Knowing whether you can keep exercising after breast surgery is a commonly asked question, and it’s vital you follow the best exercise practices post-surgery. Engaging in strenuous activity too soon can slow down recovery, extend your healing time, and cause pain and discomfort.
Discover when you can return to exercise depending on your type of breast surgery and the guidelines for different types of exercise.
Why it’s important to rest post-surgery
Returning to gentle exercise post-surgery can help strengthen the muscles around your breasts. However, it’s critical to rest during the initial period after surgery.
Exercising too soon will place strain on the tissue and muscles, potentially causing bruising and swelling. It may also reopen incisions, increasing the risk of infection and longer recovery times. With this in mind, it’s essential to have a firm understanding of the do’s and don’ts during breast surgery recovery.
How soon can you exercise after a boob job?
There are differing timelines for exercise depending on the type of breast surgery you have. For example, an exercise timeline after breast augmentation differs slightly from exercise post-mastectomy.
Below are the different wait periods that patients undertake usually depending on their surgery:
Please note that every individual is different, so may need to allow for a longer period of recovery for their body to fully recover post-surgery. Under the care of Adam Critchley patients can discuss their daily habits and exercise routines to ensure that they return to exercise at the right point in their breast surgery recovery.
Can you exercise after a boob job?
Yes, you can exercise after breast augmentation. However, if you exercise too vigorously before the initial four to six week recovery period, you risk swelling and may even disrupt the implant placement. The same applies to implant revision.
Can you exercise after breast reduction surgery?
Yes, you can return to exercise after breast reduction surgery, but it’s important to do so gradually and with care. Adam encourages patients to be mobile and on their feet from Day 1, including walking outdoors. Light activity helps circulation and recovery.
From around 4 weeks post-op, most patients can begin a phased return to the gym. This means starting gently, avoiding high-impact or intense workouts initially, and slowly building up activity levels over time. It’s important not to expect the same performance as before surgery right away – your body needs time to adjust.
Always listen to your body: if something causes pain, stop and wait a few days before trying again at a gentler pace. Additionally, always wear a high-quality sports bra when exercising. This helps minimise excessive movement that could affect implant position (if implants are involved) or contribute to stretched or widened scars.
Following these guidelines helps support healing while allowing you to safely return to the activities you enjoy.
Can you exercise after breast lift surgery?
Yes, you can gradually return to exercise after a breast lift, but your recovery plan will depend on whether implants were involved and the type of surgery performed.
For most patients, Adam encourages gentle mobility from Day 1 – such as walking and moving around the house – as this supports circulation and healing.
If implants are part of your breast lift, the placement of the implant is very important. For example, patients with subpectoral (under the muscle) implants should avoid any upper body resistance training for at least 6–8 weeks. When you resume these exercises, it should be done very gently and gradually, allowing your body to adjust and heal without added strain.
As always, listen to your body. If an activity causes discomfort or pain, stop and try again a few days later at a lower intensity. And wear a supportive, high-quality sports bra during any physical activity to help protect your surgical results and minimise scar stretching or implant movement.
Can you exercise after breast implant removal?
Yes, you can return to exercise after breast implant removal, but it’s important to approach it gradually to support proper healing.
Following breast implant removal, Adam recommends light activity, like walking, from Day 1 to help with circulation and reduce stiffness. Most patients can begin a phased return to the gym around 4 weeks post-op.
Start gently and don’t expect to immediately return to your pre-op intensity. Listen to your body – if something hurts, stop and wait 3–4 days before trying again more gently.
If your surgery involved work around the chest muscles (such as removal of subpectoral implants), it’s especially important to avoid upper body resistance training for 6–8 weeks, and even then, resume slowly to avoid strain or discomfort.
Wearing a high-quality, supportive sports bra during physical activity can also help maintain comfort and support healing tissues.
Can you exercise after breast asymmetry surgery?
Yes, you can return to exercise after breast asymmetry surgery, but it’s important to take a gradual, cautious approach.
Adam encourages most patients to be mobile from Day 1, including gentle walking, which supports circulation and helps prevent stiffness.
A phased return to the gym typically begins around 4 weeks post-op, depending on the complexity of the surgery. Start with light, low-impact activity and increase intensity slowly. Don’t expect to return to your usual workout routine straight away – your body needs time to adjust and heal.
Listen to your body. If an activity causes pain or discomfort, stop and give it a few days before trying again at a gentler pace. And always wear a high-quality, supportive sports bra when exercising to help protect your results and reduce strain on healing incisions.
When to resume different types of exercise after breast surgery
There are specific exercises to avoid with breast implants during recovery, and the same goes for all other forms of breast surgery. Below is a list of the different types of exercise and the general timeline before engaging in each one.
You can also read our enhanced recovery guide and FAQs for other queries, such as driving, smoking, and pain relief after surgery.
Weight lifting
Weight lifting involves lifting free weights, heavy objects, weight-resistant machines, or moving and lifting your own body weight. For example, pull-ups, push-ups, squats, and planking.
When can I lift weights after breast implants?
We advise waiting four to six weeks before lifting weights, but try to wait six to eight weeks if possible. Using weights too soon after surgery places strain on the surrounding muscle and tissue of the breasts and may reopen incisions.
Start by using light weights and doing short reps and sets. Then, gradually build up to prevent delaying post-surgery healing.
What is considered heavy lifting after breast augmentation?
Five to ten pounds is generally considered heavy lifting after boob job surgery. This extends to lifting children, shopping, and other everyday chores. Therefore, ensure you have someone who can lift things for you during your recovery.
The rule also applies to pushing and pulling, so avoid tasks that require these movements for a minimum of four weeks.
Cardio
Cardio is aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate for an extended period of time. It’s excellent for improving stamina, lowering blood pressure, and boosting circulation. Types of cardio include running, jogging, cycling, rowing, jumping, dancing, and using a stair master.
Why should I avoid cardio post surgery?
Although cardio is an excellent form of exercise, it’s not recommended immediately post-surgery. It can be gently reintroduced after 4 weeks. The vigorous movement can cause swelling, bruising, and in some cases, it can even shift breast implant placement.
When can I start running after breast augmentation?
You can start running six weeks after breast augmentation, which allows enough time for the tissue to settle. However, we advise beginning slowly and seeing how you feel. Don’t dive straight into a marathon. Instead, start small with exercises such as fast-paced walking, and see how your breasts react. If they become swollen or the exercise is painful, this is a sign that they may need longer to heal.
Try again after a couple of weeks and build up to your preferred cardio over time. Remember, diving in too soon will slow down the healing process, so remain patient for full recovery.
Yoga
Light forms of yoga aren’t as strenuous as cardio or weightlifting. However, waiting at least four to six weeks is still vital. The stretching can pull at the muscles and incisions, potentially reopening wounds and disrupting healing.
When you do return to yoga, ensure to wear a soft sports bra and move slowly. If you feel any pulling or pain, stop and try again in a few weeks’ time.
Swimming
It’s critical to wait four to six weeks before returning to a swimming pool. Otherwise, you increase the risk of infection. Swimming after breast surgery may be possible after a couple of months, depending on your recovery time, as it can put strain on the breast muscles.
Start by sitting or wading in the water before you fully submerge your breasts.
What bra is best for exercise post surgery?
The best bra for breast surgery recovery depends on where you are in the healing process. Generally, a post-surgery compression bra is best during the initial four to eight weeks before movement. You can then switch to a light sports bra as you begin to re-introduce gentle movement.
Book the best breast surgery at the Adam Critchley clinic
Our North East breast surgery clinic has top-rated reviews for the best breast surgery procedures.
Contact us to book a breast surgery consultation or browse our website for prices and to learn about Adam Critchley and his team. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
