The winter months are ideal for plastic surgery recovery, especially if you’re looking to reveal your breast augmentation results in the summer at the pool, beach, or BBQ. Breast augmentation is an invasive procedure using breast implants to increase bust size, and having this breast surgery during the cold Chicago months ensures you’re all healed up when the temperatures rise. Dr. Robert Galiano is a renowned, board-certified plastic surgeon in Chicago offering breast augmentation.
Breast Augmentation Recovery Takes Several Months
Your body needs time to heal after breast augmentation. You will have activity restrictions for about six to eight weeks, which includes no weightlifting or strenuous exercise. However, you’ll still need to be careful after that time frame because your tissues continue to heal for an entire year after surgery. Breast augmentation in the winter helps you get the bulk of your recovery out of the way so you can dive into summer without limitations.
Cold Weather Makes for an Easier Recovery
You will have a compression bra and perhaps surgical drains after breast augmentation. The cooler temperatures during winter make these items more comfortable, and oversized clothing, such as shawls and sweaters, conceal them. The cold weather reduces inflammation to boost your recovery. While lying out in the snow after surgery is not recommended, the cooler temperature in your home will help you feel more comfortable.
On the other hand, excessive heat and sun exposure can worsen postoperative swelling, cause dehydration, and affect healing. It’s best to have an invasive procedure in the winter or fall when you don’t have to worry about overheating or getting sweaty under your compression bra.
Less Sun Exposure Is Good for Scarring
Patients are advised to avoid direct sunlight after surgery. The incision lines after breast augmentation are pink while healing and are especially vulnerable to UV exposure from the sun. The skin tissue is still actively recovering during this stage of healing and releases chemical messengers that stimulate melanocytes (pigment-producing cells). If you expose the scarring to sunlight or UV light sources, you may experience post-inflammatory lightening (hypopigmentation) or darkening (hyperpigmentation) of the scar tissue.
Postoperative patients must avoid direct and indirect sunlight for several weeks to ensure proper healing, and that’s easier to do in the winter. Once you’ve healed, you will still need to protect your incision lines with sunscreen because the scars continue to fade in the first 12 months.
Schedule your consultation now to enjoy your breast augmentation results by summer. Contact our board-certified plastic surgeon in Chicago, Illinois, at (312) 926-4382 or fill out our online contact form.
