Breast Augmentation Post Op Checklist

After you have your breast augmentation surgery, we recommend that you follow these guidelines as you recover.

1. You should check your bandages and drains every day to make sure that everything is healing properly and there are no signs of infection.
2. You should sleep on your back with pillows under your knees for the first week after surgery, then after that you can move onto your side if it is comfortable for you.
3. Do not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds (including bags of groceries, laundry baskets, etc.), but do not be afraid to do small tasks around the house such as opening doors or putting away dishes in the kitchen cabinets! You will feel more confident about doing these things if they are within arm’s reach of where you stand – or on a countertop nearby so there is plenty of room for moving around without bumping into anything fragile!
4. Do not go swimming until your doctor says it’s okay for several weeks after surgery – and even then it depends on where in town they did their work because some areas have higher risk levels than others due to bacteria buildup in water sources like rivers lakes reservoirs ponds streams creeks rivers lakes reservoirs ponds streams

Breast Augmentation Post Op Checklist

At the Manhattan plastic surgery office of Dr. Thomas Loeb, we believe that patient education is paramount. Before having any type of surgical procedure, it’s important to have a thorough understanding of what the procedure entails, potential risks and the recovery process. If you’re planning on having breast augmentation in the coming months, knowing what to expect and how to prepare pre-operatively can make the entire process much easier and more comfortable.

To help facilitate the best possible outcome, we’ve compiled a pre and post-operative breast augmentation checklist.

Pre-surgery preparations

These are some practical steps to take before having your breast enhancement.

• If you are a smoker, stop all tobacco use at least one month prior to surgery
• Arrange for at least one full week of vacation time
• Ensure someone can take care of children for the first few days after the surgery
• Get all prescriptions filled
• Stock up on easy-to-prepare foods that are healthy
• Confirm that you have a ride to and from the surgery clinic
• Place ice packs in the freezer
• Buy compression garments as directed by your surgeon
• Purchase betadine solution, gauze and scar healing products
• Make up the bed or sofa in your recovery room
• Make sure you have plenty of good books and movies to watch
• Take medications before the surgery as prescribed
• Drink plenty of water and get a full 8 hours of sleep the night before your surgery
• Follow your doctor’s instructions for fasting the night before

Day of breast augmentation surgery

• Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment
• Do not take any supplements or vitamins the day of the procedure
• Shower, but refrain from putting on any makeup, deodorant, body lotions or perfumes
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes and a top that can easily be removed or unzipped
• Do not wear any jewelry and leave valuables at home
• If you wear contact lenses, bring your case and saline solution

Post-op checklist

• After the surgery, plan on resting at home for the remainder of the day
• Try and elevate your head and upper body with pillows
• Drink plenty of fluids (1 8-oz glass every 2-3 hours) to rehydrate
• Take antibiotics and pain medication as directed
• When your appetite returns, have a light meal such as soup or cottage cheese
• Apply ice packs as directed to help minimize swelling
• Avoid lifting, bending over or any strenuous activity for at least 3-4 days
• You may shower, but avoid getting water near your wounds for several days
• Put on compression garments as prescribed
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco products for at least one month post-operatively
• If you have any concerns or questions, contact your plastic surgeon immediately
• Attend all post-operative appointments

Breast augmentation in New York City

While the above guidelines are helpful, all patients have ample opportunity to ask questions about breast surgery preparations, day-of planning and aftercare tips during an in-depth consultation with Dr. Loeb.

Patients’ tips and hints after breast augmentation

Mr Robb WarrConsultant Plastic Surgeon, Cheltenham HospitalPrepare for home life after breast surgery with tips from those who’ve done it before.

If breast augmentation (enlargement) surgery is in your future, putting some thought into your post-surgical care is an important step to ensuring your recovery is as stress free as possible. 

Your surgical and pre-assessment teams will prepare you well for many aspects of your post-operative recovery. The focus will be on pain relief, medications, work, management of the dressings, what activities or exercises to do and what not to do. They may well talk to you about things like travel, flying, holidays or childcare.

But we asked patients what hints and tips they would pass on to those following in their footsteps and share some of the most common advice below.

Sleeping after breast augmentation

Good sleep is important at the best of times, but it is essential after surgery and there are few operations where the way you sleep is more important than breast augmentation. 

Sleep is key to a healthy immune system which will give you a better and speedier recovery. It has also been shown to reduce pain. 

Sleep on your back

It is often recommended to sleep on your back and slightly sat up for a while. It reduces swelling, enhances circulation and keeps the breasts in the most natural position as they heal even when wearing a bra. 

Learning to sleep soundly in a new position doesn’t happen overnight. Practice sleeping on your back. Like all things practice makes for better results and it is possible to train yourself to sleep on your back. It will allow you to identify what you might need such as extra pillows or a bed wedge. It may even identify problems such as lower back discomfort which could be addressed beforehand or helped by a support under the knees.

Prepare spare sheets

Make sure that you have spare sheets. You are going be lying in bed a little longer than normal and won’t be inclined to be doing lots of extra washing.

Cut back on sleep inhibitors

Avoid known sleep disruptors like caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and limit screen time in the hour before sleep. 

But remember, although rest is important, activity is too. Walk around regularly throughout the day; this helps with circulation and reduces the risk of developing blood clots. It also helps keep you from getting stiff and achy from too much immobility.

Prepare your kitchen for after surgery

As with sleep eating and drinking well after surgery is key to a good recovery. Adequate fluid intake is very important. Buying drinking straws may help make drinking easier when you are on your back and reduce the need to bend.

Buy small

In the immediate aftermath of breast surgery lifting can be painful. Empty the kettle before you go in for surgery. After surgery you will not want to lift a heavy kettle. If you usually buy large cartons of fruit juice or milk, replace these with smaller cartons for a few weeks to reduce the load you’re lifting.

Stock up on healing foods

Stock up with food that you would want to eat in the week after surgery. Calorific foods are not all bad at this stage but give consideration to foods that will aid your body in healing. Nuts such as cashews, almonds, walnuts and pine nuts are great for healing skin tissue. Seeds including pumpkin, sesame and sunflower help with tissue regeneration. Fruits like apple, banana, orange, kiwi and pineapple boost immune system. Protein, which you can get from chicken, fish, eggs, beans, soy or grains are essential macro-nutrients for repairing tissue.

Eat little and often

One important piece of advice is to eat smaller and perhaps more frequently. Large meals require energy to digest. If you can, eat smaller portions or have light meals to allow your body energy to recover. You’ll want to avoid eating a larger meal right before bed. Having a lot of food sitting in your stomach can feel worse when lying your back, increasing heartburn and indigestion.

Reducing exertion after breast surgery

Stretching and bending can be difficult to start with. Reduce the need to exert yourself in this way by moving things up high down to waist level and things at ground level (for instance phone chargers or remote controls) easily reachable on a table. 

A good exercise in making your home ‘post-op ready’ is to walk around the house, carrying out your usual routine but without reaching or bending. It will help you see what tasks are difficult to perform so you can make changes before going in to hospital.

Washing post-surgery 

Your surgeon will have spoken to you about how long to keep dressings dry or, if waterproof dressings are used, how to shower. But patients also recommended buying a large packet of cleaning wipes to save you a few extra journeys to the bathroom, and to consider purchasing a shower stool to prevent you having to stand for too long as it’s common for patients to feel a bit weak during the first few days after surgery.

Clothes

Your surgeon will probably advise a non-underwired bra initially.  Many post-op patients recommend seamless sports bras as they are more comfortable and attractive. Whatever it is make sure that it is not worn over your head and that it is supportive. That rules out boob tubes.

Make sure you have loose fitting clothing ready to wear when you’re home, when your scars are still tender it will be easier to slip in and out of loose fitting clothes and they should offer you some extra comfort when you need it. Remember that these clothes should be within easy reach so maybe leave a selection on a chair in the bedroom so you’re not having to search through drawers or on clothes lines.