One of the most frequently asked questions we receive in consultation each year is: When is it safe to go to the pool or go to the beach after an augmentation mammoplasty procedure? Generally, at three weeks after surgery, most women can return to the pool or take that trip to the beach without worrying about damaging their results. While most patients feel “ready” to return to these activities before three weeks after surgery, the skin tissues need time to heal until the water-resistant property of the skin makes it safe for swimming, bathing or going to the beach. Even after three weeks, we urge patients to dry their swimsuit tops and towel off well for a few more weeks after coming out of the water. This is so that the healing incisions do not remain moist from a wet bathing suit. Even before three weeks after surgery, most patients can put on their bathing suits and sit by the pool or beach, even entering the waist-deep pool to share with family and friends.
The other common question is: When can I get a tan after a breast augmentation procedure? While most women can get into a pool at three weeks, the incisions used for breast augmentation require a longer time before they can “tolerate” the sun’s harmful rays. Scar tissue is similar to the fragile tissues of a newborn and does not tolerate sun exposure during healing. Early tanning of incisions can damage scar tissues, resulting in reddish, raised scars or wide scars. A good rule of thumb to judge when incisions are able to tolerate the sun is when they have faded to a pale color and are flat and smooth. This usually takes a few months to a year or more to occur and varies greatly from patient to patient. We recommend that patients avoid direct exposure to the sun or tanning booth light until these signs of healing are present. We also recommend that patients apply sunscreen directly to the incisions before putting on swimsuits, in case ultraviolet light – the damaging rays of sunlight – passes through the material.
So the bottom line is that you can quickly get back in the pool or schedule that trip to the beach after a breast augmentation, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines and can ensure optimal results.
