cycling slowly on a stationary bike. You do not want to increase your heart rate so much. Anyway, you will be able to return to normal energy levels after few weeks.

You can always consult your doctor about the right plan for you based on your procedure and fitness level.

How long after breast surgery can I exercise?

Because each individual is unique and each healing process is unique, your recovery will differ from that of the other patients. Your physical make-up, long prior physical health, dietary practices, surroundings, and support system all play a role in your recovery time – and your surgeon’s counseling takes all of these and many other factors into account. To achieve the desired result, it is critical to carefully follow your surgeon’s recovery guidelines for care after a breast surgery.

Attempting to skip rehabilitation steps or rushing through the healing process not only causes annoyance, but it can also destroy the achievements you’ve already achieved.

So, you should wait at least 6 to 8 weeks before beginning to exercise, and even then, you should not overwork yourself or your muscles.

What exercise can you do after breast surgery?

After breast surgery, you can do several exercises. It is recommended that patients begin mild walking as soon as possible following operation, nothing too rigorous, simply brief steps across the bedroom or around the house just about every hour. This is beneficial to the circulatory system and aids in the prevention of clotting. People can begin more rigorous exercises, such as jogging on a treadmill or jogging uphill, within two weeks. Many patients may continue most forms of activity within a month, with the exception of lifting heavy objects. Patients usually entirely recover within six weeks and can restart all workouts.

References:

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/exercise-after-breast-augmentation

https://www.performancehealth.com/articles/5-post-operative-exercises-for-breast-surgery-patients