Breast Enhancement Surgery

Prior to any breast enhancement or reduction surgery, women and their doctors must meet to discuss expectations as well as size, shape, type of implant, and the location of the incision.

As the day draws near, patients are required to follow a set of instructions provided by their doctors. It is essential that these instructions are strictly adhered to. Failure to do so will result in increased risk of complications during and after surgery.
What follows are general guidelines only. Each case is different and the surgeon knows his or her individual patient’s medical history and their individual needs best.

Prior to surgery:

• Avoid taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs for 10 days prior to surgery to avoid thinning of the blood, which makes surgery more dangerous.
• Stop smoking at least two months before the procedure because it interferes with the healing process.
• Fill any prescriptions that will be needed after surgery before having the procedure.

On the day of surgery:

• Wear loose-fitting clothes that can be removed and replaced easily.
• Arrange for a close friend or relative to drive you home and stay with you for 24 to 72 hours

It is important to allow for adequate recovery time. By avoiding certain activities and following doctor’s instructions closely, the breast surgery patient will experience a shorter and more comfortable recovery period.

Typical instructions for recovery from breast surgery include:

• Limit movement
• Get plenty of rest.
• Avoid any activity that involves lifting, bending, or straining

Fatigue and breast pain are common during the first 24 to 48 hours after breast surgery. In most cases, the pain can be managed with medication. However, soreness, discomfort, and tiredness will not go away immediately.

A few days after surgery, the gauze dressings are removed and replaced by a surgical bra. Stitches are removed in approximately seven to ten days.

The surgeon will provide each patient with specific guidelines to follow, based on her personal medical history so that her recovery time will be as minimal as possible. Patients can usually return to work after one week, providing their jobs do not require any lifting or other strenuous activity. Normally, the patient who receives subglandular placement requires less recovery time than those who opt for submuscular placement because the procedure is less invasive and requires less trauma to the body.

The breasts will be very sensitive for the first several weeks after surgery and may be swollen for four or five weeks. To reduce the risk of an injury, patients should avoid physical contact with the breasts until sensitivity has subsided. Strenuous activities and exercise can be resumed approximately one month after surgery. Incision scars will most likely remain firm and for approximately six weeks. Over the next several months, they will fade significantly, but will never disappear completely.

Patients are advised not attempt to rush the recovery process and are encouraged to consult with their doctors at length about what to expect during the immediate and long term recovery process based on their individual medical history and expectations.

As time progresses, recovery is complete and the pain of the surgery is but a dim memory, life will be back to normal in a relatively short period of time. All women 40 and over are urged to receive annual mammograms. Patients with breast implants should be certain to visit radiology centers where the technicians are trained to perform mammograms on women with breast implants. It is critical that they mention that you have breast implants both when making the appointment and upon arrival for the screening, to assure that the technician use special techniques to avoid placing excessive pressure on the implants and get the best reading possible. Breast implants can often interfere with the reading of mammograms. Because of this, additional x-rays and will be required and possibly ultrasound as well to ensure accurate readings.