19 Jan 2026
Pain is probably the number one concern for any patient when it comes to plastic surgery, regardless of age, gender and even the type of procedure. It makes sense as it’s literally human nature to try to avoid anything that hurts. The critical thing to understand about pain, however, is that it is always individual. Even identical twins won’t feel exactly the same thing after a cut, for example, as there are so many different factors that can influence a person’s perception of pain.
This is why I spend considerable time during our initial consultation and meetings asking in-depth questions that will help us to establish your unique pain threshold. So, when a new breast surgery patient inevitably asks: “Does a breast augmentation hurt?”, I strive to be honest. Most patients find the procedure uncomfortable, not overwhelmingly painful. Here are some things to consider.
Realistic Expectations Key to Successful Breast Augmentation in Boston
One of the best ways to ensure an exemplary breast augmentation result is choosing the right surgeon. I always recommend looking for a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, such as myself, who has considerable experience in breast surgery. You want to find someone who is:
- Technically proficient
- Keen artistic eye
- Aesthetic that aligns with your own
- A surgeon that listens to you
But you also want to find someone who is going to be honest with you about the recovery. Even the most cursory glance through online reviews will show that many patients feel as if they were not properly prepared for the recovery. Some even accuse their surgeon of downplaying the pain aspect.
Personally, my philosophy is to be totally honest about what you can expect as realistic expectations are one of the keys to a successful outcome. You can be completely excited for your new breast implants, but if you are led to believe that you are going to be beach ready in 2 weeks and it takes 8, then that is going to taint your entire experience.
Different Factors Influence Pain Tolerance
As mentioned, the reason that pain is individual is that there are so many different factors that influence your pain tolerance. First, there is biology. This includes:
- Genetics
- Hormones
- Age
It also includes how your nervous system processes sensation. While the first four are out of your control, there are tricks for calming down your nervous system such as certain breathing techniques. The second group of factors is psychological and includes your expectations, past experiences with aesthetic procedures, and whether or not you have tools in place for coping with stress and anxiety.
Type of Breast Augmentation Affects Recovery
In addition to all of the above, the type of breast augmentation that we perform may affect the intensity of your recovery. If you are a new patient who is getting a breast implant for the first time and we decide to place it above the muscle, your recovery should be fairly easy.
More typically, an implant is placed under the muscle or fascia. You can expect to feel some uncomfortable tightness for the first few days, but no sharp pain. However, if we are placing the implant under the muscle or fascia and/or performing:
- Breast revision surgery
- Fat grafting to the breast
- Mastopexy augmentation
- STS support
These combination procedures can be more intense and thus may entail slightly more discomfort. Once I examine you in person, I can develop an appropriate treatment plan to achieve your desired outcome.
We will then discuss in detail what you, with your individual anatomy and psychological relationship to pain, can expect in terms of recovery. My goal is for you to be as comfortable as possible so if you are someone who needs anxiety and/or pain meds then I will prescribe them.
To find out more about a breast augmentation, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.
