After Surgery

Rest, but not bed rest: While rest is important in the early stages of healing, equally important is that you are ambulatory, meaning that you are walking under your own strength. Spend 10 minutes every 2 hours engaged in light walking indoors as you recover.

Recline with your head and chest slightly elevated above your lower body.

Good nutrition: Fluids are critical following surgery.

Stick to non-carbonated, non-alcoholic, caffeine-free, and green tea-free beverages including fruit juices and water, milk, and yogurt drinks. You must consume at

least 8 ounces of fluid every 2 hours. Stick with soft, bland, nutritious food for the first 24 hours.

Take all medication, exactly as prescribed: Use oral pain medication and muscle relaxants as needed. Take the entire course of antibiotics.

Change your incision dressings: Your incisions will seep fluid and some blood for a short time after surgery. Keep dressings clean and dry. You may change your dressings daily with dry 4 x 4 gauze.

Wear a support surgical garment around the clock.

Ensure that you wear this garment at all times.

Begin your breast massage the first night after your procedure. Your surgeon will explain how to preform this correctly. It is also on your surgery information sheet we provided with your package.

Do not smoke. Smoking can greatly impair your safety prior to surgery and your ability to heal following surgery. You must not smoke.

Relax. Do not engage in any stressful activities. Do not lift anything heavier than 5Kg. Take care of no one, and let others tend to you.

 

2-7 Days Following Surgery

During this time you will progress with each day that passes. Ease into your daily activities. Continue to cleanse wounds as directed; you may shower. Take a warm, not hot shower. Do not take a bath. Limit your shower to 10 minutes. Apply a fragrance free moisturizer to breast and surrounding skin, however not on your incisions.Take antibiotic medications and supplements as
directed.

Take pain medication and muscle relaxants only as needed. You may wish to switch from prescriptive pain medication to non prescriptive.

Continue your breast massage. Wear your bra around the clock.

Do not resume any exercise other than regular walking. Walking is essential every day to prevent the formation of blood clots.

Maintain a healthy diet.

Do not smoke. Do not consume alcohol

1-4 Weeks Following Surgery

As you resume your normal daily activities, you must continue proper care and healing. Continue your breast massage and wound care as directed. Refrain from weight-bearing exercise. No tennis, golf, softball or other sports with similar swinging motions. Avoid aerobic exercise that may cause a lot of bounce. You may begin range of motion exercises but not with any weight, pressure or resistance of any kind.

Do not smoke. While incisions may have sealed, smoking deprives your body of necessary oxygen that can result in poorly healed, wide, raised scars.

Continue to wear a proper support bra.

You may sleep flat. However do not sleep on your stomach. If you are a side sleeper, a soft pillow under your mid-back and shoulders may offer more comfort and support than a single pillow under your head.

Practice good sun protection. Do not expose your breasts to direct sunlight. If you are outdoors, apply at least an SPF 30 to the chest area at least 30 minutes prior to sun exposure. Your chest region and breast skin are highly susceptible to sunburn or the formation of irregular, darkened pigmentation.

You may start to use scar treatments after sutures are removed (e.g. Hyper heal and silicone sheeting)

1-6 Weeks Following Surgery

Healing will progress and your breasts will settle into a more final shape and position. You may ease into your regular fitness routine. However realise that your upper body may require some
time to return to previous strength. Listen to your body and do not commence until you are ready

Continue your breast massage.

Continue to use scar treatments

You may resume wearing under wires, although these are not necessary. Discomfort or tightness and tingling will resolve. Any lingering nipple sensitivity or lack of sensation should begin to greatly improve.

No need to resume smoking. You have now gone 10 weeks (4 weeks prior to surgery and 6 weeks following) without a cigarette. For your long-term health, there is no need to resume smoking.

Your First Year

Continue your breast massage, and practice monthly breast self exam.

Continue healthy nutrition, fitness and sun protection.

Your scars will continue to refine. If they become raised, red or thickened, or appear to widen, contact our office.Early intervention is important to achieving wellhealed scars. Scars are generally refined to fine incision lines one year after surgery.

If your breasts develop an unusually hard feeling, or a highly rounded “squeezed” appearance, call us as soon as possible. You may be developing capsular contracture. Early treatment is the best solution.

If your implants should rupture, or you suspect an implant is leaking, call our office as soon as possible. Your body will change with age. The appearance of your breasts will change too. You may wish to have your implants replaced or to undergo revision surgery to help maintain your appearance throughout life.

Contact our office with any of your questions or concerns, at any time. In addition, you should discuss antibiotic options with our office if you plan on having any extensive dental work or any invasive procedure at any time that you have implants in your body.

These instructions are not meant to be comprehensive or all-inclusive, any additional instructions will be given to you by your Surgeon as needed.