Activity

• Start walking around your house as soon as possible (at least ONCE the same night that you had surgery and a few times a day thereafter), as this helps to reduce the risk of blood clots, pneumonia and constipation. When you find yourself lying in bed, squeeze your leg muscles and bend your ankles and knees frequently to improve blood flow in your legs–this will also help reduce risk of blood clots.
• However, there is a fine balance between leisurely walking (which is very important) and too much activity (which can cause problems like fluid collections).NO power walking or walking long distances, NO lifting anything over 5 lbs, NO walking up big hills or long flights of stairs, NO house cleaning, and NO strenuous activity of any kind. Avoid anything that would cause you to feel out of breath or come close to breaking a sweat for 3-4 weeks after surgery. The more you do, the more your blood pressure goes up and the more your body produces fluid and causes you to swell! Swelling increases risk for fluid collections and can keep the drains in longer. It is MOST critical to limit your activity level at weeks1-2after the drains come out. After 4weeksyou may start light exercise (stationary bike) and gradually work up from there.
• Avoid raising your elbow above the level of your shoulder for about 10 days after surgery. This is to prevent the inferior scars from stretching.
• Do not drive if you are still taking pain medication, and do not drive until you have regained full range of motion in your arms and feel confident that you could respond quickly in the case of an emergency.
• Return to work depends on the activity level involved in your job. Stay away from any job or sport that risks a blow to your chest for at least 4 weeks.

Dressings and Incision Care

• You will have steri strips (tapes that are tan or white colored) over your incisions that will stay on for 1 week.
• Keep your breast dressings clean and dry until your first postoperative visit, and shower ONLY below the waist, with a sponge bath elsewhere. You will be able to shower normally after your one week postop visit.
• When you start showering for the first time, put your back to the water and let the soap and water rinse over your incisions. Do not turn your breasts directly into the stream of water and do not scrub the incisions.
• Apply bacitracin ointment (over-the-counter) to the breast incisions starting at one week after surgery (after your first postop visit).
• Long-term scar care (considerations at 3-4 weeks after surgery):
• After 3-4 weeks you can start silicone therapy to prevent your scars from getting thicker.
• Silicone gel sheets/tapes(over the counter) can help minimize scarring–apply them in the morning or at night starting at 3-4 weeks after surgery. Usually these should be worn 12 hours per day. You can start wearing them as soon as the incisions are healed completely with no open wounds, and tapes have been removed (3-4 weeks after surgery).
• Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months.
• After you have healed, always use a strong sunblock, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF30 or greater). Do NOT use sunblock if you still have scabs or small open wounds.
• Scar massage can help keep scars flat and soft. Perform massage with ointment or cream on your finger twice daily.
• You can massage the breast implants gently starting at 3 weeks after surgery. This may help prevent capsular contracture.

What to Expect

• Minimal to moderate postoperative pain and soreness in the chest and arms is normal.
• Temporary bruising, swelling, soreness, or burning sensation is normal.
• Temporary or permanent loss of nipple sensation.
• In 4-6 weeks you will be back to all your normal activities.

Appearance

• Discoloration will resolve in 2 weeks
• Most swelling will resolve over 6 weeks. However, swelling continues to go down gradually after that, even up to a year later.
• Scars may be red initially, and they will soften and fade with time.

When To Call

• If you have increased swelling or bruising.
• If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
• If you have increased redness along the incision.
• If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
• If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
• If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
• If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
• If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
• If you have loss of feeling or motion.

LIPOSUCTION:

-IF YOU HAD LIPOSUCTION, PLAN TO WEAR THE COMPRESSION GARMENT ONTHE LIPOSUCTION SITE FOR 6 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY

For Medical Questions, Please CALL OR TEXT:

(203) 423-3132, 24 hours a day