What can I do to reduce the pain? When can I take aspirin or ibuprofen after surgery? When can I eat after surgery? Can I drive myself home? When can I drive my car? Does someone need to stay with me after surgery? What can I do to reduce the swelling? Do I have to stay in bed after my surgery? Are there any bandages or dressings? Are there any stitches to take out? When can I shower after surgery? How long must I stay in town after surgery? How long before I can travel? When can I drink alcohol? When can I wear a bra after surgery? How long must I be off work? When can I work out after Breast Asymmetry surgery? When can I have a massage? Can I use a heating pad on my breasts? When can I suntan after surgery? How long will it take for the feeling to return to my breasts? When will I see the final result of the surgery? What should I do if I need a breast biopsy after breast asymmetry surgery? What should I do if I have questions? When do I come back to the office for aftercare? All of us at the Bashioum Cosmetic Surgery center are proud of the postoperative care of our patients. We want you to have the very best surgical result possible! We are here for you. If you have any questions of any kind, please call us. It is our pleasure to help you through your convalescence. It is important that you follow these aftercare instructions. They have been developed to reduce your risk of complications and they will help with the postoperative healing. Working together we will succeed in our goal for you! What can I do to reduce the pain? All patients experience some pain in their chest after surgery. Patients also experience tightness of the chest and the sensation of difficulty breathing. Women liken it to the feeling of having their breasts filled with milk during breast-feeding. Ten percent of patients take only plain acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) for pain. Begin by taking only plain acetaminophen elixir (liquid) for pain as soon as possible after surgery. If this is not sufficient to control your pain, begin taking the prescribed pain pills. These may make you sick to your stomach. Generally, patients begin switching to acetaminophen three to five days after breast asymmetry surgery. A muscle relaxant is also prescribed to reduce muscle spasms. Ice packs also help with pain and swelling. When applying the ice bags make sure that there is a small amount of water in with the ice at all times. Your skin should feel cool to the touch. Do not use frozen gel packs. When can I take aspirin or ibuprofen after surgery? Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen containing products (Advil, Alka-Seltzer, Anacin, Ascriptin, Bayer Aspirin, BC, Bufferin, Cheracol Capsules, Cope, Coricidin, Darvon Compound, Dristan, Empirin or Empirin Compound, Excedrin, Fiorinol, Midol, Motrin, Percodan, Pepto-Bismol, Sine-Aid, Sine-Off, Stendin, Triminicin, Vanquish) for two weeks after your surgery. These may cause excessive bleeding that could ruin the result of your surgery and require more surgery. When can I eat after surgery? Drink only liquids for the first few hours after surgery. Advance slowly to small, light meals. If you experience nausea or vomiting more than two times, please call me so I can prescribe something to reduce this. Excessive vomiting and retching can result in bleeding around the implant(s) that will require more surgery. Can I drive myself home? You may not drive yourself home after surgery. The pain medicines and the anesthesia drugs interfere with your good judgement and coordination. When can I drive my car? Do not do anything that requires mental or physical coordination for 48 hours or for as long as you are taking prescription pain pills. This includes driving a car, truck, tractor, or operating machinery, power tools, appliances, or machinery. The pain medicines and the anesthesia drugs interfere with your good judgement and coordination. Does someone need to stay with me after surgery? You must have an adult (older than 18 years old) take you home and remain with you continuously for 24 hours after your surgery. Although rare, emergencies do occur. You need to have an adult with you in the event that you need help. You must have help to the bathroom the first few times in case you experience dizziness or lightheadedness. What can I do to reduce the swelling? Swelling is a normal part of breast asymmetry surgery. Swelling will involve the breasts and the tissues around the breast as well. It can even extend onto the abdomen and the back. Elevating the head of your bed or sleeping on three or four pillows will minimize swelling. You may sit in a chair. Applying ice to your breasts will also help. When applying the ice bags make sure that there is a small amount of water in with the ice at all times. Your skin should feel cool to the touch. Do not use frozen gel packs. Reducing the swelling reduces the pain after your surgery. Do I have to stay in bed after my surgery? Gently get out of bed as soon as possible after your surgery. When you get up, sit with your legs hanging over the edge of the bed or chair for a few minutes before standing. This will help avoid problems with dizziness, light-headedness, and fainting. Do not use your arms or upper body to push yourself out of a bed or chair. You may roll to your side and then sit up or stand up. Have an adult assist you the bathroom the first few times. Always get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Begin to walk as much as possible as soon as you can after surgery. Do take it easy the first few days. Do not exert yourself in any strenuous activity. Avoid strenuous activities that involve arm movement such as slamming a car door, vacuuming, cleaning closets, carrying groceries, or driving a stick shift automobile. A balance of rest and reduced activity will speed up your recovery. Are there any bandages or dressings? There are clear plastic dressings placed at the time of surgery. These must be left in place for one week. I will remove these dressings during your first office visit. Gently wash over these dressings when you shower. Sometimes fluid accumulates under these dressings. Do not be alarmed if this happens. If this leaks, please call me so that I can replace or remove your dressings. Are there any stitches to take out? No. I only use stitches that will be absorbed or wash out. I do this to eliminate the discomfort of suture removal after surgery. When can I shower after surgery? You may shower the day after surgery. You may use the antibacterial soap that you used before your surgery. Gently wash your breasts including the clear plastic dressings. They will not wash off. Do not take a bath or swim for one week. How long must I stay in town after surgery? If you live further than a one hour drive, you must stay in the area for one or two nights. How long before I can travel? Traveling long distances or for long periods of time can be problematic after surgery. Generally, I do not recommend traveling longer than one hour for one week after surgery. When you do travel you must have help at all times with your baggage (do not lift more that five pounds for three weeks) and you must get out of your seat and walk for five minutes every hour. Remember, even small vibrations during travel can increase the amount of pain that you experience. Finally, you will not have the same energy level as you did immediately before your surgery. When can I drink alcohol? Do not consume any alcoholic drinks (including beer and wine) for 48 hours after surgery. In addition, do not have any alcoholic drinks while you are taking the prescription pain pills. The alcohol can interact with these medicines and lead to serious health problems and death. Finally, drink alcohol in moderation for three weeks. Excessive consumption can lead to a fall that could ruin the results of the surgery. When can I wear a bra after surgery? Do not wear a bra for the first week after breast asymmetry surgery. This will reduce your postoperative pain and reduce the risk of shifting the position of the implants after surgery. After this, you may wear any type of undergarment you choose. It is not necessary to wear a bra at all times. I recommend that you avoid wearing an underwire bra during the first few weeks after surgery since it may irritate the incisions. How long must I be off work? How long you are off work depends on your occupation. If you do clerical work (i.e. stockbroker, teacher, or programmer), you can return to work when you feel up to it. This usually takes about a week. If you do manual labor (i.e. entertainer, truck driver, or trainer), you must be off work for three weeks. Regardless of your employment, do not lift anything weighing more than five pounds for three weeks. When can I work out after breast asymmetry surgery? Generally, you can go back to working out two to three weeks after breast asymmetry surgery. This depends on how you feel. Do not lift anything that weighs more than five pounds for three weeks. Avoid contact sports for six weeks. Workouts must stop if you experience discomfort in your breasts or chest. A balance of rest and reduced activity will speed up your recovery. When can I have a massage? Body massage is very effective in relaxation. However, it cannot be done while there is bruising of the skin due to the risk of long term or permanent brown-gray staining of the skin. All therapeutic massage treatments must be discontinued until any bruising has completely resolved. Breast massage was recommended in the past but is no longer necessary. Can I use a heating pad on my breasts? Do not use a heating pad on your breasts or chest for a full six months after your surgery. It is will not be possible for you to judge the temperature of the breast skin. This can lead to burns and terrible scarring. When can I suntan after surgery? Sun tanning damages your skin. It leads to wrinkling, discoloration, and superficial growths. It can also lead to serious skin cancer. For these reasons, I recommend that you use sun block with an SPF number of 15 or greater at all times. A physical broad-spectrum sun block works best. If you are exposed to the sun, I recommend that you protect treated areas for six weeks with clothing such as a T-shirt or pareo. You must be careful to protect any scars from sun exposure with clothing, tape, or sun block for six months. Better yet, stay in the shade where it's cooler! How long will it take for the feeling to return to my breasts? It is normal for the breasts to be swollen, tender, and numb for the first six weeks. Some of the numbness can linger for one to two years. Intermittent very brief pains can occur during the first year. This is a sign of nerve healing. These pains will pass within a few weeks after they begin. When will I see the final result of the surgery? Scar healing takes six months to a year. For this reason, you will not see the final result of your surgery for six months. During this time you will notice that the scars will lighten in color and they will become softer to the touch. What should I do if I need a breast biopsy after breast asymmetry surgery? When a breast mass is discovered, a biopsy is usually necessary. Care must be taken to avoid damaging the underlying implant. Sharp instruments must not come in contact with the implant due to the risk of implant rupture. Tell your physician that you have had breast implant surgery so they can take appropriate precautions. What should I do if I have questions? I care about you and your concerns very much. Please call me at any time you have any questions about your breast asymmetry surgery. Call if you have any excessive swelling, bleeding, soreness, fever, chills redness, or unusual wound drainage. It is particularly important if symptoms are present in only one breast. During office hours (8:30AM to 4:30PM, Monday through Friday), call 952.449.4900 and we will answer your questions. After hours, first call me at my home number, 952.473.XXXX. If there is no answer, call my office at 952.449.4900 and leave a message. I will be paged. You may also reach me on my mobile phone at 612.803.XXXX When do I come back to the office for aftercare? Please call the office between 8:30AM and 4:30PM during the workweek to make an arrangements for me to see you one week after your surgery. Please call for appointments for follow up visits at six weeks, six months, and twelve months. The reason for this extended care is because it takes six months to one year for complete healing to occur. Long term follow-up every twelve to eighteen months is also recommended. It would be my pleasure to see you at any time to answer any questions about your breast asymmetry surgery or any other cosmetic surgery that you read or hear about. There are no charges for any of your aftercare office visits. © Copyright 1998 Bashioum Cosmetic Surgery Center, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.