Rapid Recovery Techniques

Most women think breast augmentation requires a week or two-week long recovery period. However, that is not always true. New techniques and new surgical instruments mean that your recovery could be much faster.  If you read some of our Visitor Breast Augmentation Stories you will see that the more recent stories talk about faster recovery than the stories from the late 90‘s and early 2000‘s. If you are considering breast implants then ask your surgeon about rapid recovery.

Rapid recovery means different things to different plastic surgeons, but some elements that lead to rapid recovery include:
Precise and meticulous surgical incisionsLess tissue traumaGentle surgical touch with specialized surgical equipmentPatient agrees to specific post-surgical instructions for rapid healingYour plastic surgeon’s expertise in crafting a post-procedure healing regimenPost-surgical exercise schedule to be strictly followed It is important to realize that the list above is not complete and may vary based on the specific recommendations of your plastic surgeon.  Make sure you always follow your surgeon’s recommendations! 

During your breast augmentation consultation, your plastic surgeon will review if you are a candidate for rapid recovery. While health factors may impact your candidacy, the size of your breast implants, the incision location, the size and location of your pocket and other surgical factors required for your breast augmentation may also impact recovery. That is why it is best to discuss your specific case with a board certified plastic surgeon.

The length of recovery generally depends on the amount of trauma caused by the insertion of the breast implants. The less trauma, the faster the recovery. That is why rapid recovery techniques seek to minimize trauma and bleeding during breast augmentation surgery. An ideal rapid recovery breast augmentation should be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon trained in the proper techniques. It also involves precise surgical tools, a knowledgeable medical staff, an anesthesiologist, and an accredited surgical facility. Check to see if your surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and that he operates in a facility that has been certified by the AAASF (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facility). Rapid recovery breast augmentation techniques may vary from surgeon to surgeon as do the tools used for the procedure so make sure you ask what your plastic surgeon does to promote rapid recovery and what his or her recovery times are. 

The terms 24 Hour Recovery® and 24 Hour Augmentation® have been copyrighted by Dr. John Tebbetts, a plastic surgeon from Dallas, Texas. Dr. Tebbetts was the first plastic surgeon to document the results of using specific combinations of breast measurement, surgical technique and surgical instruments to promote rapid recovery. His findings show that used in the specific combination he adheres to, you can be back to most of your everyday duties in 24 hours and require nothing more than Advil for pain.  As his wife, co-author and patient administrator Terrye Tebbetts says, "24 Hour Recovery® requires NO post op pain medicine; A true 24 Hour Recovery requires Ibuprofen only – no narcotics."

In addition, Dr. Tebbetts’ documented rate of capsular contracture is less than the national average. He attributes this to the 24 Hour Recovery® technique. Dr. Tebbetts has published his methodology and results and presented them at numerous plastic surgery conferences. Many other plastic surgeons around the country and around the world have begun practicing his methods. To learn more about 24 Hour Recovery®, we recommend reading Dr. Tebbetts book, written with his wife Terrye, The Best Breast 2.

Depending on what type of rapid recovery procedure your plastic surgeon performs, your results may vary. You should discuss the benefits and risks with your plastic surgeon during your consultation to weigh your options.

The main benefit rapid recovery gives you is just what its name implies--less down time after surgery and a quicker return to your everyday life. Whether you need or want to get right back to work, pick up your children, or or get back to the gym, all that may be possible sooner with rapid recovery breast augmentation.

Another potential benefit of some forms of rapid recovery may be a lower incidence of capsular contracture. Dr. Tebbetts’ research indicates that strict 24 Hour Recovery® has a lower incidence of capsular contracture than the national average. However, you should ask your surgeon about capsular contracture and its likelihood. Ask your plastic surgeon if he tracks the percentage of his patients who get capsular contracture and what he does to minimize the chance that you will get it.

Rapid recovery carries many of the same risks as other types of breast augmentation, including risks from anesthesia and risk of infection. You should discuss these risks and others with your plastic surgeon to make sure that you understand them. Once you and your plastic surgeon have discussed the overall risks of anesthesia and breast augmentation surgery, you can come to a more educated conclusion. Remember, it is important for your plastic surgeon to recommend this procedure for you as a patient. Take our consultation checklist with you to your meeting and make sure you get answers to all of your questions regarding risks and details about rapid recovery breast augmentation. 

We offer more information on this site for you to learn about breast augmentation and breast implants generally and how they may impact your recovery. Following is a list of topics on this site that will be helpful to you. In addition, you should go to our breast augmentation and breast implant discussion boards to talk to other women who have had or are thinking about having breast augmentation. There is always lively discussion about many breast augmentation topics on our discussion boards.

Finally, the most important thing you can do is to consult with your plastic surgeon about your individual recovery and how your body should be expected to heal based on your specific case. The following link will help you to locate a board certified plastic surgeon.

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