different recovery time

Hello.  I had breast augmentation done about a month ago for both breasts.  About 6 years ago I had only the right side done due to asymmetry.  Now that I've had both done, the recovery time for both is different.  My right breast healed really fast (about 2 weeks with no skin sensitivity).  But the left side still hurts with extreme skin sensitivity. There is no redness, no swelling, and the skin color is fine (no bruising).  I do my massaging as the doctor said but the left side hurts and I hate touching it.  Is it normal for both sides to heal at different rates? Could I have injured the left side?  I am in the process of moving work locations and I have to lift boxes and files.  That's been going on for two weeks now.  Although I try not to lift anything absolutely heavy, I still have to lift some things. Afterwards, my arms get numb down to my hands and my left breast hurts.  Did I seriously injure myself? What's the average time for full recovery for breast augmentation?

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

Since you had previous surgery on the right, the magnitude of the procedure on that side would be expected to be substantially less and also less traumatic, than for the unoperated left side.  That would explain the increased symptoms on the left.   If you continue to have problems, you should be examined by your surgeon.