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Post-op Instructions
Breast Augmentation
1. Don’t forget to take your medication. Pain medication can be taken as needed, but you must take the antibiotics instructed. You can also take over the counter anti-inflammatory, but avoid aspirin products for at least a week after surgery.
2. There will be postoperative pain. Everyone has a different pain threshold and I cannot tell it your pain will be a major disturbance or minor nuisance.
3. You must wear a good support bra. Bring one to the hospital with you. It needs to either a sport’s bra or jogger’s bra that snaps or zips up the front. You will need to wear it day and night for at least the first week after surgery and during the day for an additional 2-3weeks.
4. You can take a shower the day after surgery, but be careful how vigorously you wash or dry your breasts; they must be completely dry before putting your bra back on.
5. There will be steristrips to help hold incisions together. You must wear them at least two weeks. If the edges begin to fray, trim them with scissors.
6. No elbows higher that the shoulders for the first 72 hours. Be very careful about leaning over and grabbing things out of the dryer or dishwasher. No lifting or carrying over two to three pounds until informed other wise. Most patients start driving again in 2-3 days. You cannot lay around, but no activities that cause you to break out in a sweat. If there have been no problems three weeks after surgery, you can go back to unrestricted activities.
7. For the first day or two after surgery there may be small amounts of drainage from the incisions. You can stuff your bra with gauze or tissue. Do NOT use occlusive dressings over the incision. These will keep the area wet and soupy and is perfect for starting infections.
8. Beginning the second week after surgery, I will show you implant exercises. You must keep implant pockets open. Exercises must be done three times a day for as long as you have implants.
9. It will be 3-4 months before your breast attain their final shape. Do not pass any final judgments until then.
10. Signs and symptoms of infections include elevated temperature over 101 degrees, redness to the area, hot to touch, and a foul-smelling discharge from the incision site. If any of these occur, contact the office.
11. Pain medication refills should be requested at the time of your follow-up appointment. Pain medication will not be refilled after office hours or on weekends.
12. Some bloody drainage is normal. If the operative area shows signs of excessive bleeding (Slow general oozing that saturates the dressing completely or frank bright red bleeding) apply pressure to area, elevate and contact your physician at once.
13. If you have not urinated in 8 hours after arriving home, contact your physician.
If you should experience difficulty in breathing, bleeding that you feel is excessive, persistent nausea or vomiting, any pain that is unusual, swelling or fever, please call your physician. If you find that you cannot contact your warrant a physician’s attention, go to the nearest Emergency Room.
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