Greetings to all! My name is Christine and I just had my surgery this past Friday. Pre-op, I exercised frequently, mainly doing strength training, so I'm curious as to what others have personally experienced in recovery as far as getting back into an exercise routine is concerned.

I know the general recommendation is to wait 6 weeks before resuming strenuous activity, but I doubt that that advice is given with barbell lifts in mind. I am recovering extremely quickly, though (back to work & driving 3 days post-op -- is this unusual?), so perhaps 6 weeks out is indeed a good time frame for easing back into my weight workouts, with light cardio earlier on.

I would definitely follow the recommendation. Especially with weight lifting of any type. While you may feel good, your incisions are still healing and it will take awhile for them to heal completely. Lifting heavy weight, or lifting your arms over your head could strain and tear an incision, making you at risk for infection and could alter the shape of your post-op breasts. Sorry to be so adamant about it, but I scoffed at the "take it easy for 6 weeks" recommendation after my surgery and tore an incision. Ten years later, that breast is noticeably droopier and the nipple sits lower that it does on my other breast.

I do think light exercise would be OK. Just keep those arms below shoulder level!

Thanks for the advice. I'll talk to the nurse at my post-op visit this week, but sounds like I should definitely hold off on weight lifting until 6-8 wks post-op. I haven't torn anything yet, but I'll be more cautious. I'm just glad that I felt well enough to return to work so quickly (I have a pretty sedentary job... no worries there), since we just got off a 2-week holiday break and I was unable to do my surgery then.